Atheists select Des Moines for national convention

[HarveyDarkey]

By Lynda Waddington 8/16/10 12:30 PM

Citing a desire to build upon the excitement that has already been generated by state and regional groups, American Atheists announced Monday that they will “caucus in the heartland” when they bring their national convention to Des Moines in April 2011.

Ed Buckner, president of the group, said the decision to hold the convention in Des Moines was based on a wide variety of factors that included value for attending membership, accessibility and an overall interest in the city itself.

“The major factor, though, was the rapidly growing activism and presence of atheist, freethought, secular and humanist groups throughout the region,” he said. “We have been very impressed by this, and want to do all we can to help and to further energize these groups.”

Activism of state groups was on display during the 2010 legislative session. After The Iowa Independent reported that certain lawmakers had teamed up with the Iowa Family Policy Council to offer a so-called Christian education series screening in the state Capitol building, Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers asked an Iowa State University professor to appear at the capitol to further explore the topic of evolution and “intelligent design,” a focal point of the Christian series.

“Our preference would be for this to be a non-issue and neither to have been at the Capitol,” Dave Grzeskowiak, vice president of the Iowa group, said in March. “But, because one already is, we feel it is our responsibility to present both sides.”

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