Members of Freethought Society Come Together for Fun, Fellowship, and Trivia

If you ever wanted to match wits with an atheist, then you missed a golden opportunity last Thursday night as the Freethought Society of the Midlands (FSM) hosted a Trivia Night at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia. Elaine Appel, who has been organizing events for the group for over nine years, spoke about what it means to be a freethinker.

“It is thinking without the control of a supreme being or higher power, who would control a person’s thinking, that’s what we mean by free thought,” said Appel.

According to Appel, FSM generally hosts five regular events each month, some occurring at local restaurants, bars or, like tonight, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Trivia Night was a relatively new event that allowed members to pair up and answer a variety of questions about science, religion and the Bible. Members not only showed their vast knowledge of these topics but also the common bond they all share.

“It seems like most people just fit together, they get along, you know, because they do have something in common, that they don’t believe in a supreme being or higher power,” said Appel.

The Freethought Society, which was founded over 16 years ago, works to establish a community for non-believers and freethinkers. Appel mentioned that she had always wanted to be part of a group like this and said it was a big part of why she decided to stay in Columbia.

“I didn’t think we’d actually find anybody in Columbia to associate with and I was ready to move on somewhere else, try somewhere else, then we found this group,” said Appel.

Elaine Appel (right) raises her hand to answer a question at the Freethought Society of the Midlands Trivia Night (Photo by Robert Perrell)

According to a recent pew research study, people who attend religious services at least once a month are often more likely than the non-religious to join other types of groups or organizations. But do not tell that to members of the Freethought Society, who have several events on their calendar over the next few weeks. Including:

· September 29- Peace in the Park, hosted by the Interfaith Partners of SC

· October 4 - Drinking Skeptically at Arabesque on Divine

· October 5 - Science on Tap in the Midlands, hosted by the Midlands Astronomy Club

· October 10 - Science and Religion at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation

The Trivia Night had fewer than a dozen members show up, but that did not stop them from having a great time and enjoying one another’s company.

Appel summed it up best, “This is a great place for people with like minds to talk and socialize and not have a debate or have someone chastise them because they don’t practice religion.”

If you would like to attend the next FSM event, join their Facebook Group here. And for more news and information on the secular community please follow on Twitter @SecularShepherd.

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