Convention Speakers

35th Annual National Freedom From Religion Foundation Convention

Weekend of October 12-13, 2012
Hilton Portland & Executive Tower
921 SW Sixth Ave
Portland, Oregon

Richard Dawkins is a world renowned evolutionary biologist and freethought champion. He began his career as a professor of zoology at the University of California at Berkeley and then became a fellow of New College. Dawkin's first book, The Selfish Gene (1976) became an international bestseller. It and the award-winning Blind Watchmaker were translated into all major languages. His other books include The Extended Phenotype (1982), River Out of Eden (1995), Climbing Mount Improbable (1996), Unweaving the Rainbow (1998) and A Devil's Chaplain (2003). His 2006 iconoclastic book, The God Delusion, which he wrote with the public hope of turning believing readers into atheists, became a bestseller in both the UK and the U.S. Dawkins has held the Charles Simonyi Chair of Public Understanding of Science since 1995, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1997. He has advanced the concept of cultural inheritance or "memes," also described as "viruses of the mind," a category into which he places religious belief. Dawkins, a vice president of the British Humanist Association, was named Humanist of the Year in 1999. He is the 1997 winner of the International Cosmos Prize, and received an Emperor Has No Clothes Award from the Freedom From Religion Foundation in 2001.

Sara Paretsky is credited with transforming the image of women in the crime novel genre. A University of Chicago graduate, Paretsky is most famous for her 15-book series featuring female Chicago detective V.I. Warshawski. The series begins with Indemnity Only (1982) and currently includes Body Work (2010). Paretsky is passionate about social justice and women’s rights, and worked as a community organizer in Chicago during the 1966 race riots. In 1986, Paretsky founded Sisters In Crime, an organization that supports female mystery writers. She was named 1987 Woman of the Year by Ms. Magazine. Her numerous other awards include the Gold Dagger from the British Crime Writers for the best novel of 2004. Paretsky opposes religion’s intrusion into science. In her memoir, Writing in an Age of Silence (2007), she wrote about “the roadblocks put up by religion” to women’s access to birth control and abortion. Paretsky spoke on Freethought Radio on June 2, 2011, about her family’s protest of a mandatory Christian revival at her public high school.

Katherine Stewart is an investigative journalist and author. Her most recent book, The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children, provides "a chilling exposé of the well-funded, highly coordinated effort by Christian Nationalists to use public schools to advance a fundamentalist agenda." Stewart began her career in journalism, working for The Village Voice, Newsweek International, Rolling Stone, Marie Claire and others. She co-wrote the book about the musical "Rent" and has published two novels about 21st century parenting. Most recently she has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, the Daily Beast, Bloomberg View, and Religion Dispatches.

Teresa MacBain became a non-believer after more than 20 years of ministry throughout the deep south. Her ministry experience begin at the early in life, serving along side her father who was a Baptist minister. She taught in Christian Schools for many years, served as a worship pastor, associate pastor and ultimately senior pastor. Teresa received her B.S. in Christian Education at Samford University and her M.Div at Duke Divinity School. Teresa also holds the distinction of being the first female graduate of The Clergy Project, a private, invitation-only “safe house” community of current and former ministers who no longer hold the supernatural beliefs of their religious traditions. The Clergy Project was started by Dan Barker, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Linda LaScola. As a former minister, Teresa's years of experience as a pastor along with a deep understanding of biblical concepts are of great benefit as she works within the freethought movement. She's a passionate public speaker whose love for people and for the truth shines through as she shares her own journey from faith to freedom. Teresa is currently serving as the acting Executive Director for the Clergy Project.

Jerry DeWitt realized he was an atheist after more than 25 years of Pentecostal ministry in his home state of Louisiana. His ministry experience begin at the early age of 17 and included evangelizing across the U.S. and being the assistant pastor of two United Pentecostal churches and one Apostolic church. During his dilemma with doubt Jerry ultimately held the senior pastorate of two very unique congregations, one charismatic dominionist and the other non-denominational fundamentalist. He also holds the distinction of being the first graduate of The Clergy Project. Even though Jerry has only been in the Freethought movement for a short time, he’s already been honored with a seat on the board of directors for Atheist Nexus. Most recently, Jerry was appointed Executive Director of Recovering from Religion. The RR mission is to coordinate and facilitate face-to-face meeting for those who desire support in leaving their religion. RR also facilitates online forums and resources in cooperation with other secular organizations and groups. It tries to connect those in need with secular therapists in their local community. Former minister Jerry DeWitt brings a broad understanding of the religious lifestyle and its effects on personal wellbeing to the non-theist movement. He’s a dynamic and entertaining public speaker with a heartfelt compassion for those struggling to completely free themselves from their religion.

Stay tuned for additional speakers.