FIRST-EVER ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS CONVENTION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
Hosted and Sponsored by the Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society (PATAS)
On April 21, 2012, we, the members of PATAS (Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society), from all over the world — and joined by renown Atheists from other countries — shall, for the very first time in Asia, convene in the Philippines at the Bayview Hotel to declare our independence — and freedom at last! — from the abject ignorance, stupidity and superstition that have afflicted our country and people for almost half a millennium — 481years, to be exact…
From that day on we shall launch a continuing struggle to break the chains of bondage — the bondage of grinding poverty and untold misery — imposed on us by the heavy cross that we have to bear and the bloody swords of superstition called “religion.” We will set our movement primarily against the Roman Catholic Church and secondarily against all other religious sects and organizations. But let it also be made clear that we uphold the people’s right to belief or religion just as we advocate as vigorously our right to non-belief and no-religion!
We hope to unleash our people from that almost ‘half-a-millennium’ years of institutionalized oppression, exploitation and dysfunctional culture — that served nothing but dumb-down our people, promote false hopes, subservience, servility, indolence and fatalism. We shall support all movements that seek to empower our people, establish a clearer separation between the church and the government, the taxation of religious organizations, the expansion rather than stultification of democratic rights, equal opportunity and treatment and oppose all forms of abuse, bias and discrimination against individuals and groups of people.
Specifically, we unequivocally support actions and programs that advance a scientific mass culture, better treatment of our seniors and young children, the Family Reproductive Health Bill, the Freedom of Information Act, the Freedom of Marriage for our Lesbians, Gay, Bisexuals and Transgenders and all other progressive initiatives.
Without the leeches, the dead-weights and the barnacles to the rise of Man we shall launch our people to new heights of Humanism — faith in ourselves and faith in our fellowmen — by relying on each other’s geniuses and capabilities instead of imaginary beings, comical miracles, fallacious parables, equivocal mysteries, tall tales and gobbledygook.
We shall inculcate always that only human beings can solve the problems of human beings — and that only Filipinos can solve the problems of Filipinos! Like how some of our fellow Filipinos have been singing: “Wala tayong maasahan, Bathala o Manunubos… Kaya ang ating kaligtasan, nasa ating pagkilos! We must not bank our hopes and fortune to a God or a Messiah because our salvation depends — and only depends — upon ourselves and our united action!
15 comments
Micahael Mark Dela Concepcion says:
January 13, 2012 at 15:45 (UTC 8)
Hi.
Just want to ask for further details, registration etc. Thanks.
Cheers. Long live PATAS!
Site Admin says:
January 18, 2012 at 01:34 (UTC 8)
[Admin-J.D.B.] Micahael please check out this link https://www.facebook.com/events/175153445884313/ for further details regarding the convention. Hope you see you there!
ryan says:
January 13, 2012 at 20:21 (UTC 8)
i am very glad that i am not alone in this country.
Site Admin says:
January 18, 2012 at 01:42 (UTC 8)
[Admin-J.D.B.] No you are not and the good news is, we are growing in number. :)
ryan says:
February 27, 2012 at 19:14 (UTC 8)
i want to register
OLABODE OLANIPEKUN says:
January 16, 2012 at 08:37 (UTC 8)
I am new to the world of Atheisim and I would like to take part in the forthcoming convention in order to boost my horizon about secular world view. Therefore, I would appreciate it if a letter of invitation is extended to me. This is to enable me to procure a visa at the Philipine Embassy in Nigeria.
Thanks.
Site Admin says:
January 18, 2012 at 01:45 (UTC 8)
[Admin-J.D.B.] Your request is forwarded to our secretaries. Expect to hear from us soon.
Bede says:
January 16, 2012 at 14:40 (UTC 8)
I have been in a struggle with myself with regards to the situation of my belief or non-belief….
I have just entered into the world of secular humanism and will do all in my power to intellectualize and show people around me the helpfulness and importance of living in the now and to help people as people and not rely on religious jibberjabber…
Please let me know the exact specifics of the event, the programme if you will…thank you…
Site Admin says:
January 18, 2012 at 07:20 (UTC 8)
Please check out the slide on the right side at the home page to see the speakers line up..It will be in Bayview Park Hotel..Manila..thx
Kenneth Canapi says:
January 16, 2012 at 20:33 (UTC 8)
Yeayeayeah!!
Norm says:
January 23, 2012 at 04:14 (UTC 8)
Atheism and Agnosticism is growing in the USA too!
Unfortunately America still has such a long long way to grow in this area.
Some of us here in USA fear that if the Religious Wackos prevail America will become like the Philippines or Afganistan
joey.resada@yahoo.com says:
January 30, 2012 at 07:42 (UTC 8)
Hi,
Just want to know if may office po ba ang “PATAS” dito sa davao City?…
Thanks,…
Site Admin says:
February 1, 2012 at 12:11 (UTC 8)
There is still no Davao HQ that you can visit but we have members there leading the PATAS-Davao group. Please get in touch with the officers through facebook so contact is made easier. Thank you!
Check this link out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/patas.dvo/
Bobby C. says:
April 1, 2012 at 15:25 (UTC 8)
Great to hear about this happening in the Philippines! Mabuhay!
lucas says:
April 9, 2012 at 20:24 (UTC 8)
I don’t have an FB account, where else can I see the details of the convention?
Dying to register..