We Shall Meet Godlessly This Sunday

"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me."

Emo Philips

I have no way of knowing if I have any readers residing in Penang and the surrounding region, but there's going to be a first ever something (to my knowledge) happening on the island this Sunday.

This is our club.

A few days ago, I um, accidentally organised a modest lunch meet-up (with the help of Rewarp) for the more northerly members of the Malaysian Atheists, Freethinkers & Agnostics, or as it is usually acronymed: MAFA.

Here's the skinny,

• Date: Sunday, 20th March 2011
• Venue: Pastamania, Gurney Plaza
• Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

If you're an atheist, agnostic, freethinker, secular humanist, sceptic, apatheist, deist, pantheist, Pastafarian or just another thinking person who questions the validity of religions (and you happen to be in the vicinity this Sunday with nothing pressing on your schedule), do come and join us. We totally want to meet you.

If you're someone who invests in the whole faith thing (be you a Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Shinto, Bahá'í, Rastafarian, Raëlian, Scientologist, Wiccan or member of any of the estimated 4200 religions on the world) but is looking to ask questions and understand what it's really like to be an unbeliever, you are welcome as well so long as you don't try to sell us anything.

If you want to come and can't make it because you're making Panda porn in China or saving tsunami victims in Japan at the moment or something, tell a friend who might conceivably be interested attending. We can always use more heads.

So, what's the agenda? Good question, because I have not the least fucking clue myself. I expect we'll meet up godlessly, eat and drink godlessly, and have godless conversations about godlessness. I believe that there's a desire for most people who don't subscribe to any organised religion to reach out to folks of like mind - our philosophical brethren so to speak - because too often, we find ourselves lone buoys bobbing about in an ocean of faith and belief which we find so alien to our sensibilities. It's reassuring, I bet, to fraternise periodically with kindred spirits who understands intimately what it's like to disbelieve in the supernatural in a country as steeped in religiosity and superstitions as ours. And it's probably cathartic to be able to let down our guards and socialise with individuals who will not look at us as lost souls, potential converts or devil worshippers (no, we don't believe he exists either). I wouldn't know for sure - I have never attended one of these secular soirees afore. I reckon it's high time for me to pop my atheist meet-up cherry.



P.S. Yes, choosing Pastamania as our meeting place was an intentional reference to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Also, because their outlet is spacious.

Godless in Penang,

k0k s3n w4i