Secular E-Mail Lists & Discussion Groups

Please send us an e-mail if you know of other national or international discussion groups not listed here.

NOTE: This page is only intended to include mailing lists of national or international scope. Local mailing lists are not listed here.

ATHEIST-TALK

Associated website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atheist-talk/

Moderated: Yes

Closed: No

Owner: Unknown

Description:

Atheist-Talk is one of the oldest and most respected atheist lists on the web.

The main goals of Atheist-Talk are to provide a forum for rational discussion and create a community for like-minded individuals. All are welcome to join Atheist-talk.

Because this is a list for rational discussion, logical fallacies should be avoided, and the rules are to be followed. Personal attacks against other members are not acceptable.

AANEWS (American Atheist News)

Associated website: AA News

Moderated: Yes (this is a read-only list)

Closed: No

Owner: American Atheists

Description:

AANEWS is a free e-mail information service for Atheists and those concerned with important First Amendment state-church separation issues. It is sponsored by American Atheists, a nationwide movement founded by Madalyn Murray O'Hair for the advancement or Atheism, and the total, absolute separation of government and religion. AANEWS dispatches are sent out approximately five times each week, and feature news, analysis and commentary from current headlines.

APEX NATURALISTS

Associated website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Moral-Atheist/

Moderated: Yes

Closed: No

Owner: William Davidson

Description:

This is a discussion group dedicated to building a naturalistic community and culture around shared values. This group seeks to fulfill three needs: (1) To more fully cement the bonds of a naturalistic community; (2) To create the basis for a positive naturalistic philosophy and culture; (3) To create those conditions by which naturalists will be accepted and trusted in mainstream society.

BOOKTALK

Associated website: http://www.booktalk.org/

Moderated: Yes

Closed: No

Owner: Chris O'Connor

Description:

BookTalk, the official book-discussion community for the American Humanist Association, is dedicated to the advancement of critical thinking, reason, intelligence, freedom of inquiry, philosophy and the scientific method. Our focus is on reading and discussing quality, nonfiction texts from a wide range of topics including atheism and agnosticism, freethought, comparative religion, religion and politics, humanism, philosophy, history, ethics, biblical criticism, psychology, contemporary issues, creationism vs. evolution, popular science, the paranormal, social science, current events, and much more.

The goal is to have fun, make friends, and—hopefully—learn something in the process. BookTalk is not a strict academic analysis of texts where symbolism and writing styles are critiqued, but rather a relaxed forum in which participants enjoy a free exchange of opinions and ideas. So don't be nervous—this isn't school!

In addition to the message boards, BookTalk has its very own chat room where members enjoy a casual chat every Thursday night at 9:00 PM EST to socialize and discuss anything and everything, including books being read.

CANADIAN ATHEIST

Associated website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanadianAtheist/

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owner:

Description:

Atheism is a mental attitude that recognizes the supremacy of reason. The atheist is guided by a system of philosophy and ethics, verifiable by experience, independent from arbitrary assumptions of authority or creed.

ERRANCY (Biblical Errancy Discussion List)

Associated website: http://iierrancy.com/

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owner: Farrell Till

Description:

This is a list for discussing the errancy of the Bible. Appropriate topics include infallibility, inspiration, contradictions, and harmonizations.

See also: EX-TIAN and XTIANITY

ESKEPTIC (Skeptics Society Newsletter)

Associated website: http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/

Moderated: Yes (this is a read-only list)

Closed: No

Owner: Skeptics Society

Description:

eSkeptic is the (almost) weekly newsletter published by the Skeptics Society. Each edition features articles, reviews or opinion editorials on current events in the scientific and skeptical worlds.

EXIT FUNDYISM

Associated website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exitfundyism/

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owner: Mike McClellan

Description:

This is a support group for Born Again and Fundamentalist Christians and ex-Born-Againers who have serious questions about their beliefs and either have left, want to leave or are thinking about leaving born again fundamentalist Christianity.

Subscribers may freely discuss spiritual conflicts, guilt, fear of losing good friends, dealing with Christian family members, fear of losing salvation, fear of losing fellowship with God, etc.—but absolutely no preaching, evangelizing or witnessing!

GODEXIST (Existence of God[s])

Associated website: http://groups.google.com/group/godexist

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owner: Nick Tattersall

Description:

GODEXIST is a forum for discussing the existence of god(s). Appropriate topics include: the problems of evil and divine hiddenness, abstract objects, cosmological arguments, the anthropic principle, objective moral values, the resurrection, and religious experience.

HNN (Humanist Network News)

Associated website: http://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN

Moderated: Yes (this is a read-only list)

Closed: No

Owner: American Humanist Association

Description:

Humanist Network News is the free e-zine of the American Humanist Association. HNN provides information about projects and goings on, position statements and opinions, as well as a roundup of the best stories from other freethought publications and the mainstream media.

HRSepCnS (Historical Reality: Separation of Church and State)

Associated website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/

Moderated: Yes

Closed: No

Owner: The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State

Description:

The American heritage of church-state relations has generally been that of separation of church and state. The church does not need the state to sanction or support it. Additionally the state cannot be free without separation from the church. The state does not rule its citizens in matters of religion. Religion relies on the voluntary response of men not participation coerced by the state. With the insistence on majority rule in the modern nation state concern for the rights of the minority especially with regard to religious liberty should be paramount.

We are people who believe that a firm separation of church and state is essential to our form of government. That was the intent of the framers of our Constitution.

There is no religious test for membership in this group. All who are interested in or concerned for separation of church and state are welcome.

However, this is a discussion group and participation is required from the members on some sort of fairly regular basis.

HUMAN (Human Nonmoderated Discussion List)

Associated website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Human-nonmoderated/

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owner: Unknown

Description:

For everyone interested in the human condition and active discussion of the issues—with no moderation. Most former SECHUM list members migrated here after waning activity there.

HUMAN_ISM (Humanism Discussion List)

Associated website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/human_ism/

Moderated: No, but new members are moderated briefly to ensure that they understand posting protocols

Closed: No

Owner: Dale Marshall

Description:

HUMAN_ISM is the successor to the old II HUMANISM list, and continues as a forum for the discussion of the philosophy of humanism. Although the majority of contributors are secular humanists, one need not be a secular humanist or even a humanist to participate. Appropriate topics for this list include: the meaning of humanism, the humanist tradition (including its philosophical, religious, and cultural roots), having a meaningful life with no afterlife to look forward to, the humanistic worldview, humanism's reliance on reason and science, humanism's affirmation of life (e.g., humanistic ethics, individual happiness, etc.), various humanist organizations, and raising humanist children. Inappropriate topics for HUMANISM include the existence of a god, advocacy of religion, or discussions of the validity of evolutionary theory. Readers interested in those topics should subscribe to the GODEXIST list, the XTIANITY list, etc.

SECHUM

Associated website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sechum/

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owner:

Description:

SECHUM is the successor to the old SECHUM-List and has taken up its mission of entirely open discussion of any and all subjects of relevance to secular humanism.

SECHUM-L

Associated website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sechum-L/

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owners: Bill Schultz and Bo Willis

Administrator: Carol Smith

Description:

Discussion of secular humanism with an international slant.

SKEPTIC (Skeptic Discussion Group)

Associated website: http://linuxmafia.com/skeptic/skeptic_faq.html

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owner: Leonard R. Cleavelin

Description:

SKEPTIC is a mailing list devoted to critical discussion of extraordinary claims. Among the paranormal topics that are commonly examined are parapsychology and psychic claims, creationism, cult archaeology, UFO's, cryptozoology, reincarnation/survival, quackery, the occult and divination; but the discussion is not limited to any predetermined set of magical beliefs or alleged pseudosciences. In connection with paranormal claims, issues involving science and philosophy in general are often raised. There is no policy of excluding any topic from consideration. While the common point of view expressed is skepticism about claims that go against current scientific pictures, critical approaches to science itself are also encouraged.

SSA eMpirical (ENEWS) (Secular Student Alliance E-Newsletter)

Associated website: http://www.secularstudents.org/enews

Moderated: Yes (this is a read-only list)

Closed: No

Owner: Secular Student Alliance

Description:

SSA eNews educates high school and college students around the country about the value of scientific reason and the intellectual basis of secularism in its atheistic and humanistic manifestations.

WALK AWAY (Walk Away from Fundamentalism)

Associated webpage: http://www.walkawayers.org/

Moderated: Yes

Closed: No

Owner: "St. Thomas" (Contact via Forum)

FAQ: See the FAQ section of the Forum.

Description:

This is a support forum for those who have left or are in the process of leaving fundamentalist Christianity.

XTIANITY (Christianity List)

Associated webpage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xianity/

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owners: Peter Kirby and Michael Fisher

Description:

This is a mailing list for discussing whether Christianity is true. Anything relating to the alleged truth or falsity of Christianity is appropriate on XTIANITY, with two exceptions:

1. Alleged Bible contradictions and alleged harmonizations of those alleged contradictions are not appropriate on XTIANITY. Please discuss these issues on the ERRANCY list.

2. Issues relating to ex-Christians are also inappropriate on XTIANITY. Please discuss these issues on the EX-TIAN list.

YOUNG-ATHEISTS-FREETHINKERS (Young Atheist and Freethinkers Discussion List)

Associated webpage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Young_Atheists_Freethinkers/

Moderated: No

Closed: No

Owner:

Description:

As the name implies, this group exists to provide young doubters a forum in which to air their doubts about religion, and their questions about atheism. It is a place where they can become comfortable with those doubts.

This is not a debate forum. If you are here for the purpose of converting anyone, or attempting to win back the youths that come here asking questions, sorry, you're out of luck. The forum is strictly moderated and any such messages will be deleted from the message base and the offending member banned. We do not fear debate, as any one of us can be found in the many other debating forums out there. We highly recommend Debating Christianity and Religion as a place where you can easily strike up a debate, in a congenial and cordial atmosphere free of invective. Here you will not find such cordiality, as you are not welcome here if you are an evangelist.

Naturally other rules apply, the usual ones against spamming and flaming.

Young people whose beliefs may not be accepted where they normally live and go to school will find this non-dogmatic, welcoming atmosphere a relief. If you are a young person interested in atheism, please do give us an introductory message letting us know how old you are, how you came to doubt religion, what if any problems you are having with your doubts, and any questions you have about atheism, freethought, etc.