Matthew Krevat, a secular and skeptical organizer with Triangle Freethought Society, discusses his experiences with local organizing and balancing the interests of skeptics and atheists within a single group. They explore challenges in engaging in conversations, generational conflicts, dangers of infighting within groups, and issues within the community like woke ideologies and the impact of COVID. They also discuss the transition from online to in-person activities and engage in a game exploring concepts like bodies, minds, free will, and more.
Triangle Freethought Society focuses on creating a community for nonbelievers and engaging in activism and service work.
The organization acknowledges generational conflicts and strives to align itself with the values of younger generations.
Triangle Freethought Society has recently shifted its focus towards social justice issues and humanism in their program meetings and activism.
Deep dives
Community Building and Tabling
Triangle Free Thought focuses on creating a community for nonbelievers and providing a space for people who have left their faith communities. They engage in community-building activities such as picnics, bar meetups, and organized trips. While they do not proselytize, they table at events like pride parades and engage in conversations with curious individuals who may be interested in joining their community.
Activism and Service
Triangle Free Thought is engaged in activism and service work. They participate in activities such as volunteering at food banks, diaper banks, and men's and women's shelters. They have also done habitat for humanity and are planning to start an adopt-a-highway initiative. The group believes in making a positive change in society and links their activism to their values, like promoting secularism and advocating for marginalized communities.
Generational Tension and Embracing Future Values
The organization acknowledges generational conflicts and strives to align itself with the values of younger generations. They recognize the importance of embracing change and staying open to new perspectives. Triangle Free Thought has not experienced significant generational tensions within their organization and prides itself on being inclusive regardless of age. They strive to find common ground and work towards the future vision of the organization.
Shift Towards Social Justice and Virtual Challenges
Triangle Free Thought has recently shifted its focus towards social justice issues and humanism, particularly in their program meetings and activism. While they have not faced pushback, they acknowledge that the virtual transition due to the pandemic has changed participation dynamics, making it harder to gauge member engagement. Nonetheless, the organization remains committed to engaging in meaningful conversations and promoting social justice within their community.
The Importance of Mitigating Shaping the View of the Future
It is important to not only recognize the value of allowing the kids of the future to shape their own future, but also as someone with experience, to play a role in shaping their perspective. This means being thoughtful about cultural changes while not losing track of prior understandings that hold value.
Maintaining Perspective in Debates and Focusing on the Bigger Cause
One key insight is the importance of avoiding infighting within groups and not getting caught up in tangential arguments that detract from the main point. This means prioritizing the bigger cause and not allowing minor disagreements to undermine the overall goal. For example, even if a particular perspective or meme may have flaws, it is crucial to stay focused on the larger context, such as promoting equality and addressing systemic issues.
My guest this week is Matthew Krevat, a secular and skeptical organizer with Triangle Freethought Society. We discuss his experiences with local organizing and trying to balance the interests of skeptics and atheists within a single group.
