Apostacon
Introduction Seth Andrews, host of ''The Thinking Atheist'' podcast, at Apostacon 2014'''Apostacon''' (portmanteau of "apostate" + "conference"), before 2013 known as '''Midwest Humanist Conference''', '''Midwest Humanist and Freethought Conference''' and '''Midwest Freethought Conference''', is an annual event about atheism, freethought, humanism, secularism and skepticism in the (Midwestern) United States. The conference, which embraces the parody religion of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, is aimed at "atheists, humanists, agnostics, skeptics, apostates, freethinkers, rationalists and pastafarians."
History The 2009 event was held at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), hosted by the Lincoln Secular Humanists and coordinated by Humanist and LGBT activist Jason Frye. Speakers lectured on topics ranging from reproductive rights and LGBT rights to community building. In 2010, the second conference themed “No God, No Problem” was again coordinated by Frye, but this time held in the Country Inn & Suites in Lincoln, Nebraska; there were 80 attendees. From 2011 until 2014, the conference was held in Omaha, Nebraska. During Apostacon 2014, famous science communicator and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson delivered the keynote address. The 2015 installment was held in Dallas, Texas, the first time outside of Nebraska.In October 2015 Apostacon president Sarah Morehead was removed by the executive board for allegedly defrauding the conference. Event  Date  Location  Notes Midwest Humanist Conference  August 15, 2009  Lincoln, Nebraska  At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Midwest Humanist Conference II  August 22, 2010  Lincoln, Nebraska  Theme: "No God, No Problems". 80 attendees. Midwest Humanist and Freethought Conference  August 12–14, 2011  Omaha, Nebraska  Speakers included Greta Christina, Brian Keith Dalton, Fred Edwords, Hemant Mehta and Jennifer McCreight. Midwest Freethought Conference  August 3–5, 2012  Omaha, Nebraska  Speakers included PZ Myers, Brian Dunning, Dan Barker, Hemant Mehta, Jerry DeWitt and Fred Edwords. Apostacon  September 20–22, 2013  Omaha, Nebraska  Speakers included Hector Avalos, Dan Barker, Jamila Bey, Richard Dawkins (via Skype), Matt Dillahunty, Fred Edwords, Sean Faircloth, Nathan Phelps, Darrel Ray and David Silverman. Apostacon 2014  September 19–21, 2014  Omaha, Nebraska  Theme: "Exercise Your Noodle And "Meat" New Friends!" Speakers included Dale McGowan, David Fitzgerald, Lawrence M. Krauss, Cara Santa Maria, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Matt Dillahunty, Margaret Downey, Nathan Phelps, Darrel Ray and David Silverman. 450 attendees. Apostacon 2015  September 18–20, 2015  Irving, Texas  Theme: "The Sauciest Freethought Conference in the Noodleverse!" Scheduled speakers include: Ryan J. Bell, Matt Dillahunty, Margaret Downey, David Fitzgerald and Penn & Teller. Apostacon 2016  September 17–18, 2016  Omaha, Nebraska  Theme: "The Mother of All Meat Balls"
See also *List of skeptical conferences
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