An atheist, by any other name, might be called a humanist, an agnostic, a naturalist, a secularist, a rationalist or a skeptic.
But putting them under the same umbrella would be like gathering Episcopalians, Baptists and Catholics under the same tent, sharing all the same beliefs — or non-beliefs, as the case may be.
This weekend, leaders of seven like-minded but distinct national groups will participate in the Minnesota Atheists Conference, which organizers say will be an unprecedented gathering of freethinkers of various persuasions.
"Freethought has an ecumenical movement somewhat like religion does,'' said Bobbie Kirkhart of Los Angeles, president of Atheist Alliance International and one of the speakers. "As does religion, the movement needs a little nursing from time to time. This conference gives us a chance to get together, exchange ideas and see how much alike we are.''
Participants may debate creationism, evolution, school vouchers and education standards, but much of the discussion is expected to lean toward politics. Separation of church and state is one unifying theme, and many atheists and others decry President Bush's "faith-based'' agenda.
"With the Bush administration, the atheist-humanist community has seen a need to become more organized and cooperative than ever before,'' said August Berkshire, president of Minnesota Atheists, sponsor of the conference at the Airport Marriott Hotel in Bloomington.
"It started with the Godless Americans March on Washington last November,'' Berkshire said. "We've been bringing groups together that might have otherwise operated separately. We see strength and unity in numbers.''
Non-religious people need to help shape public policy, said another speaker, Matt Cherry, executive director of the Institute for Humanist Studies in Albany, N.Y.
"Humanists and non-religious make up about 14 percent of the population,'' Cherry said. "If we want to have the influence we deserve, then we need to lobby legislatures and be willing to work with many other groups, including religious groups.''
The religious and non-religious alike share the benefit of such work, Cherry said.
"We all need to have the freedom to pursue beliefs without impinging on other people's rights,'' he said.
Such efforts often take place under the banner of atheism, literally defined as the lack of belief in God. Humanism identifies itself as a philosophy of thinking for one's self, free of arbitrary faith or an appeal to the supernatural. Those in other categories stress secularism, or the natural laws of science, or that God is unknowable.
But an atheist may be uncomfortable with the philosophical bent of humanism, and not all secularists may consider themselves atheists. Even the umbrella term "freethought'' — forming opinions about religion on the basis of reason, rather than tradition, authority or beliefs — may have met its match.
"The Bright movement isn't part of this conference,'' Kirkhart said, "but Mynga Futrell, one of its founders, will be attending.''
A Bright is a person with a naturalistic worldview, free of supernatural and mystical elements. Not all freethinkers have embraced the term, but some of its leading voices — such as Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett — have.
"It is the story in freethought today,'' Kirkhart said, "and it shows tremendous potential for people who haven't quite seen themselves as fitting into the current movement, or as it's often been portrayed in the press.''
Whatever you call it, public education remains an important part of the movement.
"We want to define ourselves instead of being defined by the religious right,'' Berkshire said.
"We do more than just disbelieve in God. We support human rights. Our basic philosophy is that because there's no heaven after we die, we try to improve life to have heaven here on earth.''
IF YOU GO
What: Minnesota Atheists Conference
Where: Airport Marriott Hotel, Bloomington
When: Reception for those pre-registered at 6 p.m. today. On-site registration available for $65 for Saturday speakers, 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.