Minnesota Atheists and American Atheists Co-Sponsor St. Paul Saints Game and Regional Atheist Conference

St. Paul, MN, July 20, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Minnesota Atheists and American Atheists have come together to co-sponsor a St. Paul Saints game on Friday, August 10 at 7:05 pm at Midway Stadium in St. Paul. An American Atheists’ Regional Atheist Conference is scheduled for the following day, Saturday, August 11, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in downtown St. Paul.

The Saints will change their name to the Mr. Paul Aints for the night of Friday, August 10 in honor of their non-believing sponsors. The stadium and player jerseys will be transformed to reflect the name change. After the game, the players’ Mr. Paul Aints jerseys will be auctioned off and proceeds will go to Minnesota Atheists and to the charity Volunteers Beyond Belief.

“We want everyone to have ‘A Night of Unbelievable Fun,’” said Eric Jayne, associate president of Minnesota Atheists. “We’re inspired by the comedy of Saints co-owner Bill Murray. Expect to see some off-the-wall, self-deprecating humor at the game.”

“There is apparently some controversy about the name ‘Mr. Paul Aints,’” stated August Berkshire, president of Minnesota Atheists. “In reality, we were simply trying to come up with a fun name. Moreover, every person ain’t got a belief in something, so we were trying to appeal to everyone’s inner skeptic or contrarian or curmudgeon.”

The Regional Atheist Conference, to be held on August 11 at the St. Paul DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, includes speakers who have a national reputation in the atheist community: Dave Silverman, president of American Atheists; PZ Myers, author of the atheist-science blog “Pharyngula”; Teresa MacBain, past executive director of The Clergy Project for clergy who are secretly atheists; Ayanna Watson, president of Black Atheists of America; Jessica Ahlquist, the student who fought the posting of a prayer at her Rhode Island high school; Hector Avalos, author of “Fighting Words: The Origins of Religious Violence”; Robert Price, author of “The Case Against The Case for Christ” and “The Christ-Myth Theory and Its Problems”; and J. Anderson Thomson, author of “Why We Believe in God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith”.

For full information about the Mr. Paul Aints game and the Regional Atheist Conference please visit: Atheists.org/MN

As part of an on-going billboard campaign to bring recognition to atheists, American Atheists has procured a billboard advertising the weekend’s events at the southeast corner of University Avenue and Fairview Avenue in St. Paul.

Please contact PR contact for photo of billboard and/or Mr. Paul Aints Jersey.

Minnesota Atheists is a non-profit, positive atheist organization actively promoting secular values through participation in public affairs, educational programs, and hosting the only live atheist radio talk show in the state: Atheists Talk, Sundays, 9:00-10:00 a.m., KTNF AM 950. Minnesota Atheists is the state’s oldest, largest, and most active atheist organization. Additional information at MinnesotaAtheists.org.

American Atheists is a non-profit, nationwide organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church-mosque-temple and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy. Additional information at Atheists.org.

For Calendars:
Mr. Paul Aints: Friday, August 10, 2012, 7:05 pm, Midway Stadium, 1771 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, $12-15.
Regional Atheist Conference: Saturday, August 11, 2012, 9:00 am - 9:00 pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 411 Minnesota Street, St. Paul. $49. Students $10.