Staise Gonzalez estimates there are 30 churches within five miles of her north Houston home, but she doesn't attend a single one.

Gonzalez knows she's not alone. As the head of Houston Atheists, she has seen the organization's membership double to 1,400 in the past two years, its calendar filling with social activities and, increasingly, community outreach.

Despite the growth, the group's Bible Belt neighbors still may see nonbelievers as a bunch of religion bashers. With the Texas Freethought Convention bringing some of the most controversial atheist authors to Houston this weekend, local groups are emphasizing the positive.

"There are angry atheists, and there are genuine, kind secular humanists who are committed to improving the human condition and making this life on Earth as positive as it can be," said Nick Lee, who lives in San Antonio and leads the Atheist Alliance of America, a co-sponsor of the convention.

"We want to redefine how people view us," he said. "We are partnering with mainstream religious groups who are comfortable with the separation of church and state."

Atheists and freethinkers - a group that includes deists, secular humanists and agnostics - find common ground with some churches and faith-based organizations over equal rights, religious freedom and First Amendment protections.

Houston Atheists joined protesters from progressive churches with signs outside Gov. Rick Perry's Houston prayer rally this summer. In San Antonio, atheist groups gathered with mainline Protestants, Muslims and Jews to hold a First Amendment celebration ahead of the National Day of Prayer.

Though focused on religious groups, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston invites people of "all faiths and no faith" in its programming. As many as 5 percent of participants identify as atheists or agnostics, according to Lauren Santerre, its director of interfaith relations.

Beyond this outreach, atheists in Texas simply want to live up to what their billboards say: You can be good without God.

More Information Texas Freethought Convention When: Friday-Sunday Where: Hyatt Regency Houston, 1200 Louisiana Tickets:Available at the door; $225 for the whole convention Information:www.texasfreethoughtconvention.com See More Collapse

Rather than spending all their time pontificating on science and secular society, which is part of the new atheist movement, there's also a push to give back and engage in the community. It's not motivated by religious values but by an innate sense of compassion, they say.

When a rogue Christian radio host got publicity for his prediction that the world would end on May 21, nonbelievers could have simply taken it as an opportunity to joke about their beliefs. Instead, Houston Atheists turned it into a charity event, collecting nearly 700 pounds of food for the Houston Food Bank at a "rapture party."

The upcoming convention will also provide opportunities to give back, including a blood drive, voter registration and charity booths.

"I have better things to do than sit in a hotel and complain and whine about Christians for three days. That's not what this is about," said Paul Mitchell, the San Antonio-based activist who founded the convention four years ago. "I want to feel like I'm doing something."

Famed atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, who will also be at the convention, are sometimes blamed for the aggressive, anti-religious tone of new atheism.

"Within the secular movement itself, there are so many different ways people approach their non-belief," Mitchell said. "A lot of atheists love Hitchens. There are atheists that despise Hitchens."

The British writer made headlines last year when Christians began a movement to pray for his health as he received treatment for cancer. Hitchens has been forced to cancel several appearances because of his condition but still plans to attend this weekend's event, organizers say.

The focus overall won't be on these big names but on the grassroots leaders who will urge attendees to consider altruism and community service among freethinkers as well as offer ways to get more people involved in their activities.

Women and minorities have historically been underrepresented in atheist organizations, and most atheists in Houston keep their nonbelief closeted to either family members, coworkers or everyone.

Only about 4 percent of Americans identify as atheists or agnostic, according to the Pew Forum, though a number of religiously unaffiliated adults fall into this category but aren't ready to adopt the label.

"Living in Houston, it's such a religious city in such a religious state, that we wanted to give the atheist community a place to go," Gonzalez said.

Houston Atheists offers social activities nearly every day of the week across the area. There's a playgroup that takes kids to the museum district, a meet-up for discussions over coffee, a happy hour to have a secular brew or two, plus an increasing number of charity events.

"The dynamic of our group is changing so much, and we are going to be doing more for them and doing more for the people of Houston," Gonzalez said.

kate.shellnutt@chron.com