Sunday Assembly 10.jpg

Sunday Assembly Portland, the local expression of an international secular church movement, gathers in December 2014 for a non-religious inspirational service.

(Melissa Binder/The Oregonian)

This Thursday, one person after another will step up to a microphone in Pioneer Courthouse Square to boldly tell the city what he or she believes.

Or doesn't believe.

It is, after all, an event for atheists, agnostics, secular humanists and freethinkers.

The Atheist Festival, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, will include music, speakers, informational booths and vendors selling bumper stickers and T-shirts.

"It's not just getting together," said Charlie Ringo, a co-organizer of the Atheist Festival. "It's promoting the idea that atheists and agnostics are good people and shouldn't be subject to stigma. There are millions of Americans who don't believe in God but are resistant to say that."

The event is organized by a handful of atheists around Oregon, including representatives from the Center for Inquiry in Portland, the Humanists of Greater Portland and a secular student group at Portland State University.

Ahead of the festival, we talked with Ringo about his perception of and experience with stigma. His responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Is stigma around atheism really a problem in Portland?

That's a good point. Portland is just about the most atheist friendly city in the U.S. But you go out in the Portland suburbs and, yeah, people are reluctant to say they are atheist and agnostic.

Public officials, nationally, they are supposed to believe in God. It's really not acceptable for a public officials to not believe in God.

(Reporter's note: According to the Pew Research Center, 51 percent of Americans say they'd be less likely to vote for a presidential candidate who does not believe in God. Americans are more adamantly opposed to electing an atheist president than one who is Muslim, gay or has had an extramarital affair.)

Who do you hope comes to the festival? Are you hoping to attract religious people so they can learn more about atheism or atheists so they can find encouragement?

A little of both. Our goal isn't to have a reverse conversion -- it's just to make the point that there are atheists all around us. Our friends are atheists, and even if they don't say that, they are there.

The analogy we use is gays and lesbians coming out of the closet. Forty years ago there was such a stigma attached they felt they had to hide it. Once people understood they're all around us, more felt comfortable coming out.

Is the country primed for a coming-out of atheists?

Oh yes. Our country is quickly becoming more secular. It's a matter of demographics: the more devout people are the older people.

But there are many public policy issues where religion is still a driving force -- even things like climate change. A U.S. senator thinks climate change isn't happening because of what it says in Genesis. I think the less religion in the public square we have, the better it is.

At the other end of the spectrum, some conservative Christians fear their faith and values are being stripped from government. How do you have a conversation with someone like that about your desire for less religion in the public square?

I can have a conversation, but that's not really the point. The point isn't to build bridges with them. The point is for the masses out there to publicly say they don't believe.

I'm not against people that hold religious beliefs and go to church and have private beliefs, but people who don't believe ought to be equally comfortable.

You talk a lot about stigma. In your personal experience, where have you felt that stigma?

I don't think I've felt hostility towards me because of how I think, but a lot of people are afraid of it. I'll tell you this: I have an acquaintance who I asked to support the festival, and he said, 'You're brave to hold this.' Why would he say that if there wasn't stigma?

-- Melissa Binder

mbinder@oregonian.com

503-294-7656

@binderpdx