The 1st Annual Seekerfest STL 2015 is a one-day conference based in Saint Charles, Missouri (a suburb of St. Activities will include guest speakers, tables from supporting organizations, *lots* of time to socialize and just hang out with other cool like-minded people, and an after-party including - at minimum - a cash bar and live band to cap off the evening on October 10, 2015 at the Saint Charle
s Convention Center. We are expecting between 200 and 300 attendees. Because we have to rent the facilities for the entire weekend, the following Sunday the space will be used for non-conference activities. Possibilities include: group sci-fi weddings / commitment ceremonies / vow renewals, a Texas Hold 'Em and Cards Against Humanity fundraiser for Seekerfest STL 2016, and a little game we like to call "Speed Debating". Specific details TBD. We all have questions. Everyone has doubts. But for some of us, those doubts creep into fearful territory. What if everything I have believed is a lie? How can we claim our holy books as sacred when they contain blatant contradictions and commands to do evil as though they were good? How long can we really ignore what science reveals about our universe? What if my values do not line up with my religious community anymore? Will I be rejected by my friends and family if they learn what I really am? Is it safe to openly live what I know to be true? Unfortunately for many people from religious backgrounds, these questions and the consequences that follow can be all too real. They may wonder if what everyone claims to believe can possibly be true, but the reality of the fallout from openly asking questions or proclaiming doubts can be too high of a price to pay. It’s time, as a society, to change course. Seekerfest STL, which has a theme in 2015 of “A Safe Place to Ask the *Really* Tough Questions About God,” is a conference that is aimed at people who *want* to be able to openly question what they are told to believe. It is a conference for all seekers of truth, including those from religious backgrounds who may still be struggling with their doubts about their religious faith. Whether you consider yourself a fundamentalist Christian who struggles with the contradictions or depictions of evil as good in the Bible, a spiritual-but-not-religious person who believes that *something* must be out there, or are already a convinced atheist, freethinker, naturalist, humanist, Bright, or otherwise non-believer in the supernatural: you will find an immense amount of value in hearing really tough questions about spiritual issues addressed in a challenging yet compassionate way. You are not alone in your doubts. We all have questions, and it is alright to ask them! Help us put on a conference where you and others can feel safe to explore the truth! Who are the organizers? O'Fallon Freethinkers is a group of individuals ranging in age from 16 to 60+ that meet on at least a monthly basis. Events have included laser tag, bowling, bouncy house playing, movie nights, costume parties, non-costume parties, attending Freethought conferences, and simply meeting to eat pizza, drink beer, and socialize. We see ourselves as an oasis of reason in a community heavily dominated by belief in the supernatural. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization governed by a board of directors. Seekerfest STL 2015 is being coordinated by the Seekerfest Leadership Council, a group of 15 members, including the O'Fallon Freethinkers, Inc. board of directors and several more dedicated and highly active group members. We have been planning this event since April 2014 and have various committees dedicated to logistics, marketing, finance, technology, and business development.
