Meet the Atheopagan Society Council!
This year, terrible as it has been in so many ways, has seen Atheopaganism evolve to a new level. We have created a legal entity which can carry on the work of the path beyond the life span of any individual: The Atheopagan Society.
This nonprofit corporation is as remarkable for what it isn’t as for what it is. It isn’t a membership organization: no one is going to make you pay just to be an Atheopagan. Instead, it is simply an organization designed to create resources, provide education and training, and organize support for Atheopagans and for the promulgation of Atheopagan values in the world.
The Atheopagan Society has its own website, found here. There you can find details about what it is and what it does.
But I wanted to write today about some very special people who have come together to lead the Society: to do the work of building and sustaining it so Atheopaganism can continue to be a growing movement, a growing voice. I, too, am a member, though not an officer: we are the Council of the Atheopagan Society.
A couple of us are anonymous. That’s natural: it can be hard to be public about being a Pagan or an atheist, but especially both. These members are nonetheless tremendous contributors to our culture and our community.
So please: meet your Atheopagan Society Council. My hat is off to each of you and it is my pleasure to work with you on the Council!
Arwen Gwyneth (Yucca)
Chair
Arwen is a Pagan, a mother, science teacher and ecologist. She lives in the high desert on an off-grid, permaculture homestead with her family and their very well loved cat named Moose. Arwen is a co-host with Mark Green on the podcast THE WONDER: Science-Based Paganism.
Dr. Jon Cleland Host
Vice Chair
Dr. Jon Cleland Host is a scientist who earned his PhD in materials science at Northwestern University & has conducted research since 1997. He holds eight patents and has authored over three dozen internal scientific papers and eleven papers for peer-reviewed scientific journals, including the journal Nature. He has taught classes on biology, math, chemistry, physics and general science at Delta College and Saginaw Valley State University. Jon grew up near Pontiac, and has been building a reality-based spirituality for over 30 years, first as a Catholic and now as a Unitarian Universalist, including collaborating with Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow to spread the awe and wonder of the Great Story of our Universe (see www.thegreatstory.org, and the blog at evolutionarytimes.org). Jon and his wife have four sons, whom they embrace within a Universe-centered, Pagan, family spirituality. He currently moderates the yahoo group Naturalistic Paganism and posts videos on his YouTube Channel. Jon is also a regular columnist at Humanistic Paganism. His column is called Starstuff, Contemplating.
Tonya (Orin) McNeese
Treasurer
I am an electrician, a mama, and an Atheopagan. I have always struggled with the realization that so many people have forgotten that religion, especially Paganism is meant to be metaphorical. I am proud to be a part of Atheopagan growth and to have finally found like-minded individuals.
C. Wendt
Secretary
C. Wendt is a microbiologist with over 15 years of experience in instructional design & delivery. Any further details about her are on a need-to-know basis.
Robin C.
Robin is an educator, librarian, and nature nerd. Her spiritual practice consists of hiking, gardening, cooking, making art, and looking things up.
Katie Frooman
Katie Frooman (she/her) is a stay at home mom of two cats and two humans that lives in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. She is passionate about fiber crafting, leftist politics, and authentic Goa/southern Indian food and finds peace running outdoors, stargazing, and mushroom foraging.
James Morgenstern
Atheopagan. Thelemite. Heathen. Druid.
I’ve danced through many pagan circles for just over 3 decades and spent several years facilitating seasonal public rituals in the Midwest. I moved to California in 2014 and currently live amongst the redwoods along the Russian River. I make attempts at being a woodworker, an artist, a musician, and several other things.
Lilith Uhler
Lilith is a behavioral ecologist and biodiversity/conservation biologist, a bird nerd, a plant geek, a wife, and a mom.
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I am full of gratitude for the generosity of people who step up to take responsibility for coordinating groups, without monetary reward but I hope with ample emotional reward, for their hours of work. I hope they feel support from their ‘membership’ and from their co-councillors. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do to keep the gathering close.
I will make sure the whole Council gets this message!