Join us for a deep dive into Andrew Seidel’s new book “The Founding Myth”
Do "In God We Trust," the Declaration of Independence, and other historical "evidence" prove that America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles? Are the Ten Commandments the basis for American law? A constitutional attorney dives into the debate about religion's role in America's founding.
Every attendee will receive a signed hardcover book with compliments of the Chicago Humanists. Andrew Seidel will sign books from 6.30 pm - 7.00 pm. The talk starts at 7.00 pm.
Andrew and Hemant will have a lively and fascinating conversation about the book and who knows what other current topics will be discussed. There is a seating capacity of 55 people. Tickets will go quickly.
This is a ticketed event. You must register via this link to get your ticket for a donation of your choice. You must have a ticket to enter the event. Tickets are available starting December 12th.
About the Speakers
Andrew L. Seidel is a constitutional attorney, the Director of Strategic Response at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and an author. Andrew graduated cum laude from Tulane University ('04) with a B.S. in neuroscience and environmental science and magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School ('09), where he was awarded the Haber J. McCarthy Award for excellence in environmental law. He studied human rights and international law at the University of Amsterdam and traveled the world on Semester at Sea. Andrew completed his Master of Laws at Denver University Sturm College of Law with a perfect GPA ('11) and was awarded the Outstanding L.L.M. Award. His first book “The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American” hit shelves in May 2019. Renowned constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky has described it as "a beautifully written book" that "explodes a frequently expressed myth: that the United States was created as a Christian nation." Publisher's Weekly said that Andrew "provides a fervent takedown of Christian Nationalism in his furious debut. ... his well-conceived arguments will spark conversations for those willing to listen." Susan Jacoby (Freethinkers; The Age of American Unreason; and The Great Agnostic: Robert Ingersoll and American Freethought) wrote the foreword and Dan Barker penned a preface. When not fighting for the First Amendment, Andrew writes for ThinkProgress, Religion News Service, Rewire News and elsewhere. Andrew joined FFRF as a constitutional consultant on Halloween, 2011.
Hemant Mehta was born in Chicago in 1983. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2004 with a double degree in math and biology and began teaching in 2007. He acquired a master's degree in math education from DePaul University in 2010 and a national board certification in teaching in 2012. He taught high school math at Neuqua Valley High School until 2014 when he announced on Facebook and his blog that he had submitted his resignation to the school, citing that "As much as I love being in the classroom, the opportunities online are just a lot greater right now, and I don’t want to have any regrets down the road about not taking this chance while I have it."
Hemant was raised in the Jain faith, which purportedly led to his current vegetarian diet. He became an atheist as a teenager. Seeking to learn more about what motivated many Americans to be religious, he decided to attend and take notes at a number of churches across the United States. Hemants experiences at the churches became the basis for his book, I Sold My Soul on eBay. Today, Hemant runs the website and podcast “The friendly Atheist”.