…and this is a 
Help some skeptics
Category: Skepticism
Posted on: August 6, 2007 10:09 AM, by PZ Myers
The atheists, skeptics, and secular humanists of Fresno have formed up and consolidate, and now they're looking for a name for their group. Since, in the absence of an infusion of God's creative will, they couldn't possibly come up with an idea of their own, they've started a contest to come up with an appropriate label for their nest of elitist vipers in the bosom of Christendom. Can someone here think of a good name?
Comments
Posted by: Tom @Thoughtsic.com | August 6, 2007 10:12 AM
Good to see another grassroots/local group attempting stabilization. As they indicated on their blog, membership numbers swell and shrink, but coming up with a good name and URL should help draw interest.
Posted by: Tiny Tim | August 6, 2007 10:19 AM
Sure.
The Religion Haters.
Posted by: Erik the Otter | August 6, 2007 10:21 AM
The United Atheist Alliance is the only logical conclusion, for Science's sake! I will feast on the opposition's entrails... on my tummy!
Posted by: notthedroids | August 6, 2007 10:32 AM
Fresnoans Against God
Posted by: Steve_C | August 6, 2007 10:35 AM
What about a more cryptic like the...
Apple and Snake Society
Round Earth Society
FARP... Fresno Association for Rational People
Posted by: Rich | August 6, 2007 10:39 AM
Skeptics, Materialists, Atheists and Rational Thinkers?
Posted by: Iris | August 6, 2007 10:39 AM
Actually, I think "Nest of Elitist Vipers in the Bosom of Christendom" sums it up quite nicely.
Posted by: notthedroids | August 6, 2007 10:40 AM
In all seriousness . . .
Acronymic names are way overdone. They should choose something simple and to the point, for example "Fresno Skeptics".
Posted by: SEF | August 6, 2007 10:42 AM
Hmm... the FASHists (Fresno Atheist Skeptic Humanists) - FREe to Say NO.
Posted by: tsg | August 6, 2007 10:54 AM
Heresy "R" Us
Posted by: joltvolta | August 6, 2007 10:56 AM
"The atheists, skeptics, and secular humanists of Fresno"
You said it yourself, PZ. Good work.
Keeping the name clear as to their purpose would be beneficial towards gaining momentum.
Posted by: T. Bruce McNeely | August 6, 2007 10:57 AM
Fresno Free Finkers? Too silly.
Fresno Atheist Rationalist Koalition (FARK)? No, already taken.
FresNoReligion? I like it! (I'm ashamed to say)
Posted by: MartinC | August 6, 2007 10:58 AM
The Fresno Tabernacle Choir?
Posted by: Zeno | August 6, 2007 11:01 AM
The Reason Raisins
Sounds Amish, doesn't it?
Posted by: Zeno | August 6, 2007 11:04 AM
Oh, how did I forget to mention this? The entire Fresno area is crazy for the Fresno State Bulldogs. The local skeptics could call themselves Darwin's Bulldogs.
(No, I've never been a Bulldogs fan. As an asportual male, I just don't care.)
(Oh, and I don't like raisins either.)
Posted by: John Frum | August 6, 2007 11:10 AM
Fresno United Council for the Kalology of Skeptics? :D No real intent to call them "fucks," but I had to satisfy my childish sense of humor.
Posted by: Bjorn Watland | August 6, 2007 11:10 AM
FresNO Gods Club
Posted by: Alejandro | August 6, 2007 11:15 AM
If they call it FresNO Gods Club, they are open to accepting one God. You know, like the No Homers Club
[/obsessive simspsons fan]
Posted by: CalGeorge | August 6, 2007 11:20 AM
Fresnoans
United and
Cooperatively
Kicking
God
Outta our lives,
DUDE!
Posted by: bernarda | August 6, 2007 11:23 AM
"Out In The Tules Skeptics' Society" might be a good one.
Or, "The Tulare Lake Commemorative Coalition".
Posted by: CalGeorge | August 6, 2007 11:27 AM
The Fresno BEElievers. NOT!
Posted by: Don | August 6, 2007 11:41 AM
The Anaxagoras Society?
Or, a step further, The Altar of Lampsacus?
Posted by: Foobarski | August 6, 2007 11:48 AM
Fresno
Alliance of
Concerned
Theological
Skeptics
Posted by: stogoe | August 6, 2007 11:59 AM
Fresno Popular People's Front
People's Popular Front of Fresno
Fresno People's Front of Fresno
...
Posted by: Zeno | August 6, 2007 12:10 PM
Not going to happen, Bernarda. No Fresno group is going to adopt a name that would be more pertinent to the adjacent county. Just south of Fresno county is Tulare county, complete with the city of Tulare, the killing tule fog, and a rabbit disease named tularemia in the county's honor. Most Fresnans would consider a Tulare-related name beneath them. Or so I believe. (Perhaps I should be more skeptical.)
Posted by: Rose Colored Glasses | August 6, 2007 12:13 PM
Nobody's Fools
Eyes Wide Open
Posted by: Kseniya | August 6, 2007 12:35 PM
One More Reason To Gather Kindling - "OMRTGK"
Hmmm. Doesn't exactly sing, does it? Well, maybe it'll catch fire eventually.
Posted by: qedpro | August 6, 2007 12:44 PM
fresno atheists against christian tyranny society
or "FACTS"
ok its lame.
Posted by: Ericb | August 6, 2007 12:54 PM
A Foul Stench in the Nostrils of God
Posted by: CJColucci | August 6, 2007 12:58 PM
Zeno's idea is uncomfortably close to my own: The California Reasons.
Posted by: Eduardo Vila | August 6, 2007 1:10 PM
inspired by the first response...
"The Only Logical Conclusion"
Posted by: spartanrider | August 6, 2007 1:15 PM
Secular Humanists In Fresno.Shit for short.Couldn't resist.I tried.
Posted by: Don | August 6, 2007 2:15 PM
Fresno starts with a 'T'?
Posted by: trj | August 6, 2007 2:17 PM
You hinted at the solution yourself, PZ: "atheists, skeptics, and secular humanists of Fresno".
I propose: Fresno ASS.
Posted by: jufulu, FCD | August 6, 2007 3:07 PM
Nest of Elitist Vipers would make for a great band name.
Posted by: Anton Mates | August 6, 2007 3:44 PM
The Society Of People Who Know That Fresno's Very Existence Proves There Is No God?
Posted by: Leon | August 6, 2007 3:50 PM
Hey, I'm originally from Tulare. What do those Fresnans know?? ;-)Posted by: Loc | August 6, 2007 4:02 PM
Compassionate Conservative Christians (C^3)
Oh..wait
Posted by: Felix | August 6, 2007 4:18 PM
How about "The Crushing Fist of Despair"?
It's nonspecific while simultaneously descriptive of the reactions received from superstitious barbarians.
Just a thought.
Posted by: CalGeorge | August 6, 2007 4:59 PM
Fresnoans [for]
Openly [and]
Obnoxiously
Baiting
Asshole
Religionists
Posted by: Scrofulum | August 6, 2007 5:13 PM
The Can O' Worms society?
Posted by: Saveau | August 6, 2007 5:43 PM
The Good Guys?
Posted by: John B. | August 6, 2007 5:57 PM
FRES No-God
Posted by: John B. | August 6, 2007 6:00 PM
or...
Darwin's Bulldogs
(Bulldogs is a Fresno thing. It's the Fresno St. Bulldogs. They have no pro teams so the Bulldogs are EVERYTHING there. Adopting the Bulldog will really piss off the religious, which are legion there).
Posted by: Justin Moretti | August 6, 2007 6:55 PM
The Judas Society.
Posted by: YetAnotherKevin | August 6, 2007 7:30 PM
Slightly off-topic, an add for a charity on TV this weekend gave me the idea for the Atheist Children's Fund.
"Help the Children. Because this is the only life they have."
Posted by: Mindbleach | August 6, 2007 7:39 PM
The Atheist Problem. Not Fresno-specific, but I've always loved that form of self-deprecating titling.
Ripping off Godspeed You Black Emperor, how about "Void and Waste?" Nahum 2:10 - "She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness."
Posted by: jufulu, FCD | August 6, 2007 8:45 PM
Nest of Elitist Vipers could be a great name for a Metal band.
Posted by: JOHN | August 7, 2007 12:02 AM
Maybe God created the big bang. It is not out of the realm of possiblity. Science proves things can not just appear from nothing. So there must be something beyond science. This is coming from an agnostic.
Posted by: Skeptic8 | August 7, 2007 12:06 AM
One vote for Darwin's Bulldogs because of that 'local connexion' and a bit of 'Hi, Huxley' as a talking point. A bit of local flavour that leaves an opening for a 'pat' provocation and a friendly explanation. Rally 'round the Team and such. Got 'em confused? Walk right in with a well honed polemic bereft of pejoratives.
Got a spirited 'Full Moon Society' sort of local tie?
Ye skilled arbiters please post a "Vote Here" page!
Best o' times to bretheren in Fresno.
Posted by: Wonders for Oyarsa | August 7, 2007 12:10 AM
The Unified Atheist League is the only logical choice! Science damn you all!
Posted by: Calladus | August 7, 2007 3:37 AM
Virtual particles, evaporating black holes.
Posted by: bernarda | August 7, 2007 4:37 AM
zeno and leon, I was referring to Fresno's glorious past. From Wiki.
"The County of Fresno was formed in 1856. It was named for the abundant mountain ash trees lining the San Joaquin River. Fresno is the Spanish word for white ash trees. The county was much larger than it is today, comprising its current area plus all of what became Madera County and parts of what are now San Benito, Tulare, Kings, Inyo, and Mono counties."
Of course there is another marking point in Fresno's history,
"The Fresno Municipal Sanitary Landfill was the first modern landfill in the United States, and incorporated several important innovations to waste disposal, including trenching, compacting, and the daily covering of trash with dirt. It was opened in 1937 and closed in 1987. Today, it has the unusual distinction of being a National Historic Landmark as well as a Superfund Site.[8]"
Let's see, how about the Fresno Sanitary Skeptics Society or the Fresno Society for the Religion Sanitary Landfill.
Posted by: JOHN | August 7, 2007 1:39 PM
Virtual particles, evaporating black holes.
Alright that's fine but where did these black holes come from and virtual particles. Science can only take you so far.