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On Atheist "pilgrimages" ---namely, visiting sites associated with the great men and women who helped raise atheism from obscurity. What suggestions can be made?

Do atheists make pilgrimages? Well, of course, not in the sense that god believers do.

The Oxford English Dictionary says that a pilgrimage is "a journey made by a pilgrim" or "the action of taking such a journey"; while

a pilgrim is (among alternatives) "One who journeys (usually a long distance) to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion".

And yet YES, in the sense of making a mission of undertaking an excursion or tour to visit sites associated with major figures who contributed much to the rise of atheism out of the cerebral morass of religious dogma.

My most appreciated figurehead is certainly Charles Darwin, recognised in Britain by his appearance on a £2 coin

http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/originsuniverselifehumankindandda...

and a £10 pound note

http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/originsuniverselifehumankindandda...

Born in Shrewsbury, England,

he lived and worked most of his adult life in Down House, Kent, where he died in 1882.

He is celebrated with a huge statue in the Natural History Museum, London -- for which refer to the photographs on My Page

http://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DrTerenceMeaden

That's my suggestion. What are yours please---naming the appropriate sites?

Tags: Darwin, pilgrimages

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Permalink Reply by The Nerd on June 16, 2011 at 2:31pm

Vacations are healthy, and historical landmark vacations are educational. Can't say know of any good stops, though.

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Terence Meaden on June 16, 2011 at 2:32pm

I might add that Charles Darwin's burial place is inside Westminster Abbey, London---quite near to Sir Isaac Newton.

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Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on June 16, 2011 at 3:25pm

Are there any sites with strong association with G. B. Shaw, H. L. Mencken or Robert Ingersol? They deserve some “pilgrims” and gift shops. The Jefferson Memorial would come close - I've always suspected that Jefferson was more of an Atheist than a Deist.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Berg-Cross on June 27, 2011 at 5:37pm

There is a tour, if not a pilgramage for "The Great Agnostic": Robert G. Ingersoll. Ingersoll was a 19th Century champion of Freethought and famous orator and critic of religion. He toured the US and delivered over 1,300 speeches on this topic as well as women's rights, civil rights, (and DC voting rights).

Ingersoll lived and worked in Washington, DC for 7 years working as a lawyer where he argued cases before the Supreme Court, lobbied Congress and consulted with Presidents. He is buried across from DC in Arlington National Cemetery.

You can a link to a woalking tour on the blog on secular DC activities http://secularhumanist.blogspot.com/2011/04/earthy-scientific-and-t... and also

http://www.ingersoll.wash.org/pdf/ingersoll_tour.pdf

Gary Berg-Cross