AOF Activities & Events
This exceptional speaker, formerly scheduled for April, will now speak to AOF in May.
Who is Dave Warnock? For almost 40 years a conservative Evangelical pastor at the Foursquare Church, he dug into the claims of Evangelical Christianity. Dug too deeply perhaps. He learned that his lifelong faith had failed him.
First he called himself an agnostic. Later it was "atheist," and now he does what he can to de-stigmatize this explosive word (it just means “non-theist,” he says). He seeks to show that atheists can be good people, exhibiting the same morals and values as people of faith.
The exit from Christianity was due to the tenets of his life-long faith no longer aligning with his core values: 1) acceptance of all people and 2) the idea that life is to be lived for the moments that are contained within this one life we know we have, rather than viewing this life as a temporary life until we enter eternity. Turning from his faith came at a huge personal cost: the loss of most of his friends, the end of his 37-year marriage, and a broken relationship with two of his three children, which has also deprived him of being part of his six grandchildren’s lives.
We know, life is random, chaotic and unpredictable; and so it is for Dave. On February 26, 2019, he received the devastating diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease). A series of doctor visits, a blood test, MRI, more doctor visits, and finally an EMG at one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country led to the cold and final diagnosis, along with instructions to put his clothes back on and where to find the exit from the neurologist’s office. No follow-up plan … no counselor referral … just go home and die in 3-5 years.
Suddenly, this precious and brief life became infinitely more precious and incredibly brief. Instead of sinking into the depression, anger and hopelessness this debilitating, fatal disease often brings, Dave immediately decided to begin “Dying Out Loud,” to live life to the fullest and travel as much of the world as his body will allow. He wants to see places he's never been, spend time with people he knows and loves, experience the joy of meeting new people, and cherish the beautiful moments life offers. This life-change is now the Dying Out Loud Tour: Dave is traveling to speak at venues all over the world, doing interviews on podcasts and YouTube shows, and basically spreading his message everywhere he can.
Let's welcome him. Let's hear him. A special event of the AOF Speaker Series.
Note, Reason Center is closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Please attend this meeting via Videoconference. How to do that:
- Any time before the event: Go to https://zoom.us/download. Download & install the Zoom videoconference tool if you haven't already. (Do this just once, it will be good for all future online Zoom meetings.)
- Just before: Visit link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86926427545. It will take you to a Zoom Page.
- If it asks you to sign in: If you have a Facebook or Google account, or even an SSO account, just click one of the buttons for those, then sign in with your Facebook or Google info. Otherwise create your own Zoom account. (Yes, it's another dang password to remember, *sigh*.)
- The videoconference should begin. Speakers on, please!