Atheists gather in Davie to celebrate the life of Darwin

By Georgia East
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted February 12 2007

DAVIE · It was a birthday party for a guest of honor everyone knew wouldn't show up.

After all, Charles Darwin would have turned 198 today. But that didn't stop a group of Broward atheists and others from gathering to celebrate the life of one of the foremost experts on evolution with some chocolate cake and music.

About 75 people came out to Flamingo Gardens for the six-hour party and workshop, where various speakers expounded on Darwin's theories with slide presentations, songs and some debate.

In a crowd filled with people ages 3 to 80, some said they came out to the party sponsored by the Center for Inquiry and the Atheists of Broward County to hear more and mingle with others who have an open mind about Darwinism.

"People are still terrified to say they think differently about our origins," said Ronelle Delmont, 62, of Pembroke Pines, who is an atheist. "It's like the last closet anyone wants to come out of."

This is the second year the atheist group has sponsored a celebration for Darwin Day, although they said the last one was a lot smaller.

Ken Loukinen, the head of the Atheists of Broward County, said their numbers have grown from a few a couple of years ago to about 130. The group meets regularly in Davie.