Author Dale McGowan Explores 'The Death Problem'

McGowan to discuss how mortality awareness shapes human behavior at Atlanta Freethought Society event.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Atlanta Freethought Society is hosting author Dale McGowan, who will discuss his concept of 'The Death Problem' - the idea that an awareness of mortality underlies a wide range of human behaviors, from body art to social media use to religiosity. McGowan, an author, educator, and philanthropist, will draw on his background in anthropology to explore this intriguing psychological phenomenon.

Why it matters

McGowan's talk taps into a growing field of psychology that has found mortality awareness to be a key driver of many human activities and beliefs. Understanding this dynamic can provide insights into why people engage in certain behaviors and hold particular worldviews, which has implications for fields like sociology, philosophy, and even marketing.

The details

In his presentation, McGowan will discuss how an awareness of death manifests in diverse areas of human life, from the creative impulse behind body art to the psychological drivers behind social media fixation and religious belief. Drawing on his anthropology background, McGowan will aim to shed light on the deeper ways in which mortality shapes the human experience.

  • The event will take place on March 8, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The players

Dale McGowan

An author, educator, and philanthropist who holds degrees in anthropology and music theory from UC Berkeley and a PhD in music theory from the University of Minnesota. After years as a college music professor, McGowan shifted his focus to writing and advocacy, becoming a leading voice in the nonreligious community.

Atlanta Freethought Society

A local organization that promotes secular humanism and freethought in the Atlanta area.

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What they’re saying

“That humans are afraid to die is not news. But an intriguing subfield of psychology has gone much further, finding mortality awareness at the root of a staggering array of human behaviors, from body art to social media fixation to religiosity to career ambition.”

— Dale McGowan, Author (creativeloafing.com)

What’s next

Tickets for the event are available on the Atlanta Freethought Society's website.

The takeaway

McGowan's exploration of 'The Death Problem' promises to shed new light on the powerful psychological forces that shape human behavior and beliefs, providing food for thought on our individual and collective responses to mortality.