About Us
who we are
The Fellowship of Science (TFOS) is a science-based, non-theistic religion and a developing community for those seeking meaning, belonging, and guidance grounded in scientific knowledge. Based in San Diego, California, United States of America, TFOS is open to individuals from around Earth. Members of TFOS are known as TFOSian.
Becoming a TFOSian does not require scientific credentials or any particular academic or professional background. TFOS welcomes individuals who sincerely wish to join, value science and reason, are capable of independently considering what participation in a religion entails, and are willing to make a good-faith effort to follow the TFOS path toward sustainable flourishing and the prevention of avoidable harm.
TFOSian are neither required nor encouraged to believe in or worship any deity or supernatural higher power. TFOS does not treat any founder, leader, or text as divine or infallible. Instead, TFOSian are encouraged to think independently, examine the religion’s teachings critically, and apply the science-grounded guidance presented in its foundational and guiding text, The Book of Science.
OUR PURPOSE AND APPROACH
One of the central purposes of TFOS is to promote sustainable flourishing and help prevent or reduce avoidable harm, both in the lives of TFOSian and in the wider universe. TFOS begins with these ethical commitments and uses scientific evidence and reason to evaluate which choices, behaviors, environments, and practices are most likely to advance them. Its teachings and practices remain open to revision as knowledge advances and new becomes available.
As a non-theistic religion, TFOS does not ground its teachings in the worship of a deity or in claims of divine revelation, sacred authority, or supernaturalism. Instead, its religious path is informed by evidence, reason, critical reflection, and the responsible application of knowledge produced through scientific research.
Central values of TFOS include physical and mental health, sustainable flourishing, the prevention and alleviation of suffering, social connection, curiosity, personal and collective growth, openness to revision, scientific inquiry, and the responsible use of technology.
The core functions of TFOS include providing social support and mutual assistance; moral guidance informed by science and reason; education about science; research-informed rituals, practices, and traditions; support in facing mortality and grief; parables, stories, and poetry that encourage reflection; and shared sources of meaning, identity, and purpose. These purposes extend into community life through Weekly Gatherings and annual observances, including the TFOS holiday Discovery Day on December 5.
OUR ORIGINS
The Fellowship of Science was founded in San Diego by Nick Afanasiev in September 2025 and publicly launched in September 2026 alongside the publication of The Book of Science. Afanasiev holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and has professional experience as a research associate in preclinical drug development.
Afanasiev created TFOS to offer individuals a science-based, non-theistic religious path that could provide many of the practical benefits commonly associated with religion—including meaning, ethical guidance, ritual, reflection, social connection, and belonging—without requiring belief in deities, supernatural realms, divine revelation, or sacred authority. From its beginning, TFOS was designed to remain open to revision as scientific knowledge advances.