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Upcoming Skeptic, Atheist, Secular etc Events

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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,086 ✭✭✭Michael Nugent




    Aron Ra, Texas State Director of American Atheists, will be speaking in Dublin next Tuesday evening at a public meeting organised by Atheist Ireland, about how religion harms education. It will be Aron's first talk for Atheist Ireland since the World Atheist Convention in Dublin in 2011.

    The meeting is in the Davenport Hotel, Dublin at 7.30 pm next Tuesday, 21 April 2015. Admission is free but space may be limited so please arrive early.

    There are two Facebook event pages for this talk:

    This is the event page if you are a member of Atheist Ireland.

    This is the event page if you are not a member of Atheist Ireland.

    Aron is best known for his YouTube series on The Foundational Falsehoods of Creationism (see episode one below), and he will discuss the difference between faith-based and evidence-based education, and the battle between creationists and educators in American schools.

    I will then talk briefly about the harm caused by religion in the Irish education system, followed by an audience question and answer session chaired by Jane Donnelly.



  • Registered Users Posts: 17,823 ✭✭✭✭silverharp


    I popped along last night. He is an interesting speaker but a little dry, I missed the q&a at the end as I had to go.
    Obviously the American situation is different. I can't imagine any kids in Ireland are being taught young earth creationism , or that the acceptable answer to how were the mountains created is god made them.
    My opinion was that they tried to pack too much in and the topic should have been just US education and the political interference which I found interesting.

    A belief in gender identity involves a level of faith as there is nothing tangible to prove its existence which, as something divorced from the physical body, is similar to the idea of a soul. - Colette Colfer



  • Registered Users Posts: 23 mkaobrih


    Time 29 April at 19:30
    Place Wynns Hotel Dublin 35/39 Lower Abbey Street, Dublin, Ireland Dublin 1

    Atheist Ireland are hosting a debate on the Marriage Equality referendum. The motion for the debate is "Would a No Vote be Good for Irish Society?". The debate is open to everyone to attend and we look forward to a respectful but robust discussion on the night.

    Arguing for a Yes vote are Max Krzyzanowski and Brendan Butler. Arguing for a No vote are Susan Philips and Tom Carew.

    Max Krzyaanowski is an organizer with the group LGBT Noise who campaign for the equal treatment for LGBTQIA people in all areas of life, in Ireland and abroad. Max was born and grew up in Dublin, with an Irish mother and a father of Polish extraction, and was introduced to activism in his teen years, helping with his mother's campaigning in Divorce Action Group. Since winning the Mr Gay World title in 2009, he has committed to advocating for legal and social change on issues ranging from gender recognition to policing reform, and has filled the role of public spokesperson for LGBT Noise.

    Brendan Butler is part of the group 'We Are Church Ireland'. ‘We are Church’ is a global organisation founded in 1996 and is dedicated to the reform of the Catholic Church . Presently he is a joint Co-Ordinator of We are Church Ireland . Brendan has been active in Solidarity work for Latin America since 1979 , founded the Ireland Algeria solidarity group, and is the co ordinator of the NGO Peace Alliance.

    Susan Philips is a Political Correspondent. She was an Independent member of the Wicklow County Council for fourteen years up until 1999 when she then went into academia.

    Tom Carew was formerly a full-time trade union official - Secretary of Post Office Group of Unions, former Union President, on Executive of Dublin Council of Trade Unions, and former Treasurer of both the Peace Train and STOP-96, which both campaigned against terrorism in Ireland, as well as active in the Anti-Amendment Campaign against the anti-abortion 8th Amendment to the Constitution, and in the Divorce Action Group. Tom is a member of global networks, SPME [Scholars for Peace in the Middle East ] and TULIP [trade unionists linking Israel and Palestine]. And a life-long critical student of Ethics and History.

    The debate will be chaired by Ashling O'Brien, the Chair of the Dublin Regional Branch of Atheist Ireland.


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,815 ✭✭✭✭PopePalpatine


    Ah yes, the same Susan Phillips who shrieked about homosexuality being decriminalised.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23 mkaobrih


    Marriage Referendum Debate

    Wednesday, 6 May 2015 from 19:00 to 20:30 (IST)
    Ballinode, Ireland

    This debate has been organised by the I.T Sligo Debate Society. We aim to create an equal opportunity for local representatives, on both sides of the referendum, to put forward their position. The debate will take place on Wednesday the 6th of May in Hume Hall, on the I.T Sligo campus. The debate will start at 7pm and we would encourage all those attending to arrive before the event begins to ensure entry.
    The motion is a shortened version of the actual ballot question, it is : "Marriage should be accessible to all couples, within the law, without distinction to their sex'.

    There are 4 speakers on the night:

    Against the motion, the Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran. The Bishop has been outspoken in calling for a no vote. Also against the motion, is Amanda Gallagher who is a local campaigner on a number of issues and advocate for a No vote.

    For the motion will be local Yes Equality campaigner and Atheist Ireland representative Corey Whyte. Also advocating in favour of the motion will be Brian Finnegan. Brian is a Sligo native, novelist and editor of GCN magazine.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 23 mkaobrih


    Time: 8 May at 19:30
    Place: Screen Cinema Dublin
    Price of tickets: 5 euro plus 1.05 booking fee.
    tickets available on eventbrite

    contact dublin at atheist.ie for more information

    Atheist Ireland are delighted to be hosting the Irish premier screening of the documentary 'A Better Life: An Exploration of Joy & Meaning in a World Without God' followed by a Q&A with the director/producer Chris Johnson.

    There is no God. Now what? If this is the only life we have, how does that affect how we lives our lives, how we treat each other, and cope with death. As a follow-up to one of Kickstarter’s most successful publishing projects, photographer and filmmaker Chris Johnson introduces us to some of the many voices from his book. In this fascinating documentary — learn the stories behind the book in interviews with some of our greatest thinkers. Join Chris as he explores issues of joy & meaning and travels around the globe meeting people from all walks of life and backgrounds who challenge the false stereotypes of atheists as immoral and evil. From Daniel Dennett and A.C. Grayling, to Julia Sweeney and Robert Llewellyn —learn the various ways many atheists have left religion to a better life filled with love, compassion, hope, and wonder!


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    The ISS's next public lecture is on Wednesday May 6th when Professor Emma Teeling of University College Dublin will be speaking on the topic of:

    The secret of the bat genome - how bats can help us live longer, see better and be happier!

    Date and Time: Wednesday May 6th at 8.00pm
    Location: Abbey Room, Wynn’s Hotel, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1
    Speaker: Professor Emma Teeling, School of Biology & Environmental Science, UCD
    Admission: €3 (Members and concessions) €6 (Non-members)
    Professor Teeling outlined her talk as follows:

    One-fifth of all mammals in the world are bats -- so why are they so stigmatized in Western culture? These fascinating creatures have a lot to teach us, with their uniquely high metabolic rates, surprisingly long lifespans and specialised fantastic senses. This lecture will tell you about the new discoveries made in studies of mammalian phylogenetics and comparative genomics, focusing mainly on bat biology and the bat's genetic signatures of survival which enables them live far longer than expected and hear far better than other mammals. You will learn how studying and conserving these amazing animals can improve our health and preserve our environments.
    The picture below is of a bumble-bee bat, the smallest mammal in the world, held by one of Prof Teeling's PhD students

    347103.jpg


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    ^^^ On this evening.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,086 ✭✭✭Michael Nugent


    7.30pm tonight, Screen Cinema, Dublin, enjoy the Irish premier of A Better Life: Atheists and Joy.

    Tickets only €5, subsidised by Atheist Ireland.

    We had a lovely dinner yesterday with producer/director Chris Johnson from New York, who will be doing a Q&A after the film.

    Drinks afterwards, venue to be announced.



    Chris produced this film while traveling the world to photograph 100 atheists for his coffee-table book of the same name.

    Here's the story of the film on the project's website:

    A Better Life: The Movie


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Tomorrow evening, Wednesday 21st October at 8pm - Wynn’s Hotel, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1

    Speaker: Dr. Kevin Mitchell, Smurfit Institute of Genetics and The Institute for Neuroscience TCD

    Has neuroscience explained away the mind?

    Kevin will explore, amongst other questions- "If actions are driven by the physical flow of ions through networks of neurons, then is there any room or even any need for psychological explanations of behaviour?"

    Promises to be an interesting presentation & discussion - hope you can join us! Admission is €3 for ISS members and concessions and €6 for non-members.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 33,650 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato
    Restaurant at the End of the Universe


    "If computers are driven by the physical flow of electrons through networks of switches, then is there any room or even any need for operating system theory?"


    Just a thought :pac:

    It took a while but I don't mind. How does my body look in this light?



  • Registered Users Posts: 33,650 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato
    Restaurant at the End of the Universe


    It's too late to buy tickets for the 'An Evening with Richard Dawkins' event :

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=96878833&postcount=5707

    But for those who have tickets*, Atheist Ireland are organising drinks afterwards - non-members welcome.

    http://atheist.ie/events/event/an-evening-with-richard-dawkins-post-event-drinks/
    Richard Dawkins will be reading from his new book, the second part of his memoirs, ‘Brief Candle in the Dark: My Life in Science’ at the dlr Lexicon Library in Dun Laoghaire on Friday 30th October. This event is not being organised by Atheist Ireland and is now sold out.

    However, Atheist Ireland are organising post-event drinks in the Kingston Hotel Dun Laoghaire and all are welcome to come along.





    * well, they're hardly going to be looking for event tickets are they, you could turn up just for the after event drinks :p

    It took a while but I don't mind. How does my body look in this light?



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Short notice, but there's a talk on climate change by Professor John Sweeney, Ireland's leading climatologist at 1pm today at the Unitarian Church on Stephen's Green:

    https://www.facebook.com/events/492520634240646/
    Professor John Sweeney, Ireland's leading climatologist, will speak at Dublin's Unitarian Church this Thursday, Oct 29th as part of the lunchtime talks on Climate Change in the run up to the Paris Summit in December.

    Prof Sweeney is Emeritus Professor of Geography at National University of Ireland Maynooth and has contributed to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

    The 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has emphasised the urgency of reaching an international binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the forthcoming Paris conference.

    Prof Sweeney's talk will outline the scientific basis on which the case for radical mitigation emissions is founded.

    It will examine the likely impacts of climate change globally and on Ireland and assess whether Irish and international efforts to contribute to a successful agreement are adequate to avoid burdening this and future generations with a damaged and unsustainable planet.

    Thursday's FREE lunchtime talk will run for one hour with a Q&A session following Prof Sweeney's talk.


  • Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,780 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    It's too late to buy tickets for the 'An Evening with Richard Dawkins' event

    I might have a few tickets available (need to double-check numbers) if anyone's interested.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23 mkaobrih


    Atheist Ireland’s 7th AGM will be held in Cork on Saturday 14th November in the Ambassador Hotel, Cork.

    The morning session, from 11am to 1.00pm, is for members only (but you can join on the day). It will include a review of our last year’s activities, arrangements for our programme of work for the coming year, election of officers and any amendments to our constitution.

    The afternoon session, from 2.30pm to 5pm, is open to the public. This session will discuss Atheist Ireland campaigns throughout the year with a particular focus on the campaign on religious discrimination in access to education. We will also be discussing, how in the run up to a general election, our members can let local candidates know that secular education and the separation of Church and State is an election issue for them.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Tuesday, 14 June 2016 | 18:15 | Edmund Burke Theatre, Arts Building

    Challenges to Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe

    Democratic values and institutions are being increasingly undermined and eroded in established and transitioning democracies across central and Eastern Europe. Providing perspectives on these serious developments in Poland, Hungary and Germany, this Forum will explore the implications for Ireland and Europe more widely and consider what measures could be taken to safeguard the rule of law and democratic principles so fundamental to the idea of Europe.

    This event is part of the Trinity Long Room Hub’s ‘Behind the Headlines’ discussion series offers background analyses to current issues by experts drawing on the long-term perspectives of Arts & Humanities research. It aims to provide a forum that deepens understanding, combats simplification and polarization and thus creates space for informed and respectful public discourse.

    https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/undermining-democracy-registration-25539554495?aff=efbnreg


  • Registered Users Posts: 17,823 ✭✭✭✭silverharp


    The Reason Rally 2016 was in Washington DC yesterday, a complete failure in terms of numbers. Allegedly cost a million $ to put on and the turnout as low as 2000

    CkLdqREWUAEwWB-.jpg:small

    A belief in gender identity involves a level of faith as there is nothing tangible to prove its existence which, as something divorced from the physical body, is similar to the idea of a soul. - Colette Colfer



  • Registered Users Posts: 17,823 ✭✭✭✭silverharp


    Dawkins put a video together for the reason rally event in DC last week


    A belief in gender identity involves a level of faith as there is nothing tangible to prove its existence which, as something divorced from the physical body, is similar to the idea of a soul. - Colette Colfer



  • Registered Users Posts: 23 mkaobrih


    Celebrate Hitchmas
    15 of December at 20:00 to 1:00 in Wynns Hotel Abbey St Dublin
    Celebrate the life of Christopher Hitchens in Dublin.

    Atheist Ireland are pleased to announce that we will be co-hosting the annual Hitchmas celebration.

    "Christopher Hitchens loved parties: "Alcohol makes other people less tedious, and food less bland, and can help provide what the Greeks called entheos, or the slight buzz of inspiration."

    Bring your favourite Hitchens quotes and passages to share on the night.

    The event is open to members and non-members of Atheist Ireland and is free to attend, but voluntary contributions to help cover the room hire cost would be welcome.
    you can find the faceboook event page [URL="http://Celebrate the life of Christopher Hitchens in Dublin.Atheist Ireland are pleased to announce that we will be co-hosting the annual Hitchmas celebration."Christopher Hitchens loved parties: "Alcohol makes other people less tedious, and food less bland, and can help provide what the Greeks called entheos, or the slight buzz of inspiration."Bring your favourite Hitchens quotes and passages to share on the night.The event is open to members and non-members of Atheist Ireland and is free to attend, but voluntary contributions to help cover the room hire cost would be welcome."]here[/URL]


  • Registered Users Posts: 33,650 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato
    Restaurant at the End of the Universe


    Richard Dawkins will be at the NCH in June:

    https://www.nch.ie/Online/Richard-Dawkins-12Jun17

    It took a while but I don't mind. How does my body look in this light?



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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    And Brian Cox will be in The Point on Wednesday, 24th May.

    http://3arena.ie/index.php/artist/professor-brian-cox-live/1452

    Anybody planning on going to either of these?


  • Registered Users Posts: 17,764 ✭✭✭✭keane2097


    robindch wrote: »
    And Brian Cox will be in The Point on Wednesday, 24th May.

    http://3arena.ie/index.php/artist/professor-brian-cox-live/1452

    Anybody planning on going to either of these?

    I have tickets to see Brian Cox but have just moved to Limerick making it a bit awkward


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Shaun O'Boyle, one of the organizers of the recent March for Science in Dublin, will be giving a lecture on public engagement and science activism on Wednesday, June 7th at 8pm in Wynn's Hotel, Dublin.

    The lecture is being organized by the Irish Skeptics' Society and includes a contribution from Paul O'Donoghue of the ISS.


  • Registered Users Posts: 33,650 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato
    Restaurant at the End of the Universe


    Richard Dawkins will be at the NCH in June:

    https://www.nch.ie/Online/Richard-Dawkins-12Jun17

    Bump.

    So me and Mrs D are going tonight, any A&Aers attending?

    It took a while but I don't mind. How does my body look in this light?



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    So me and Mrs D are going tonight, any A&Aers attending?
    Was going to go, but it was booked out by the time I found my credit card.

    Enjoy!


  • Registered Users Posts: 33,650 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato
    Restaurant at the End of the Universe


    Met up with the Mrs and she was only carrying a massive backpack bought in the Scout Shop earlier, for our eldest - probably not the best yoke to be bringing into an event these days. My office is nearby so I just stashed it there. Didn't want to be mistaken for one of those militant atheists :)

    Thinks... how much of a target is RD these days :eek:

    It took a while but I don't mind. How does my body look in this light?



  • Registered Users Posts: 33,650 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato
    Restaurant at the End of the Universe


    Thought this was better than the talk he did a couple of years ago in Dun Laoghaire. No apparent after effects from his stroke thankfully.

    Well worth attending and some interesting questions (and answers) subsequently too.

    The main auditorium contains a massive organ :p According to Wikipedia it was only put in in 1991 so presumably it is still in at least occasional use.

    It took a while but I don't mind. How does my body look in this light?



  • Registered Users Posts: 33,650 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato
    Restaurant at the End of the Universe


    robindch wrote: »
    Was going to go, but it was booked out by the time I found my credit card.

    That's a shame as I reckon about 5% of seats were not taken. Perhaps they should start overbooking like airlines do :)

    It took a while but I don't mind. How does my body look in this light?



  • Registered Users Posts: 14,615 ✭✭✭✭J C


    silverharp wrote: »
    Dawkins put a video together for the reason rally event in DC last week


    An Atheist saying they have a monopoly on reason ... is like a Christian claiming they have a monopoly on faith !!!:)

    Great to see Prof Dawkins in such rude good health ... and sorry I missed his NCH appearance the other night.

    He is always thought-provoking ... and I enjoy a challenge to my beliefs ... it makes them all the stronger when they come through after a good questioning ... and no better man than the good Professor to do just that !!!


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