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Event - Wednesday, July 1, 2000h, Science Gallery, Pearse Street

  • 29-06-2009 12:53pm
    #1
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,427 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    There's a talk on this Wednesday evening at eight in the Science Gallery on Pearse Street. The topic is the historical spread of religion. Opponents of memetic explanations for the existence of religion should find this talk interesting.

    Here's the blurb:
    Science Gallery wrote:

    Is religion infectious? The spread and future of religion.

    As part of INFECTIOUS at the Science Gallery Dublin's political cabaret Leviathan presents a very special interactive public conversation.

    The BBC's William Crawley addresses the question of the infectious and contagious spread of religion through the ages and examines its future in all it forms. The panel includes Michael Kelly, Deputy Editor of the Irish Catholic, Dr Peter Rollins, author of "How (not) to speak of God", Gerard Rory, Scientologist and Mick Nugent, Chair of Atheists Ireland.

    This will be followed by a head-to-head discussion with two of Ireland's leading scientists, Dr William Reville - a Catholic - and David McConnell - an atheist - on how religion spreads.

    Abie Philbin Bowman also brings his brilliantly-observed and incredibly well-travelled comedic insights on religion throughout the world.
    You may need to book in advance through the Science Gallery Website.


Comments

  • #2
    Zombrex
    Closed Accounts Posts: 25,848 ✭✭✭✭Zombrex


    Good spread of religious panel (even an scientologist :pac:), hopefully the discussion won't be dismissed as a bunch of atheists trying to explain religion.

    Will try and make it


  • #3
    Fanny Cradock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,245 ✭✭✭✭Fanny Cradock


    Sounds fun. But I can say with certainty that I can't make it. :(


  • #4
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    Sounds interesting - but I will still be somewhere much sunnier. :)


  • #5
    Fanny Cradock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,245 ✭✭✭✭Fanny Cradock


    Ditto!


  • #6
    JimiTime
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,418 ✭✭✭JimiTime


    PDN wrote: »
    Sounds interesting - but I will still be somewhere much sunnier. :)
    Fanny Cradock wrote: »
    Ditto!



    Before you rub our noses in it too much, its been very warm and sunny in the emerald isle lately, so:p :)


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  • #7
    bus77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,313 ✭✭✭bus77


    I popped along. It ran to 3 hours which I was glad about because it was billed as only being one and a half, so I was getting a bit concerned when the comedians set at the beginning hit the half an hour mark.
    His basic thing was that Americans are nice .ect but a bit cracked.

    Then it was on to the two scientists, and the first question went to the humanist, David McConnell. I forget the exact form the opening question took, but his response left a lot to be desired. It was very short and all I hear near the end is ''..and religion spreads, for some reason.''

    I was fairly despondent for a bit after that and tuned back in to find out what the person beside me was groaning and rolling around at. The Catholic scientist had launched into some watchmaker type stuff.

    It did get better after that though and with the addiction of some more guests on stage the talk opened up with very varied comments.


  • #8
    Húrin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    Many atheists here feel that religion is in terminal decline, and that it will eventually die out within the next few generations. Did those on the panel agree with this opinion?


  • #9
    bus77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,313 ✭✭✭bus77


    Húrin wrote: »
    Many atheists here feel that religion is in terminal decline, and that it will eventually die out within the next few generations. Did those on the panel agree with this opinion?

    I think that question was broached in various ways but not directly.

    At the end it was asked what was the future of religion and society. Gerard Rory the scientologist, seemed hopeful for further growth. The Catholic scientist Dr William Reville reckoned society itself was in decline, due to the decline in religion.

    David McConnell, the Atheist scientist on the night had the usual view that more education equals less religion and proposed some changes to the education system, even going so far as to slap Mick Nugent, Chair of Atheists Ireland on the back and cite him as an example of the fine people we'll get if we do.

    I'm waiting for the podcasts to refresh my memory more.


  • #10
    J C
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,615 ✭✭✭✭J C


    Húrin wrote: »
    Many atheists here feel that religion is in terminal decline, and that it will eventually die out within the next few generations. Did those on the panel agree with this opinion?
    ...religions (of the theistic AND atheistic varieties) come and go ... Christian Faith will endure to the end.

    ...be still and know that Jesus Christ is Lord ... and God.:)


  • #11
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,526 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    J C wrote: »
    ...religions (of the theistic AND atheistic varieties) come and go ... Christian Faith will endure to the end.

    ...be still and know that Jesus Christ is Lord ... and God.:)


    How can not believing in something come and go?


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  • #12
    Fanny Cradock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,245 ✭✭✭✭Fanny Cradock


    Mickeroo wrote: »
    How can not believing in something come and go?

    If that "something" means the divine, then I would guess it's through belief in God or gods. Obvious, no? Atheism, I gather, is prone to waxing and waining just like any religion or personal position. It won't ever disappear, then again religious belief won't either.


  • #13
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,526 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    Fanny Cradock wrote: »
    If that "something" means the divine, then I would guess it's through belief in God or gods. Obvious, no? Atheism, I gather, is prone to waxing and waining just like any religion or personal position. It won't ever disappear, then again religious belief won't either.

    Kind of my point exactly :)


  • #14
    Fanny Cradock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,245 ✭✭✭✭Fanny Cradock


    Mickeroo wrote: »
    Kind of my point exactly :)

    Excellent. We are singing from the same hymn sheet, then!


  • #15
    Húrin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    bus77 wrote: »
    The Catholic scientist Dr William Reville reckoned society itself was in decline, due to the decline in religion.
    What did he mean by that? Did he think that it was all going to collapse into an individualistic, atomised culture? Thus giving truth to Thatcher's statement that "there is no such thing as society"?


  • #16
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,427 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Húrin wrote: »
    bus77 wrote:
    The Catholic scientist Dr William Reville reckoned society itself was in decline, due to the decline in religion.
    What did he mean by that?
    I don't recall that he explained what he meant -- his comment was limited to the standard religious line that family was the "central unit of society" and that the family was falling to bits, therefore society was falling to bits.

    Probably he assumed that the value of a society is proportional to the amount of religious-style observance, and as such, a society which reduces or removes these is bound, by circular definition, to "decline".
    Húrin wrote: »
    Thus giving truth to Thatcher's statement that "there is no such thing as society"?
    Check out the full text of Thatcher's quote -- the larger point she was actually making is not unreasonable.


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