Alex’s Heresies – embracing a physical reality

The Rise Of Atheism 2010 Global Atheist Convention

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (12-14 March)

Presenters: Richard Dawkins, Catherine Deveny, Phillip Adams, Taslima Nasrin, Peter Singer, PZ Myers, Dan Barker, Stuart Bechman, Sue-Ann Post, Kylie Sturgess, John Perkins, Tamas Pataki, Max Wallace, Russell Blackford, Ian Robinson, AC Grayling, Robyn Williams, Jamie Kilstein, Simon Taylor

16 November: Monday 6.00-7:30pm for four nights, discussing the history of this argument, how can a  loving, all-powerful, morally-perfect God exist with all the suffering (evil) in the world. I shall run this as a balanced review of the key arguments. CAE Melbourne City-centre

Alex McCullie

I’m running another public course on ATHEISM, AGNOSTICISM & UNBELIEF in Melbourne, Australia during February and March this year. Again this will be part of CAE’s Lifestyle – Philosophy program. The details are:

Topic: ATHEISM, AGNOSTICISM & UNBELIEF

Sessions: 6.00PM-7.30PM: 24/02/09 to 24/03/09

Overview: Discuss the opinions of key intellectuals, activists and critics from Ancient Greece, the Enlightenment and 19th century free thinkers to today. What of naturalism, morality, spiritualism, nationalism, religious activism and secular society?

Link: CAE course details and booking

Alex McCullie

Here’s your chance to put those non-believer singing voices to a very good cause – atheism. Q Transmissions, a weekly skeptical call-in talk show in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is conducting a singing contest – the best singing voice for a new atheist anthem. Submit via YouTube, Blackberry or laptop. Raise up your voices and sing for… (Check the contest here.)

Alex McCullie

REMINDER – HAPPENING TONIGHT AT 8.00pm

Atheist Society 8pm Tue 9 September 2008 at Unitarian Hall, 110 Grey Street, East Melbourne (Melways 2G, D2)

The New Atheists and Christian Nationalism Prof Graham Oppy – Monash University

Evolution – The Experience 8-13 February 2009

Web site: http://www.evolution09.com.au

Speakers:

Prof Michael Ruse

Professor Michael Ruse is Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Program in History and Philosophy of Science, Florida State University. He obtained his Ph.D. (Philosophy) from the University of Bristol, and holds Honorary Doctoral Degrees from McMaster University (D. Litt.) and from the University of Bergen (D. Philos.). Prof. Ruse has held academic positions in Canada, USA, New Zealand, England, and Scotland among others. As one of the most prolific and well known philosophers and historians of Darwinism, he has authored and edited many classic books including: The Philosophy of Biology, Sociobiology: Sense or Nonsense?, The Darwinian Revolution, Is Science Sexist?, Taking Darwin Seriously, Homosexuality: A Philosophical Inquiry, Mystery of Mysteries: Is Evolution a Social Construction?, Can a Darwinian be a Christian?, Cloning, Genetically Modified Foods, Stem Cell Research, Debating Design: Darwin to DNA, Darwin and Design: Does Evolution have a Purpose?, The Evolution/Creation Struggle, Charles Darwin. Prof. Ruse’s books have been translated into Spanish, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Korean and Dutch.

Dr Robert Bakker, Morrison Natural Museum

Prof Alan Dixson, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria U. of Wellington
Prof Tim Flannery, Division of Environmental and Life Sciences Macquarie Uni.

Prof Douglas Futuyma, Department of Ecology & Evolution, State U. of New York
Prof Jenny Graves, The Australian National University (ANU)

Prof Randolph Nesse, Research Centre for Group Dynamics, U. of Michigan
Prof Neil Shubin, Department of Organismal Biology U. of Chicago
Prof John H. Vandermeer, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan
Prof Margo Wilson & Prof Martin Daly, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster U. of Hamilton

To quote an email:

2008 National SoFiA Conference will be hosted by the Melbourne SoFiA Group.
September 19th to 21st.  2pm Friday to 2pm Sunday.
Venue:  ‘Amberley’, a conference centre located on Melbourne’s Yarra River in Lower Plenty.
Theme:  “Science and Faith: An Open Dialogue.”
Keynote Speaker on Cosmological aspects:
Prof. Lawrence M. Krauss.  (Former Professor of Physics at Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, USA.)
“Science, Non-Science, Nonsense and Religion.”
Keynote Speaker on Progressive Theological aspects:
Dr. Val Webb.  (Author – Like Catching Water in a Net: Human Attempts to Describe the Divine.)
“God-talk in an Age of Science.”
Keynote Speaker on Evolutionary aspects:
Dr. John S. Wilkins. (Research Fellow in Department of Philosophy, University of Queensland.)
“If Religion is Natural, is Religion False?”
Details and Registration: http://www.sof-in-australia.org
Enquiries: sciencefaith2008@gmail.com
Please register as soon as possible.  Offers to conduct Workshops are welcome.