Why I am an atheist – Paul » « A voice of reason

Portland, Oregon is having a humanist film festival!

I wish I could be there. The Humanist Film Festival is happening on 26-28 October, and they’re looking for submissions. If you’ve got anything that fits their categories, send them in soon. They’re looking for films that speak to humanist themes, including:

  • Reason, Critical Thinking and Skepticism (such as claims of the paranormal, critical thinking education, rational living, etc.)

  • Ethics and Human Wellbeing (including human rights, women’s rights, gay rights, rational ethics, challenging scriptural ethics, sex education and attitudes about sex, etc.)

  • Science and the Natural World (e.g. science appreciation, science education, evolution, global warming, pseudo-science and pseudo-medicine etc.)

  • Freedom of Thought, Speech and Critical Inquiry

  • Challenging the Claims and Value of Religion (e.g. anti-apologetics, education about atheism and atheists, uncovering problems with religion, etc.)

  • Separation of Church and State

  • Joie de vivre and human thriving (art and aesthetics, living the good life, human progress etc.)

And here’s their mission:

The Portland Humanist Film Festival is an outreach event designed to broaden the understanding and acceptance of a secular, humanist world view. It specifically addresses audiences who are friendly to our views but who are not necessarily familiar with atheism or humanistic ethics, or why we value reason and scientific thinking. The Film Festival presents these themes through an accessible, entertaining medium.

Got any suggestions? If you’re a godless filmmaker, think about sending them something!

Why I am an atheist – Paul » « A voice of reason

Comments

  1. dysomniak, darwinian socialist says

    Damn, I wish I still lived in Portland. Or had a car. And could afford the gas money. And a hotel. And all of the money I’m required to spend at Ground Kontrol and the Hungry Tiger whenever I’m in town.

  2. razzlefrog says

    Portland, Oregon?! Why can’t we ever have thingies in JesusvilleMcChristWaferTrailerPark, Texas? Psh. Then I’ll go! It’s not fair that the North gets all the fun…

    I blame Rebecca Watson.

  5. dysomniak, darwinian socialist says

    and have a few drams of the whisky handy.

    You may have to smuggle that into the theatre yourself, but one of the wonderful things about Portland is that most of the theatres have beer on tap.

  6. birgerjohansson says

    Sugges ted films:
    -Padre Amaro, about a Mexican priest whose relationship with a woman is in conflict with the Catholic dogma.

    -(wossname) about a gay Cuban author who suffered massive persecution for his orientation but smuggled out books to be published in France and managed to leave during Carter.

    -And, of course, The Name of the Rose.

  9. birgerjohansson says

    “My Left Foot” about an Irish author who overcomes his handicap. And he certainly had Joie de vivre (living up to the stereotype of hard-drinking Irishmen, even though he could only move one limb!).

  13. birgerjohansson says

    The Eschaton*, at Ottawa, Canada 30 Nov should have a giant cube outside the house bearing three paragraphs:
    “I am the Eschaton. I am not your god!”
    “I am descended from you and exist in yourfuture.”
    “You may not do anything to interfere with my Light Cone, Or else.”

    *(Charles Stross reference)

  17. says

    Think we’ll submit our short documentary WAKE. Lis is an 87-year old lady with a fantastic zest for life. She recently decided to hold her own wake – whilst still very much alive – so as not to miss out on the party.
    Here’s the 90-second version of the film

  18. Rich Woods says

    @nick fogg #17:

    Brilliant! May she live a long and happy life — and feel the need for a second living wake!

  19. johnfreethinker says

    I am hoping someone can answer my challenge. It may not relate to what the original post contained, but it cuts to the bone of this blog.

    I have been recovering from a severe depression, in which I began to feel I had no hope at all. After I left the hospital, someone I trust told me part of my problem was that I did not believe we have life outside this body.

    Without hope in another and better world, it did seem that everything was bleak, especially the prospect of another depression. So I began studying about an afterlife, especially the phenomenon called the near-death experience (NDE). I read Moody, Van Lommel, Long, Atwater, and others on this subject. I researched NDE extensively on the Web.

    From the abundance of evidence, I have concluded that I will live again, in this or another world. I am not just a bunch of chemicals reacting, but a spiritual being temporarily traveling in this world. This realization is beginning to transform me into a much more peaceful, spiritual person.

    But am I now deluded in believing that consciousness goes on beyond death, and that therefore there is hope? This is my challenge: I defy you to show that there is any hope or purpose or value to life, if it all ends at death.

  20. says

    johnfreethinker I believe is not new but is an old troll, IIRC if not I appologize.

    Also I think you’re lying. If not I apologize.

    Also go to TZT for this.

    What nonsense. Just because something ends is no argument against enjoying it while it lasts. That’s like asking “Why get high if you’re going to end up sober again later?” or “Why open the beer if there’s only 12 ounces in it?” or “Why watch Firefly when there’s only 14 episodes?” All of them very silly questions.

    Not only are you very, very silly and pompous, but you’re also in the wrong thread. If you want to talk about something off-topic and also nonsensical, go here.

    If we all promise to be as miserable as you think we should be will you leave us alone?

    ————————————————-

    Btw if you want to be banned and are trying NOT to actually be answered you’re doing a great job.

    Idiot

  21. gworroll says

    I need to at least visit Portland one of these days. An old friend of mine(since kindergarten) is out there with her wife and they love it. And they’re doing this?