And now for something completely different…science fiction author James Morrow will be the guest on Atheists Talk radio, at 9am Central this morning. Morrow wrote the story Towing Jehovah, about a strange sea voyage with the purpose of towing the corpse of God to its arctic tomb. This could be interesting.
It’s been a rough few weeks for the accommodationists — they keep raising the same tired old complaints, poorly, and with little flair or reason or persuasive rhetoric, and they keep getting swatted down by those rascally loud “New Atheists. Excuse me if I’m starting to feel a bit cocky, but I’m still waiting for either an interesting or somewhat persuasive argument against our position. In fact, if you want to know exactly how I feel, here’s the video.
(PETA is not happy about this, which tells you just how ridiculous that organization is.)
It’s nice to be able to take them out so easily, but we can’t feel too great a sense of accomplishment…they’re just buzzy little flies.
Sunday morning at 9am Central time, Atheists Talk radio will feature Massimo Pigliucci, talking about atheism, philosophy, and politics. Those are three subjects that ought to get some arguments going!
August Berkshire, prominent Minnesota atheist, recently awarded Minnesota Humanist of the Year by the Humanists of Minnesota, and long-time leader and organizer of the state’s atheist community, is on tour right now through the southwest and midwest. I’m belatedly making his schedule available — he’s been cruising for a while, so you’ve missed some of his talks — but here’s list of available events. If you’re in Topeka, you’ve got a half hour to get to the meeting!
June 13, Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – Atheist Community of Topeka in Topeka, KS
EVENT: Informal discussion of AAI and local group(s).
VENUE: Celtic Fox, 118 SW 8th Ave., Topeka, KS 66603 (Separate back room)June 13, Saturday, 5:30 p.m. – Columbia Atheists in Columbia, MO
EVENT: Informal discussion of AAI and local group(s).
VENUE: Boone Tavern patio, 811 E. Walnut St., Columbia, MO 65201.June 14, Sunday – Secular Coalition for America (SCA) meeting in St. Louis, MO
June 14, Sunday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. CDT – Rationalist Society of St. Louis (RSSL) in St. Louis, MO
EVENT: Presentations: “Intro to AAI” and “Intro to Atheism” by August Berkshire Go out for a bite to eat afterwards.
VENUE: Hoops Hall (RSSL building) 1806 Allen Ave., St. Louis, MO 63104.June 15, Monday, 7:00 p.m. – Indy Atheist Meetup & CFI Indiana in Indianapolis, IN
EVENT: Presentation: “Introduction to Atheism” by August Berkshire
VENUE: CFI/Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis IN 46202.June 16, Tuesday 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Richmond Area Freethinkers, Richmond, IN
EVENT: Informal discussion of AAI and local group(s).
VENUE: Fifth Street Bagel, 211 S. 5th St., Richmond, IN 47374 (765) 965-5427.June 16, Tuesday, 4:00 p.m. – Taping for Public Access Fort Wayne Cable TV show, Freethought Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN
June 16, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Freethought Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN
EVENT: Discussion about atheist groups and atheism.
VENUE: Main Allen County Public Library, Orientation Room, 900 Library Plaza, Ft. Wayne, IN 46802June 17, Wednesday, evening – North Suburban Atheists, North Suburban Brights, Chicago Brights, Chicago Skeptics, Wheaton Atheists, and Fox Valley Atheists in Chicago, IL
EVENT: Informal discussion of AAI and local group(s).
VENUE: Tentative: Exchequer Restaurant & Pub, 226 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60604June 18, Thursday, 6:00 p.m. – SWiFT & Atheists & Agnostics of Wisconsin (AAW) in Milwaukee, WI
EVENT: Informal discussion of AAI and local group(s).
VENUE: Spring Garden Restaurant, back room, in a Howard Johnsons, 1716 W Layton Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53221.June 19, Friday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Humanist Union of Madison, hosted by Prairie UU Society in Madison, Madison Skeptics, Madison Brights, and First Unitarian Society (FUS) Doubters Group in Madison, WI
EVENT: 5:30 p.m.: Potluck supper. 6:15-7:30 pm.: Informal discussion of AAI and local group(s). Talk to be recorded for later radio broadcast on WIDE, a volunteer operated low power FM radio station in Madison and for posting on station and Humanist Union websites.
VENUE: Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society, 2010 Whenona Dr., Madison, WI
If you get a chance, check him out — he gives a very good talk.
Sunday morning at 9am Central time, learn all about Convergence and the skeptic track therein from a real live Skepchick, all on Atheists Talk radio!
I’ve been neglecting you, O Readers! It’s been a busy couple of days out here in sunny Arizona — they keep telling me it is a surprisingly cool weekend, which I take to mean it is a blazing hellhole most of the time — and I’ve been having a grand time attending talks and deferring any worries about what I’m going to say tonight. Here are a few of the highlights:
I had a very nice dinner with some weirdos from ASU, and also had a well attended meetup at Rúla Búla. The Trophy Wife and daughter attended for the first time, and they were clearly baffled by all those strange people who wanted their photograph taken with me.
I very much enjoyed a talk by William Lobdell, author of the book Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America-and Found Unexpected Peace(amzn/b&n/abe/pwll). It was one of those very humanist talks — lots of empathy for the religious, but pulling no punches at denouncing their problems.
Barbara Forrest gave an excellent talk on a familiar subject: how intelligent design creationism really is built on a purely religious foundation. It was very tightly argued — you can see why the creationists fear her. (Buy her book(amzn/b&n/abe/pwll)!)
They had musical entertainment for Friday night: Roy Zimmerman. I coulda swooned. Too bad he didn’t play this one for Lynch’s benefit.
John Lynch asked “Was there a Darwinian revolution?” Like a typical history/philosophy science nerd, his answer was yes and no, but mostly no. It’s very annoying that I’ve been finding myself progressively more sympathetic to historical and philosophical questions that I had to agree with him. Darn it. Anyway, you can see his presentation slides, or even watch a podcast of Lynch in action. I think he’s trying to become King of All Media.
Norma Ramos gave a powerful speech on women’s rights and the trafficking in women. This was not comfortable or cheerful, but it was important stuff that needed to be said.
The Rev. Barry Lynn gave one of his usual great talks — how to tell if you might be a right-wing fundamentalist. Seriously, if you ever have a chance to attend one of his lectures, don’t miss it…he can find the humor in the most horrific excesses of the religious right, and he’s hated by them even more than we atheists are.
OK, now I have to get back to meeting stuff and thinking about what I should say tonight. It’s been a very good conference, so there is some pressure not to be a let-down here!
Today at 9am Central time (short notice—you’ve got one hour to get to the internet! Oh, you’re already there) the crew at Atheists Talk radio will be discussing the work of Bart Ehrman.
So you want to be a better person. You’re in Chandler, Arizona, and you enter the Barnes & Noble bookstore there, and you head off to the Self Improvement section. What is prominently recommended?
What did you expect, some tripe Oprah liked?
(Thanks to Max & Felipe)
You too can pinky swear to abide by secular principles. It looks mostly harmless, although the 7th principle isn’t entirely right.
7. In all of my actions, and without threat of divine retribution, I will strive to respect the dignity of all people.
I deal with too many creationists, and those are people without much dignity to respect.
I am mired in meetings today (yes, it’s summer, I’m on a 9 month appointment, and I’m also on sabbatical…but necessity has roped me in yet again). I’m going to be wrestling with academic obligations almost all day, so you’re going to have to entertain yourselves for a bit. Here’s an open thread, say what you think!
For a little ferocious inflammatory commentary to prime the pump, here’s Pat Condell.
