Tag Archives: Events

Susan Blackmore at Goldsmiths Today

Posted on by

Hi All,

This is your final reminder that Susan Blackmore is kicking off the APRU’s Invited Speaker Series today at 6.10 pm in Room 256, Richard Hoggart Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW (for maps, directions, etc., visit the College web site: www.goldsmiths.ac.uk NB: if you do not know your way around Goldsmiths, allow enough time to find the room. Note that it is NOT the room we used last year!)

All talks are open to everyone.

Attendance is free and there is no need to book in advance. For further information, visit http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/apru/speakers.php

The title of Susan’s talk is “Is God a Dangerous Meme?” and here is her abstract:

God is certainly a meme; an idea (or set of loosely related ideas) that is copied from person to person, and shows a fascinating variety of survival tricks. Not only does the God meme satisfy minds that were not evolved to accurately assess the origins of the universe or the likelihood of life after death, but wraps itself up in religious memeplexes that use threats and promises to ensure their own propagation. But is it dangerous? Taking a memetic perspective we can ask how religious memes manage to infect so many people and how this infection affects individuals, societies, or indeed the whole planet.

Biography
Sue Blackmore is a freelance writer, lecturer and broadcaster, and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She has a degree in psychology and physiology from Oxford University (1973) and a PhD in parapsychology from the University of Surrey (1980). Her research interests include memes, evolutionary theory, consciousness, and meditation. She practices Zen and campaigns for drug legalization. Sue Blackmore no longer works on the paranormal

Best wishes,

Chris French

    Political Islam, Sharia Law, and Civil Society

    Posted on by

    Political Islam, Sharia Law, and Civil Society

    at Conway Hall

    Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain presents its first international conference:
    Political Islam, Sharia Law, and Civil Society

    Friday 10 October 2008
    International day against the Death Penalty
    10am-6pm
    (Registration begins at 9am)

    Speakers: Mina Ahadi, Mahin Alipour, Roy Brown, Andrew Copson, Richard Dawkins, Giles Enders, AC Grayling, Johann Hari, Ehsan Jami, Houzan Mahmoud, Rony Miah, Maryam Namazie,Taslima Nasreen, Fariborz Pooya, Terry Sanderson, Joan Smith, Bahram Soroush, Hanne Stinson, Hamid Taqvaee, Ibn Warraq, Keith Porteous Wood and Zia Zaffar. Event includes a comedy act by Nick Doody, Fitna Remade by Reza Moradi and Breaking the Taboo by Patty Debonitas.

    £40 statutory organisations/businesses; £20 voluntary sector; £10 individuals. Donations are welcome.

    For a booking form, please contact:
    Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, BM Box 1919, London WC1N 3XX, UK
    Tel: 07719166731, E-mail: exmuslimcouncil[@]gmail.com or download it from http://www.ex-muslim.org.uk/indexEvents.html.

    Date: Friday, October 10, 2008

    Time: 10:00 AM

    Location:
    Conway Hall
    25 Red Lion Square
    London, UK WC1R 4RL

    http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/sharialawuk/

      Spotlight on Skeptics – Some Perspectives on Psi-Denial

      Posted on by

      Hi All,

      The Society for Psychical Research has organised a study day with the above title to take place at St Philip’s Church, Earl’s Court Road, London W8 on Saturday, 25th October 2008 from 10 am to 5 pm
      (see http://www.spr.ac.uk/expcms/index.php?section=4).

      From the SPR web site:

      “Cost: Members £30 / Non-Members £35. / Students, Over 60s or Unwaged: £2 discount.
      Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served, but bring your own lunch [or go to a local restaurant or pub!].
      Advance booking is recommended, as space is limited.”

      If the cost doesn’t put you off (and I hope it doesn’t), the speakers for the day are as follows:

      Guy Lyon Playfair: “The rise and fall of organised scepticism”.
      Robert McLuhan: “The psychology of the skeptic: What militant skeptics feel and how they think”
      Rupert Sheldrake: “How skeptics work: Some case studies”

      The meeting is described as follows: “From the earliest days psychical researchers, some of them experienced investigators and experimenters, some with expertise in related disciplines, some just apparently honest people who have reported incidents personally witnessed by them, all have had to endure some ill-informed and hostile attacks from critics who often seem prepared to say anything, however insecurely based, to discredit findings that favour the reality of paranormal phenomena. This will be the theme addressed by our three speakers.”

      I have been invited to comment on the presentations and join with the speakers in leading the general discussion. Given that description the meeting, those speakers and those titles, it is just possible that a little bit of “skeptic bashing” might occur (just a tad!). Sceptics might like to come along in order to ensure that the picture of sceptics that is painted is a true one – and to respond appropriately if it isn’t. While there is no doubt that sceptics can sometimes behave in unacceptable ways in debates with their opponents (and I know Rupert will be able to give us lots of examples!), there are also many, many examples of a sceptical approach being 100% vindicated. It would be good if this meeting was a step towards mutual understanding rather than a slanging match – but I guess it’ll be interesting however it turns out!

      If you want to attend:

      “Please return a cheque for your fee as soon as possible, marking the envelope ‘S.P.R. Study Day’. Receipts will not be sent, but confirmation of receipt of your fee will be available by telephone from the SPR office. Alternatively, you may telephone the SPR office to pay with a credit card: 020-7957-8984. Advance booking is recommended, as space is limited.

      Send to:- The Secretary, Society for Psychical Research, 49 Marloes Road, Kensington, LONDON, W8 6LA”

      Hope to see you there, whether you’re a believer or a sceptic!

      Cheers,

      Chris French

        Skeptics in the Pub & other events…

        Posted on by

        Hi All,

        Two messages of potential interest to pass on to you today. The first, from Sid Rodrigues, focuses on two events this month at London Skeptics in the Pub but also mentions a couple of other interesting events including shows by Philip Escoffey (highly recommended!). The second is a message from Simon Perry regarding the next event organised by Leicester Skeptics in the Pub – none other than Nick Puller, who ran the London branch of SitP for 5 years in his own inimitable style!

        Best wishes,
        Chris French

        ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

        Hi All,

        We have another two events at the Penderel’s Oak this month.

        Firstly, on Tuesday 17th we have Steve Parsons & Ciaran O’Keeffe from Living TV’s “Most Haunted” on “How NOT to Investigate the Paranormal”. This talk has only been cancelled at short notice twice. So I hope the third time’s a charm.
        Then, on the 24th, we have Fred Singer on “Global Warming: What Al Gore never told You”. I will be winging my way back from the James Randi Educational Foundation’s “Amaz!ng Meeting” on that day, so past long-standing Skeptics in the Pub Chair, Nick Pullar, will be commanding that meeting on this occasion.

        Just to warn everyone that we’ll be moving our regular Tuesday spot to a Monday from July onwards. The new management at the Penderel’s have had a few other plans in the pipeline for Tuesdays, so will no longer be available for us to use from then onwards.

        I’ve also been asked very nicely (by Chris French) to ask anyone who does/doesn’t read The Skeptic magazine if they can fill out a quick 2 minute online survey (it will literally take no more than a couple of minutes).
        http://skeptic.org.uk/survey/

        As always, there are a few other events over the next month you may find interesting:

        Mind-reading magician & skeptic, Philip Escoffey, will be giving a preview of his Edinburgh show “6 Impossible Things Before Dinner” in London on the 30th June. It’s a bargain at £5 a ticket.
        More details can be found here: http://skeptic.org.uk/news/2008/1149

        On the 12th June, the Society for Psychical Research will hold a lecture on “A 5-Year Clinical Study of NDEs in a Welsh Intensive Therapy Unit”  by Penny Sartori. (http://www.spr.ac.uk/expcms/index.php?section=4)

        If you’re not in London and are missing out on all the fun, Rebecca at Skepchick has an events calendar for the rest of the world: http://skepchick.org/blog/?page_id=1062/

        Please feel free to forward this message on to anyone you think would be interested in coming along to any of these events.
        Hope to see you all soon.

        Sid Rodrigues

        Tuesday 17th June – How not to investigate the Paranormal

        Steve and Ciarán amuse with their horror stories from the world of paranormal investigation. They discuss equipment faux-pas, television investigations and unusual cases. As well as discussing ethics, and presenting the most extreme unethical stories, Steve and Ciarán candidly discuss hilarious cases brought to their attention and their most embarrassing moments investigating in the dark!

        Tuesday 24th June – Global Warming: Science, Economics, and some Moral Issues: What Al Gore Never Told You

        The science is settled: Evidence clearly demonstrates that carbon dioxide contributes insignificantly to Global Warming and is therefore not a ‘pollutant.’ This fact has not yet been widely recognized, and irrational Global Warming fears continue to distort energy policies and foreign policy. All efforts to curtail CO2 emissions, whether global, federal, or at the state level, are pointless – and in any case, ineffective and very costly. On the whole, a warmer climate is beneficial. Fred Singer will comment on the vast number of implications.

        7pm@
        The Penderel’s Oak
        283-288 High Holborn
        London
        WC1V 7HP

        Tel: 020 7242 5669

        –

        http://www.skeptic.org.uk/pub

        You can also find us on Facebook
        http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2381060970

        +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

        And from Simon Perry, details of the next talk in the Leicester SitP series plus details of future events in Leicester:

        After a fantastic start with Simon Singh last month, Leicester Skeptics in the Pub now announces the second event with another great speaker.

        Nick Pullar, 17th June

        Skepticism and Beer: The World’s Best Combination

        Nick Pullar ran Skeptics in the Pub in London for five years – and in all that time, he didn’t drink a drop of beer, or consume any other alcoholic beverage – skeptical?

        Nick says skepticism is a useful tool to have in our own mental toolbox to help deal with difficult subjects.  Come along to see how skepticism can help understand UFOs, psychic healers and God.

        Where:  The Rutland & Derby Arms, Millstone Lane, Leicester.
        When:   17th June, 7:30pm.
        Contact: Simon Perry, leicesterskeptics@googlemail.com

        About Skeptics in the Pub
        Skeptics in the Pub (Leicester) meets on the third Tuesday of every month starting at 7:30pm in The Rutland & Derby Arms.

        The event was originally founded in London in 1999 for all those interested in and/or sceptical of the paranormal, alternative medicine, psychic powers, pseudo-science, UFOs etc. A different guest speaker is invited each month to talk on a topic of interest. The talk is followed by an informal discussion in a relaxed and friendly pub atmosphere.

        A £2 donation is requested to help cover expenses.

        Join us on Facebook:
        http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12736582903

        Other upcoming meetings:

        The Truth about Mars
        Douglas Ellison
        Tuesday, July 15 at 7:30pm

        The Psychology of Anomalous Experiences
        Prof Chris French
        Tuesday, August 19 at 7:30pm

        The Real X-Files
        Nick Pope
        Tuesday, September 16 at 7:30pm

        The Relevance of Spiritualism in Society Today
        Emma-Louise Rhodes
        Tuesday, October 21 at 7:30pm

        The Skeptic in the Courtroom
        David Allen Green
        Tuesday, November 18 at 7:30pm

        Authenticity and its Influence on Behaviour, Attitudes and Beliefs
        Mike Heap
        Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30pm