Think Week is a week-long series of free events from Monday 22nd to Sunday 28th February, exploring humanism, faith, religion, science and politics. Organised jointly by the Oxford Atheist Society, Oxford Secular Society, Oxford Humanists, Oxford Sea of Faith and Oxford Skeptics in the Pub, the aim of the week is to expose the type of discussion and debate that these societies offer to a wider audience and to make people think about issues they probably haven’t thought about before. Refreshments will be provided at all events. Attendees are welcome to bring food to lunch time events.
We are also intending to post a daily summary of the events on The Skeptic Blog, contributed by the organisers of Think Week. Read more »
Videos courtesy of BigThink.com, where Gervais also discusses animal rights (as below), politics, comedy, science and history, and the death of print newspapers.
Having just been rocked by further revelations of abuse and cover-up rampant in the Catholic Church, the Irish State decided to kick off the new year by outlawing blasphemy. Somehow they feel that being mean to religious people deserves a fine. Specifically “A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €25,000.” How wonderfully Dark Ages of them. I’m so proud to see my country embracing the new decade by outlawing freedom of speech, in particular speech directed at religion. If the world’s various gods are so all-knowing and powerful are they really going to find the rambled insults of us mere rational humans that upsetting? Read more »
It has been decided to make teaching of the evolutionary theory compulsory in primary schools through the UK. It is a move that has understandably been applauded by scientists, but which is bound to rile those opposed to evolution as a theory.
Recently I was stopped in the street by man dressed in a suit who I assumed was about to ask for directions. He asked me if I would mind answering a question for him, and I said that depending on the question I would of course be happy to oblige. The question was this: Do you believe in God? Read more »
Based on the true story of a family who stood up to a group of religious extremists over the banning of Martin Scorsese’s; The Last Temptation of Christ!
“An Excellent Thriller”-Film Threat
“Heart Of The Beholder Is To Religious Extremists What Death Wish Was To Mugger”-Film Threat
Mike and Diane Howard were a typical young couple with dreams of
raising a family and starting a business of their own. They opened the
first videocassette rental store in St. Louis in 1981. With hard work,
their company grew into a multi-million dollar chain of video stores.
It was then that the Howards were visited with increasing frequency
by a group calling themselves “The Citizens For Decency”, who
insisted they remove movies from their stores that they felt were
“obscene”, films such as Taxi Driver, Agnes of God and Blazing
Saddles. When Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ
was released on video, the Howards’ were the only video stores in
St. Louis unafraid to offer the film for rent. The CFD declared war and
the Howards received death threats against their daughter. A corrupt
prosecuting attorney was in the pocket of the CFD by fear of being
exposed for sexual indiscretions. Alleging they had ties to organized
crime, the Howards were shunned as social outcasts. Ultimately, they
won their case in court, but the negative publicity and legal fees bank-
rupted their business and destroyed their family. Shortly thereafter, a
chance encounter with a woman reveals the truth about the CFD and
the attorney and the Howards get their ultimate payback.
Mark | Tuesday, 16 February, 2010
Think Week is a week-long series of free events from Monday 22nd to Sunday 28th February, exploring humanism, faith, religion, science and politics. Organised jointly by the Oxford Atheist Society, Oxford Secular Society, Oxford Humanists, Oxford Sea of Faith and Oxford Skeptics in the Pub, the aim of the week is to expose the type of discussion and debate that these societies offer to a wider audience and to make people think about issues they probably haven’t thought about before. Refreshments will be provided at all events. Attendees are welcome to bring food to lunch time events.
