UniMelb Secular Society

Tamas Pataki is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne and Deakin University. He has published widely on the philosophy of mind, psychoanalysis, moral philosophy, and aesthetics. He has written for The Australian, The Age, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Metascience and Australian Book Review. His review essay, ‘Narcissism Incarnate’, in The Australian’s Review of Books (August 1999) won the Australasian Association of Philosophy Media Prize. Pataki’s latest book is the provocatively titled ‘Against Religion’, focusing on the psychology of religious belief.

UMSS is proud to be hosting Tamas Pataki this month for a exclusive reading/signing of ‘Against Religion’. The event will be held at the University Bookstore on Wednesday September 10 at 5:30pm for a 6pm start. The event is free and catered, but there are limited spots available, so RSVP is essential (contact jason@umss.org).

Pataki will be reading excerpts from the book and discussing his thesis on the psychology of religion. Following a Q&A, there will be an opportunity for attendees to purchase ‘Against Religion’ at a special discounted rate, and also to have it signed.

We look forward to seeing you there!

‘[Pataki] writes as a scholar, with careful and qualified argument.’
Barney Zwartz (The Age)

‘Pataki’s Against Religion is the latest in a spate of atheistic books … But while the related offerings of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens may have the edge for flair and accessibility, Pataki gets the prize for focused inquiry.’
Daniel Williams (Time)

‘Pataki’s is as lucid and insightful an account of the psychoanalytical model as you will find … ‘
Amanda Lohrey (The Monthly)

‘Reading Pataki, you sense you’re in the presence of a forceful mind with the ability to examine this complicated subject straight on. His claim that “faith is just a refusal to think” in a time when clear thinking is a necessity makes this book a worthy read.’
Jackie Adair Jones (media-culture.org.au)

Combining witticism, creativity and general debauchery, Prosh Week [Aug 25-29] has now commenced!

TEAM PASTAFARIAN is a joint ventue between More Beer! inc. and the Secular Society. For information contact Nik at flyingsnm@gmail.com, or check out team’s Facebook group.

UMSS is excited to announce that renowned skeptic Michael Shermer [USA] will be touring Australia for National Science Week.

Dr Shermer is the founder of Skeptic Magazine, Executive Director of the American Skeptics Society, and regular columnist in Scientific American. He is the author of many popular books, including Why People Believe Weird Things, The Science of Good and Evil, Why Darwin Matters, and most recently, Mind of the Market.

Here are details of his Melbourne events:

‘Why Darwin Matters‘
OPEN DAY EVENT Sunday 17 Aug
10.30-11.30am
Carillo Gantner Theatre, Sydney Myer Asia Centre,
University of Melbourne
FREE, no reserved seating

‘The Mind of the Market‘
Michael Shermer presented by Natasha Mitchell, also featuring Stephen Mayne
Monday 18 Aug
6.30pm for 7-8pm
Redback Hotel, Flemington Road, North Melbourne
FREE, drinks at bar prices

If you’re not familiar with Shermer, check out these great interviews on Point of Inquiry;
http://www.pointofinquiry.org/michael_shermer_why_darwin_matters/
http://www.pointofinquiry.org/michael_shermer_the_mind_of_the_market/

Lynne Kelly, author of The Skeptic’s Guide to the Paranormal, will also be featured on Open Day as part of National Science Week. Details:

Lynne Kelly
‘Taromancy Exposed’
OPEN DAY EVENT Sunday 17 Aug
11:30-12noon
Carillo Gantner Theatre, Sydney Myer Asia Centre,
University of Melbourne
FREE, no reserved seating

For more Science Week events, go to http://www.scienceweek.info.au

UMSS will be kicking off semester two with its Annual General Meeting!

Details:

Wednesday the 6th of August
1.00-2.00 pm
Joe Napolitano Room A
Second Floor, Union House

The AGM is perhaps the most important event on the UMSS calendar. It’s where we plan for the year ahead and elect the committee.

We need at least 30 people at the meeting for the club to be accredited with the Student Union for the next 12 months. As a shameless bribe, we will be providing FREE PIZZA for members!

For those interested, we have attached our agenda and amended constitution (they will also be provided on the day). The amendment can be ratified at the meeting (pending C & S approval). The room is booked from 12.00 pm, so if you wish to come and chat or get a good spot for the pizza at 1.00 pm, feel free to come early!

Those hoping to stand for the committee can be nominated by other members at the meeting, or by self-nomination. A show of hands will determine the votes.

FREE PIZZA! Woo!

July 7 2008

Melbourne rally supports growing opposition to World Youth Day

Secular and human rights student activists from around Melbourne have organised a rally to oppose the $150 million in taxpayers’ money going to Catholic World Youth Day. The rally also plans to publicly condemn the Pope’s attitudes towards women, homosexuals, non-believers and contraception.

The rally starts at 1.30pm on Sunday, July 13 and will be held on the steps of Parliament House, Spring Street. Student groups have organised the speakers, who include Australian Humanist of the Year and former Senator Lyn Allison.

On the occasion of World Youth Day, NSW police and emergency service workers have been given the power to hand out fines of up to $5000 to anyone ‘causing an annoyance or inconvenience’ to WYD patrons. “Fortunately, in Melbourne we do not have the same draconian laws as Sydney. We want to show our support to Sydney protesters whose civil liberties have been trampled by the NSW government,” stated Jason Ball, President of the University of Melbourne Secular Society and event spokesperson. “These NSW laws are censorship. Not allowing t-shirts or signs that could ‘annoy’ the participants is a blatant attack on freedom of speech.”

On the state sponsorship of the religious event, Lyn Allison commented “Australia does not have a history of debate and discussion about the appropriate interface between church and state. The current issues now provide an opportunity to start a real debate on the need for and ways of separating church and state. Other countries are doing this. Norway is consulting nation wide on formal separation. It is time that Australia followed suit.”

The rally will also be protesting the Catholic Church’s opposition to the use of condoms, even in AIDS ridden Africa. “Restricting contraception in developing countries is a clear breach of the right to health,” says women’s rights activist and speaker at the rally, Sue Bolton. “Furthermore, the Pope’s opposition to abortion condemns thousands of women to death each year through backyard abortions. The Pope labels homosexuality an ‘intrinsic moral evil,’ which is divisive and discriminatory, and only encourages the spread of homophobia.”

At the rally, volunteers will be handing out condoms and collecting donations for the Victorian AIDS Council. They will also be wearing t-shirts and holding banners that openly critisise the Pope’s views, which due to the new laws is a freedom exclusive to citizens outside of NSW.
For more information and full list of speakers go to:

http://youthagainstwyd.org

UMSS will be joining the Melbourne Atheist Meetup Group (MAMG) for food, drinks and a bit of healthy conversation about the topics scarcely talked about in our society; religion, atheism, science and politics. Good times. We will also use this as an opportunity to brainstorm ideas and delegate tasks for next week’s Youth Against World Youth Day Melbourne Protest

Time: 6pm till late

Date: Friday July 4th

UMSS will be leading a coalition of secular student university groups from across Victoria in response to to the state-sponsored Catholic pilgrimage for so-called World Youth Day.

See the website for details and to sign up for email announcements.

Hey all,

Things will be pretty quiet for UMSS over the exam/semester break period, but watch this space for future updates. Keep an eye out for details of our Annual General Meeting, scheduled for early next semester (date/time TBA).

For those who suffer them, good luck with your exams!

UMSS

Like what your Secular Society has been up to? Then come along and help keep the club alive!

All UMSS members are welcome along to this brief meeting to discuss ideas and plan events for the remainder of the semester.

Can’t find us? Look for the large print-out of the UMSS fish logo.

Time: Wednesday, 14 May, 12.30 - 1.30 pm

Location: Quiet Discussion Area, 1st Floor, Baillieu Library

Parkville Campus, The University of Melbourne

Want to help bring down the cult that is SCIENTOLOGY?
‘Anonymous’ are holding their fourth consecutive world wide protest against Scientology this weekend, titled Operation: FairGameStop - Sat May 10th.
For info about the Melbourne protest, visit:
http://phobicmedia.com
While you’re at it, check out:
http://xenu.net
http://whyaretheydead.net
http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/