Mid-west Humanists - An Irish Atheist Community

August Meeting

larry1506 — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:30:24 +0000

Date   :     17 th August 2010.
Time   :    20:00
Venue :    Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick.

Agenda.
-     Presentation on Daniel Dennett’s book “Breaking the Spell” by Larry Maher
-     Discussion on Pilot Community Schools
-     News Round-up incl. News from HAIs August meeting by Colin Perkins.
-     Discussion on possible initiatives
      o     Bus Campaign.
      o     Voluntary Work.
      o     Access to public services/offices.
      o     Communications with the general community.
-     Any Other Business.

Christopher Hitchens: Some Confessions and Contradictions

Jason — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:11:37 +0000

Christopher Hitchens speaks quite movingly about his new memoir. Particularly about his mother’s suicide.

more about "Christopher Hitchens: Some Confession…", posted with vodpod

FORA.tv – From Islam to America: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Jason — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:56:38 +0000

A former member of the Dutch parliament and longtime human rights advocate, Ayaan Hirsi Ali has lived in constant threat for her outspoken beliefs and collaboration with controversial director Theo van Gogh (who was murdered by a radical Islamist).Her journey continues as she discusses starting her new life in America, reconciling with her Islamic past, and learning to adapt to Western values.

more about “FORA.tv – From Islam to America: Ayaa…“, posted with vodpod

Iran, Ireland – the common pain

Jason — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:07:30 +0000

Below are three videos from Mid-west Humanist Hassan Faramarz on the similarities and differences he has noticed since moving to Ireland.

Hassan’s YouTube channel is here, and you can find his web page here.

June Meeting

Jason — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:23:22 +0000

Details of our June meeting are below.

Date : Tuesday 15th June 2010

Time : 20.00

Venue : Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel

For anyone who hasn’t seen this yet…

Jason — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:23:10 +0000

Craig Venter and team make a historic announcement: they’ve created the first fully functioning, reproducing cell controlled by synthetic DNA. He explains how they did it and why the achievement marks the beginning of a new era for science.

You can read some opinions on this announcement here and here.

May Meeting

Jason — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:14:00 +0000

For our May meeting we’ll be moving back to Tuesday night. We’re trying to find the day and time that suits people best so if you have any feedback please let us know.

Date : Tuesday 18th May 2010

Time : 20.00

Venue : Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel

FORA.tv – Niall Ferguson

Jason — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:47:35 +0000

The War of the World: Twentieth Century Conflict and the Descent of the WestHistorian Niall Ferguson examines the conflicts of the First World War to the Cold War and how they influenced the twentieth century. He argues that globalization, wealth, and technological breakthroughs led to much of the violence, genocide and fanaticism of the twentieth century.

The talk was hosted by the World Affairs Council in Washington, D.C. and includes a question and answer session.Niall Ferguson is the author of several books including Paper and Iron, The Cash Nexus, and The Pity of War. He currently is a history professor at Harvard University, Senior Research Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, and a contributor to the Financial Times and the New York Times.

more about “FORA.tv – Niall Ferguson“, posted with vodpod

FORA.tv – Land of the Believers: Evangelical America

Jason — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:50:27 +0000

Gina Welch talks about In the Land of the Believers: A Journey to the Heart of Evangelical America. Welch, a young secular Jew from Berkeley, joined Jerry Falwell’s Thomas Road Baptist Church. Over the course of nearly two years, Welch immersed herself in the life of the devout: she learned to interpret the world like an evangelical.

more about “FORA.tv – Land of the Believers: Evan…“, posted with vodpod

April Meeting

Jason — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:39:46 +0000

Date : Sunday 18th April 2010

Time : 11.00

Venue : Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel

Agenda:

Hassan Faramarz will give a presentation on his ideas around making the ideas of great thinkers and their writings more accessible to the general public. He will bring some sample books and would be grateful for suggestions of books or materials to work on. So, do your homework and dig out that interesting but difficult book you’ve been meaning to work on for a long time.
Humanist Current Affairs i.e. anything interesting in the news.
Any other business.