Friday 15 November 2019

Being raised in an extreme cult

Dave Whitaker was brought up in the cult run by Anne Hamilton-Byrne known as the Family. The cult was active from the late 60s and became well known after a police raid on one of their properties in 1987. About 12 illegally adopted children were removed by the police. Dave's mother was one of the "aunties" who ran the property where the children were kept. Dave's father, a Melbourne psychiatrist was instrumental in helping Hamilton-Byrne set up the cult. Dave broke from the cult in 1985 and appeared in a recent documentary film and ABC TV series
Dave will fly in from Melbourne for this most intriguing of talks.


https://www.meetup.com/sydneyatheists/events/pqbqkqyzqbrb/

Entry to this event will be $5.00 for supporter members of Sydney Atheists and $10.00 for non-supporter attendees. Annual Supporter membership is only $20. To become a supporter member, please go to: http://www.sydneyatheists.org/p/donations-and-membership.html

Our talk events are held at 7.00pm in the Function Room at Club Redfern:

2nd Floor, 159 Redfern St
REDFERN, NSW 2000

Sunday 27 October 2019

How religion affects politics and government policies in Australia



Friday 8th November at 7.00pm

John Dowd AO QC graduated from Law at Sydney University. John was leader of the Liberal Party in NSW from 1981 to 1983. He was the NSW Attorney General from 1988 to 1991. The Independent Commission against Corruption was established under his watch. After politics, John was appointed to the Supreme Court in NSW where he served for ten years.
John has also served as Chairman of the International Commission of Jurists, Vice President of the International Court of Justice, Chancellor of Southern Cross University, Protection Ambassador, Director and President of ActionAid Australia. John established The Justice Campaign in support of human rights and justice. He is currently the President of the International Commission of Jurists Australia.

John will address the following "Religion decades ago had an effect on which political parties members joined for historical reasons. Religions usually have moral codes attached to them and this affects the performance of members of Parliament. As religions decline, this creates a problem for the training in moral codes. It was to deal with the power of the pulpit and also the pressures which churches have and have had to have religious views enforced as offences by the state."

Entry to this event will be $5.00 for supporter members of Sydney Atheists and $10.00 for non-supporter attendees. Annual Supporter membership is only $20. To become a supporter member, please go to: http://www.sydneyatheists.org/p/donations-and-membership.html

Our talk events are held at the Function Room at Club Redfern:

2nd Floor, 159 Redfern St
REDFERN, NSW 2000

RSVP https://www.meetup.com/sydneyatheists/events/pqbqkqyzpblb/

Friday 4 October 2019

Do beliefs beat facts or vice versa?















Is being right enough to win? Dan will present a challenging discussion this evening based on a wealth of experience - an evening not to be missed.

Dan Gregory was a comedian performing with Austen Tayshus and otherwise doing standup comedy in the UK and USA.

He is the Co-founder and CEO of the Impossible Institute. In conjunction with his partner Kieran Flanagan, they are the strategic and creative team behind the most successful new product launch in Australian history and have applied their considerable experience to social change programs for the United Nations in Singapore, to category re-inventions and innovation initiatives for the likes of Coca-Cola, Unilever, Bayer and News Corp. and to leadership development programs across Australia, Asia, Europe and the USA for organisations in categories as diverse as Banking & Finance, Education, Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Real Estate & Retail.

Dan and Kieran are the co-authors of three books:
• Forever Skills - The 12 skills to future proof yourself, your team and your kids
• Selfish Scared & Stupid - A treatise on Human Behaviour asserting that Behaviour Change should align with human nature rather than fighting it
• Shift - An analysis of future trends in Business, Society, Communications & Technology

They also write for Success Magazine & CEO Magazine in the USA and are regulars on ABC TV’s Gruen Series, Sunrise on Channel 7 and Sky Business News.

Voted by Meetings & Conventions USA as two of the “Top 25 C-Suite speakers to watch”, both Kieran and Dan wow their audiences with a mixture of commercial acumen, creative insight and the kind of comedic wit you’d expect with backgrounds in on-air media and stand up comedy.

The Impossible Institute delivers Keynote Speeches, Training Workshops in Forever Skills (Change, Creativity, Communication & Control) and Leadership Programs as well as facilitating innovative solutions to a huge range of complicated, and often political, problems.

Dan loves playing the Devil's advocate and is also a debate coach.

It is a stroke of good fortune and an honour to have Dan present this evening.

Entry to this event will be $5.00 for supporter members of Sydney Atheists and $10.00 for non supporter attendees. Annual Supporter membership is only $20. To become a supporter member, please go to: http://www.sydneyatheists.org/p/donations-and-membership.html

To buy advance purchase tickets for non financial members, please go to https://www.trybooking.com/BFVWI

Our talk events are held at the Function Room at Club Redfern:

2nd Floor, 159 Redfern St
REDFERN, NSW 2000

Tuesday 27 August 2019

Alteration to the Freedom of Religion Act or Religious Discrimination Act

In March 2017, the Liberal Party attempted to change the laws with regard to 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, which states:

             (1)  It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:
                     (a)  the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and
                     (b)  the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group.
Had these changes been brought about - purportedly in the name of free speech - some people could say things that others might reasonably consider to be disrespectful and discriminatory on the basis of their race, colour or national or ethnic origin.

Some elements of the government now look to do the opposite in certain regards. They would seek to protect religions from offense, insult, humiliation and intimidation. Furthermore, they would seek to enable religions to discriminate against those of different persuasions. This would be seen by the passive observer as the height of hypocrisy.

Belief in religions - as with ideology – are often opinionated and dynamic, but most importantly changeable, whereas “race, colour or national or ethnic origin” are fixed. As such, opinions, religions and ideologies are not deserving of the same protections as race, colour or national or ethnic origins.

The Folau case has highlighted the difficulties that changes to Freedom of Religion would cause. Israel Folau has ostensibly voiced his religious opinion that a vast array of people would go to hell. This despite an agreement with his employer that he would not voice his opinions in public. In so doing he could alienate the very people who patronise him, including other players, audiences and sponsors. This is not to take into account the harm that he might cause, including the offense to the unchangeable qualities of people in the LGBTI community. The Australian Christian Lobby was quick to defend Israel Folau.

On the other hand, Israel Folau’s father Eni of the Truth of Jesus Christ Church, believes the "everlasting torture and doom" of hell awaits most Christians, with Catholicism seen as "the synagogue of Satan" and "masked devil worship". Israel Folau’s cousin Josiah wrote to a parent who attended one of the church's services that "any devout Catholic person IS NOT A SAVED CHRISTIAN WHATSOEVER.
"Look at Catholic doctrine, almost 100% of it is false and is filled with lies,"

After meeting with the headmaster, Josiah “discontinued” his employment with the Catholic school where he was a teacher. The Australian Christian Lobby has not come out in support of Josiah Folau. The case of Israel and Josiah both involve people who have caused their employers discomfort. They are free to think whatever they like. They are also free to say whatever they like. However, there are consequences when said in the public domain.

If the government were to stop the ability to question, criticise, nay use terminology that the aggrieved would consider offensive or insulting - in the hope of insulating certain types of Christianity - then they would unwittingly protect from perceived offence and insult what many might consider to be ridiculous belief systems including Jehovah's Witnesses, Exclusive Brethren, Scientology and Islam. These religions – particularly in their more fundamental forms - are just a few that run counter to reasonable, acceptable and moral behaviours as viewed by the vast majority of Australians. Indeed, many of their practices run counter to the intentions and laws of the land. Many of their practices run counter to appropriate medical practice, educational enlightenment, organisational transparency and psychological well-being.

Of far greater concern to most Australians, were the government to enact laws banning criticism, offense or insult of religions, the government could unwittingly allow the Trojan horse of Islam to instigate blasphemy laws like those in Saudi Arabia, Iran and various other countries. After all, why should any form of Christianity be more or less protected than any other religion, regardless of how ridiculous such religions might seem.

It is imperative therefore that religious laws, which are already overly protective of religious practices, not be granted any further dispensation.

Sunday 2 June 2019

Growing up as Australian women inside the Primitive Cage of Islam

Sarah and Yasmin from two different Muslim cultural backgrounds discuss their compelling stories.




Friday 9th August, 7.00pm.
Entry to this event will be $5.00 for supporter members of Sydney Atheists and $10.00 for non supporter attendees. Annual Supporter membership is only $20. To become a supporter member, please go to: http://www.sydneyatheists.org/p/donations-and-membership.html

To buy advance purchase tickets for non financial members, please go to www.trybooking.com/BDDKF

Our talk events are held at the Function Room at Club Redfern:

2nd Floor, 159 Redfern St
REDFERN, NSW 2000

Thursday 25 April 2019

The fantasy world of the Bible and its contrast with reality




Mark Frew was born into a Bible Christian household.
Mark completed a Bachelor of Applied Science at university and was a research chemist for many years but his real passion was linguistics and so he eventually retrained and became a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages. He has experience with a great number of religious people from many countries. Mark is also an author.
Come travel with Mark on his tortuous journey through religious exploration to uncertainty and ultimately atheism, all seen through the lens of being gay. In the process, come to an understanding of what the Bible really says and what Bible Christians don't want it to say.
This talk will be at 7.00pm at Club Redfern on Friday 10th of May.
Entry $5 for financial members and $10.0 for non-members.

Sunday 10 March 2019

Psychedelic Mushrooms, Fertility Cults and the origin of religion



Jim Muscaria explains some of the intriguing beginnings of religion. Jim's talk leans heavily on the controversial work of visionary scholar John Allegro.

It will take us on a trip through some interesting subjects

Entry to this event will be $5.00 for supporter members of Sydney Atheists and $10.00 for non-supporter attendees. Annual Supporter membership is only $20. To become a supporter member, please go to: http://www.sydneyatheists.org/p/donations-and-membership.html


Our talk events are held at the Function Room at Club Redfern:
7.00pm
2nd Floor, 159 Redfern St
REDFERN, NSW 2000
Dinner and drinks are available at the club.

Thursday 14 February 2019

Pentecostal churches

Friday 8th March, 7.00 - 9.00pm



Javen Sanchez belonged to one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Australia. Pentecostal churches are also known as happy clappers and megachurches. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is an adherent to one of them known as Horizon Church. Others include Hillsong and C3 (Christian City Church)
What are these churches, how do they function, how do they get so rich and how do they become so influential? What are the effects on believers and what happens to those who leave?
Javen will cover these areas as well as the epistemology of Pentecostal churches and his journey to atheism.

Entry to this event will be $5.00 for supporter members of Sydney Atheists and $10.00 for non supporter attendees. Annual Supporter membership is only $20. To become a supporter member, please go to: http://www.sydneyatheists.org/p/donations-and-membership.html

To buy advance purchase tickets for non financial members, please go to https://www.trybooking.com/BANUC

Our talk events are held at the Function Room at Club Redfern:

2nd Floor, 159 Redfern St
REDFERN, NSW 2000

The entrance is 20 metres across Gibbons Street from Redfern Station under the SPAR sign. You can walk up the stairs, the escalator or use the elevator to the 2nd floor where the club is located. The outside of the venue is shown below.

Parking is available in the shopping complex and adjacent streets.

Please have your meal in the adjacent lounge areas where there is a variety of food and drinks including Australian and Chinese meals - see the menu selection at: http://www.clubredfern.com.au/dining

Friday 4 January 2019

Armin Navabi - Does Islam need to be reformed?

Zara Kay - Women in Islam.



We are hugely honoured to have a special guest from Canada, Armin Navabi.
Armin is an Iranian Canadian ex-Muslim atheist and secular activist, author and podcaster, currently living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In 2011, he founded the online freethought community Atheist Republic, a Canada-based non-profit organisation which has hundreds of branches called "consulates" in several countries around the world. These enable non-believers to interact in societies where irreligion, apostasy and blasphemy are often criminalised and repressed. As an author, he debuted with the book Why There Is No God (2014). He co-hosts the podast show Secular Jihadists for a Muslim Enlightenment, with Ali A. Rizvi.

On this evening, we will also have Zara Kay, a Tanzanian Ex-Muslim atheist activist and founder of Faithless Hijabi which aims to support and empower Ex-Muslim women across the globe. Zara was recently featured on the front page of The Australian talking about her journey and her work with Faithless Hijabi https://www.facebook.com/theaustralian/posts/10151209628849978

Join us for an evening of enlightenment with the two activists and a panel discussion. Audience engagement is highly encouraged during the panel discussion, so prep your questions.

PLEASE NOTE this event is on a Thursday.

Entry to this event will be $15.00 for supporter members of Sydney Atheists and $20.00 for non-supporter attendees. Annual Supporter membership is only $20. To become a supporter member, please go to: http://www.sydneyatheists.org/p/donations-and-membership.html

To buy advance purchase tickets for non-financial members, please go to:
https://www.trybooking.com/BACKJ
Our talk events are held at the Function Room at Club Redfern:
7.00 - 9.00pm Thursday 7th February
2nd Floor, 159 Redfern St
REDFERN, NSW 2000