UW’s Secular Student Union

Devil’s Playground is a 2002 documentary film by Lucy Walker about the alleged Amish rite of passage called Rumspringa. The film follows Amish teenagers in LaGrange County, Indiana who enter the “English World” before making the adult commitment to become baptised as adults in the Amish community. The non-Amish world is referred to in the film as “the Devil’s Playground” (though there is no evidence that the term is in circulation among the Amish).

We’ll be watching it at the Chapel on the Ave, followed by a short discussion.

Please be on time so we can start right away!

Time: Tuesday, 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Location: Chapel on the Ave, 4130 University Way NE

Topic: Are atheists truly open minded?

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=20292911182

One of the arguments which most consistently raises indignation and objection when presented is that atheists is that atheists are close minded and “militant”.

However, how can we determine if we are truly open minded or not? Given that every person believes themselves to be open minded, are atheists (both as represented at SSU and public figures like Dawkins) truly as open minded as they believe? Is it possible to be open minded on something as profound and radical as religion?

Time: Tuesday, 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Location: Chapel on the Ave, 4130 University Way NE

Topic: Ask a Muslim

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=16127762753

What is Islam? What does it mean to be a practising Muslim? As the subject of much controversy, Islam has more misconceptions in American society than almost any other religion.

The Muslim Student Association has kindly agreed to come and answer any questions you may have about Islam.

Time: Tuesday, 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Location: Chapel on the Ave, 4130 University Way NE

Topic: Must honest atheism confront nihilism?

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12102948415

In his piece “Amateur atheists”, John Haught argues that the “new atheism” movement is trying to replace religion with secular humanism “at the least possible expense to the agreeable socioeconomic circumstances out of which they sermonize. They would have the God-religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam—simply disappear, after which we should be able go on enjoying the same lifestyle as before. People would then continue to cultivate essentially the same values as before, including altruism, but they would do it without inspired books and divine commandments”

He argues that Secular Humanism is “religiosity in a new guise. […] a full acceptance of the death of God would require an asceticism completely missing in the new atheistic formulas.”

Do these arguments hold weight? Are atheists simply taking the comfortable road of rejecting God without fully grappling what that must mean for morality? Must an honest atheist grapple and come to terms with nihilism and all that it implies? Come and discuss these questions and more surrounding the Amateur Atheists article.

It would be helpful if people attending are already familiar with the article to speed along discussion but we will devote the first 20 minutes to presenting the arguments given.

Also, if you can, stay for the Chapel on the Ave discussion group from 8 - 9 where they will be delving into The God Delusion and what it means for Christians.

http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=4497

Time: Tuesday, 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Location: Chapel on the Ave, 4130 University Way NE

Topic: Is Buddhism completely compatible with Secularism?

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In light of the Dalai Lama’s visit, we will be discussing how his views on Buddhism mesh with a secular worldview. In interviews, he has stated:

“If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview.”

However, is this complete picture? Can the two world views ever be completely reconciled or will there be points such as reincarnation in which the two will forever stand apart?

Join us for the first SSU meeting of the Spring quarter at our new location in Chapel on the Ave.

Here’s a map:

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Austin Dacey is the author of the book “The Secular Conscience” and editor of the magazines “Skeptical Inquirer” and “Free Inquiry”. He also serves as representative of the the Center for Inquiry to the UN. He is coming to the UW campus this Friday to give a talk on the intersection between religion, science, and ethics.

For more information, check out his website:

http://www.austindacey.com/index.html

Zombie Jesus’ words and acts are recorded in one of the apocryphal books (books which were not included in the New Testament by the Catholic Church), the “Book of Brains”. The most famous part of the “Book of Brains” is the “Parable of the Brains”, in which Zombie Jesus spoke unto the assembled masses: “Braaaiiins…. braaaiiinnnss… braaaaiinss!!” (in the original Greek of the Gospel, “μυαλό…. μυααααλό…. μυααααλό!!!”).

From the Happy Heathens at the SSU.

For more blasphemy, be sure to check out stripper Jesus,  Cap’n Morgan Jesus, God got eated, and this one… (not for the faint of heart).

From our good friend Dr. Valerie Tarico:

Greetings –
I’ve been invited to blog on the Living section of the Huffington Post! My first post was put up this evening. The more people click on the link the longer it will stay up, the more comments it will get, and the more likely to move to the front page for a little while. This will help me to build a readership. Could you do me the favor of clicking on the link? (No need to read if it’s not of interest.)

When Leaving Jesus Means Losing Your Family

When my Gen Y friend Michael confessed publicly that he couldn’t believe any longer, it cost him a full ride scholarship and all of his friends but three. But that wasn’t the worst of it…

Story located here!