EventsSkepticism

EVENTS This Week–Flying Cars, Laser Tag, Hiking & Moonshine!

I am typing this with my robot hand because my belly is stuffed with several cans of cranberry sauce. In fact, I’m a little surprised that the NY Academy of Sciences/CFI-NY Seven Deadly Sins series topic this week is not gluttony, but perhaps that’s a little too obvious. Or maybe they decided that since attempted genocide isn’t a deadly sin (far from it, amiright, Christians ;-)), Thanksgiving was off the table. Instead they opted for pride (and flying cars!), one of many interesting talks going on in the skeptical/scientific/atheist community this week.

Before getting into all the sweet brain candy and superpartyfuntime events going on this week, I do want to remind you all of the major conferences starting next weekend, November 30–December 2.

Eschaton 2012: Celebrating Reason at the End of the World, in Ottawa, Ontario, with a ton of awesome speakers, including Skepchick’s own Heina Dadabhoy as well as Eugenie Scott, Ophelia Benson, PZ Myers, and many more.

The same weekend, Rebecca Watson joins James Randi and a bunch of other skeptical guests at the Australian Skeptics National Convention in Melbourne. Rebecca will then be heading on over to New Zealand, which she or I will post about as soon as we have more details.

Events for Nov. 23–Nov. 29

Below are some highlights for the week all over the U.S., sorted by region, as well as in the UK. You can find a ton more going on all over the world in our events calendar, which I am admittedly a little slow updating this week, so please check back if you don’t see something in your area.

Or shoot us an email/leave a comment about what’s going on near you or what area you are interested in.

NORTHEAST

Baltimore, MD—Multiple

Sun., Nov. 25: The Baltimore Ethical Society’s Constitution Series is on Church and State Separation this Sunday. Join the group to RSVP and get location info.

Wed., Nov. 28: Johns Hopkins University is hosting a talk by Daniel Dennett on “What Does Cognitive Science Have to Tell us about Free Will and Responsibility?”

 

New York, NY

Sun., Nov. 25: Join the NY Philosophy and Our Lives group at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to talk about “Heidegger: What is Art?” on Sunday.

Tues., Nov. 27: The NYC Skeptics discussion dinner this month is on “The Wisdom of the Crowd.”

Wed., Nov. 28: The New York Academy of Sciences and CFI-NY are co-hosting a panel discussion, “Pride: Flying Cars and Other Broken Promises,” as part of the Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series.

 

Harrisburg, PA, Thurs., Nov. 29

The ACLU of Pennsylvania is hosting a free “Year of the Bible” panel discussion at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore Thursday night.

 

Smithfield, RI, Wed., Nov. 28

Chris Stedman is speaking at Bryant University on his book Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious.

 

SOUTHEAST

Bradenton, FL, Wed., Nov. 28

The Suncoast Skeptics are getting together for another Skeptics in the Museum event, Stelliferous Live, in the Bishop Planetarium, at South Florida Museum.

 

Memphis, TN, Sun., Nov. 25

Lecia Brooks, director of outreach for the Southern Poverty Law Center, is giving a talk on “Fighting Hate and Promoting Diversity in the Midsouth,” hosted by the Memphis Freethought Alliance.

 

Charleston, SC, Wed., Nov. 28

The Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry are getting together for a debate between Alex Kasman and Wallace Marshall, of Reasonable Faith, on the existence of God.

 

SOUTHCENTRAL

Hillcrest, AR, Thurs., Nov. 29

Sam Singleton, Atheist Evangelist, is joining the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers for a Living Room Revival meeting! To RSVP and get location info, click here.

 

Tulsa, OK, Sun., Nov. 25

The Atheist Community of Tulsa is hosting its Thanksgiving Potluck Special this Sunday. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

 

Austin, TX, Wed., Nov. 28

The UT-Austin Humanities Institute is hosting a talk by Harvard English professor Elaine Scarry, “On Beauty and Social Justice.”

 

Houston, TX, Sat., Nov. 24

The Humanists of Houston Religion, Ethics & Society Club is discussing The Price of Inequality, by Joseph E. Stieglitz on Saturday morning. Click here for more details.

 

Hurst, TX, Thurs., Nov. 29

The Metroplex Atheists are getting together with the Secular Student Alliance for a Festivus dinner on Thursday night, at the Tarrant County College NE Campus Student Center. For more info, including where to get tickets, click here.

 

MIDWEST

Lansing, MI, Sun., Nov. 25

The Mid-Michigan Atheists & Humanists are hosting a dinner speaker, Jessica Kelton, who is a community activist, educator, and economic and political consultant, to talk about “The 2012 Election and Beyond: A Transformative Election in a Modern World.”

 

Mankato, MN, Tues., Nov. 27

The Rochester Area Freethinkers are getting together to carpool to the debate between August Berkshire, of MN Atheists, and Christian James Kunz on the topic “Can We Be Good without God?” Get more info here.

 

St. Paul, MN, Sat., Nov. 24

Join the MN Atheists to cook for and eat with families at a homeless shelter, Family Place, in St. Paul on Saturday morning/afternoon. Details here.

 

Highlandville, MO, Sun., Nov. 25

The Springfield Freethinkers are getting together for hiking and moonshine (plus free music) on Sunday, at Busiek State park and the nearby Copper Run Distillery.

 

Kansas City, MO, Sat., Nov. 24

The Black FreeThinkers of KC are getting together Saturday night to talk about the “AIDS Epidemic in Black America,” a discussion hosted by member Diane, of the KC Free Health Clinic. Join to RSVP and get location information.

 

WEST

Chula Vista, CA, Tues., Nov. 27

It’s Laser Tag time with the San Diego New Atheists and Agnostics! Costs $7 for two games. Get more info here.

 

Irvine, CA, Mon., Nov. 26

The Ex-Muslims and Critics of Islam at UC-Irvine are hosting a free panel discussion on “Freedom of Speech vs. Blasphemy in Islam,” with Robert Spencer, Nonie Darwish, Jamie Glazov, and Raymond Ibrahim, on Monday night.

 

Los Angeles, CA, Sun., Nov. 25

Atheists United has a family group, offering family-friendly and science-themed kids’ activities along with their usual monthly meeting. Get more info about this meeting and other AU family events here.

 

Monterey, CA, Sat., Nov. 24

The Monterey County Skeptics are going on the Ghost Trolley tour together on Saturday night, after meeting first for dinner.More info here.

 

San Diego, CA, Sat., Nov. 24

The Fourth Annual Post-Turkey Day Dinner at Golden City Chinese restaurant is going on this Saturday, with the San Diego New Atheists and Agnostics. RSVP NOW if you want to go so they can make the reservation accordingly.

 

Villa Park, CA, Wed., Nov. 28

Join the Backyard Skeptics for a talk by former Scientologist Russel Orrel on “Examining the Scientology Warp Drive.”

 

Colorado Springs, CO, Wed., Nov. 28

The Freethinkers of Colorado Springs are hosting a talk by former evangelist Eric Cerynar on the “You Deserve to Die” Child Evangelism Fellowship.

 

UK

London—Multiple

Tonight and tomorrow, Fri.–Sat., Nov. 23–24: Catch the play by A. C. Grayling and Mick Gordon, On Religion, tonight or tomorrow afternoon or evening, at the Bridewell. Saturday evening’s performance is followed by a Q&A with Grayling. Tickets are between £10 and £14

Sun., Nov. 25:

Conway Hall’s Sunday lecture is on “The History and Future of Bioethics,” with Richard Ashcroft, deputy editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics. £3 at the door/free to members.

Image credit: Feature image adapted from H. Michael Karshis.

Melanie Mallon

Melanie is a freelance editor and writer living in a small town outside Minneapolis with her husband, two kids, dog, and two cats. When not making fun of bad charts or running the Uncensorship Project, she spends her time wrangling commas, making colon jokes, and putting out random dumpster fires. You can find her on Twitter as @MelMall, on Facebook, and on Instagram.

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