Secular Sunday #38 – Listen and Learn

Author Secular Sunday Published 16/09/2012

It’s time for Secular Sunday.

In this issue:

News
Upcoming Events
Use Your Ears

News

Last Thursday, Dublin Atheists in the Pub had as a speaker Patty Gray, professor of anthropology in NUI Maynooth. Professor Gray talked about the background to the Pussy Riot trial and conviction. Watch the video here.
Tom Hickey and Eoin Daly have made a submission to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism. It gives a good insight into how the Irish education system breaches the fundamental rights of minorities and undermines basic human rights. Read it here.
Our Kiva team has raised over US$1,900 in loans for people all over the world. If you haven’t already joined, remember, you can get a free loan when you sign up. And if you’ve already used your free loan and like the idea of Kiva, maybe it’s time to think about donating some of your own money and help take us over the $2,000 mark.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday 18 September, 7:00 pm, Siobhan McKenna Theatre, NUI Galway (map)
“What is Humanism?” Ann James of the HAI will be giving the inaugural talk of the new Atheist and Humanist Society in NUI Galway. All are welcome.
Wednesday 19 September, 8:00 pm, Absolute Hotel, Sir Harry’s Mall, Kings Island, Limerick (map)
The Mid West Humanists will be meeting. Any non-believers or people leaning that way are welcome. The meeting is due to make plans for pairs or trios of members to visit all the TDs in Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary with a list of desired changes to the Constitution, and to ask that these issues be sent to the Constitutional convention.
Thursday 20 September, The Black Sheep, Capel St., Dublin 2 (map)
“South African Skeptic drops in for a pint.” Graham Poulter, a skeptic from Capetown will be in Dublin and looking to meet other skeptics. Some local skeptics will be going along. Facebook event page
Saturday 22 September, 8:00 pm, Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork (map)
Cork Skeptics present a talk by Dr. Tom Moore, a senior lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry at UCC, and on the topic of academic freedom. Read more. Facebook event page
Sunday 23 September, 12:00 noon, Quay Co-op meeting room, Cork (map)
The monthly meeting of the Cork Humanists. Atheist Ireland chairman Michael Nugent will be speaking on his recent draft document on ethical atheism. Facebook event page
Monday 24 September, 8:30 pm, McSwiggans Bar and Restaurant, Woodquay, Galway (map)
Galway Skeptics in the Pub: “The Brain Depository”. The usual mix of skeptical discussion and drinking. Facebook event page
Sunday 30 September, Galway Tennis Club, Salthill, Galway (map)
The monthly meeting of Humanists West, Galway. Anyone interested in humanism is welcome. Facebook event page

Use Your Ears

If you have working earholes, you’ll want to use them to stuff your brain full of atheism-related information. Whether you just don’t like reading or you want something more satisfying than radio to listen to while commuting, there is no shortage of audio resources out there in the digital world.

Dublin Skeptics have a monthly(ish) podcast called Skeprechauns. In the UK, The Pod Delusion comes out weekly. And if you still want more, here’s a long list of atheist podcasts.

It’s not just podcasts though. LearnOutLoud.com is a huge online resource of educational audio and video resources, much of it free and a good deal of which is likely to be of interest to atheists, skeptics and humanists.

Librivox provides free public domain audiobooks including works by Darwin, Thomas Paine and Bertrand Russell.

And finally, if you don’t mind paying for audiobooks Audible.com and Audible.co.uk have a wide range of audiobooks including works such as The God Delusion and God is Not Great, read by their authors. They often have introductory offers so you may be able to get a bargain.

That should keep you busy until next week.

Derek Walsh
Editor, Secular Sunday
Atheist Ireland