Monday, January 5, 2015

We are having "church without the god-bits" this Sunday morning 1-11-15

We are having "church without the god-bits" this Sunday morning 1-11-15 (Sunday Assembly Portland). We are for everyone of any belief system (Catholic, Mormon, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, agnostic, whatever). We just don't preach anything about the supernatural because we think it is irrelevant. Great singing to popular songs, and a talk to spark your brain and heart. And afterwards, a lunch social (burgers and beer)! Click here for all event details:
http://tinyurl.com/mkwqoaw .

The main speaker is Vicki Reitenauer.  She's an instructor in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program at Portland State University.  She'll facilitate a conversation on the topic: "The Gender Knot: Language, Performance, Possibility."  Bring your kids; we'll also have some activities for them.

More info about the Sunday Assembly movement:
Sunday Assembly is a non-religious gathering co-founded by Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans in January 2013 in London, UK. The gathering is for non-religious people who want a similar communal experience to a religious church.

Stand-up comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans started the first Sunday Assembly in North London in January 2013 as they "both wanted to do something like church but without God".  The first event, attended by over 300 people, was held in a deconsecrated church in Islington, but due to the limited size of the venue future meetings have been held in Conway Hall.  Since then events have continued to be held, twice a month, with one attracting as many as 600 people.  Sanderson Jones said "I don't [think] there's anything that's inherently elite about people getting together to sing songs and think about themselves and improve their community. But we can't wait to see people doing it in all manner of different places in all manner of different ways, that appeal to all manner of different people."

Other Portland-area community, secular, and philosophical groups can also be found at meetup.com, such as these:
-- The Center for Philosophical Naturalism: http://tinyurl.com/l6rd4sl
-- Sunday Assembly: http://tinyurl.com/kkc8nyw
-- Westside Science & Religion Disc.: http://tinyurl.com/bkmhdl5
-- Center for Inquiry: http://tinyurl.com/mps923r
-- Humanists of Greater Portland: http://tinyurl.com/kmbmt57
-- Atheists Etcetera: http://tinyurl.com/nhjr3ha
-- Philosophy Workshop: http://tinyurl.com/pzs4ajc


Sunday, January 4, 2015

Creation/evolution debate at Portland State University on Tue. 1-13-15 ("Which Best Explains Man's Origin, Creation or Evolution?")

Bernie Dehler will be debating Dr. Bart Rask at Portland State University on Tue. 1-13-15, on the topic "Which Best Explains Man's Origin, Creation or Evolution?"  Details for the event can be found here: http://www.meetup.com/Philosophical-Naturalists/events/198424952/ .  The event, and parking, is free.

How did humans come to be?  Did we evolve from other animals, or were humans made by a special creation act from a God?  Bart Rask, M/D., is also an author and will argue for a creationist perspective.  Bernie Dehler is an atheist and will argue for an evolutionary explanation.  Listen to each side make their short presentations, confront each other, then engage with the audience in extensive Q&A time.  The event will be videotaped and shown on this YouTube channel: http://tinyurl.com/pcz2ak5 .

Bart Rask, M.D., is the author of "Evolution By Affirming the Consequent: Scientific Challenges to Darwin's Theory of Evolution."  Book link:  http://tinyurl.com/c5eh4md .   Bernie Dehler is the author of "Modern Science and Philosophy Destroy Christian Theology."  Book link:   http://tinyurl.com/lmlqy56 .

Here's a picture from a previous debate with Rask (L) and Dehler (R):


Other Portland-area community, secular, and philosophical groups can also be found at meetup.com, such as these:
-- The Center for Philosophical Naturalism: http://tinyurl.com/l6rd4sl
-- Sunday Assembly: http://tinyurl.com/kkc8nyw
-- Westside Science & Religion Disc.: http://tinyurl.com/bkmhdl5
-- Center for Inquiry: http://tinyurl.com/mps923r
-- Humanists of Greater Portland: http://tinyurl.com/kmbmt57
-- Atheists Etcetera: http://tinyurl.com/nhjr3ha
-- Philosophy Workshop: http://tinyurl.com/pzs4ajc


Join us for a dinner social in Beaverton on 1-6-15

I'm the President of a group called "The Center for Philosophical Naturalism."  We promote a natural worldview (nothing supernatural exists).  That makes us an organization that atheists and agnostics might like.  If you want to meet us, and make some new friends, join us at our next dinner social in Beaverton on Tue. 1-6-15.  Just pay for your own meal; no other expenses.  Event details are here:
http://www.meetup.com/Philosophical-Naturalists/events/219291246  .

Other Portland-area community, secular, and philosophical groups can also be found at meetup.com, such as these:
-- The Center for Philosophical Naturalism: http://tinyurl.com/l6rd4sl
-- Sunday Assembly: http://tinyurl.com/kkc8nyw
-- Westside Science & Religion Disc.: http://tinyurl.com/bkmhdl5
-- Center for Inquiry: http://tinyurl.com/mps923r
-- Humanists of Greater Portland: http://tinyurl.com/kmbmt57
-- Atheists Etcetera: http://tinyurl.com/nhjr3ha
-- Philosophy Workshop: http://tinyurl.com/pzs4ajc