Weekly Update 2/25/12

Hello, Secular Students!

Here is your update for 8th week!

Meeting Reminder
Ever wonder why that atheist friend of yours is so ANGRY? Why does he/she go into fits of RAGE when he/she turns on the news? Why is he/she so damn CONFRONTATIONAL and CRITICAL of everything? Why does he/she HATE religion and everything it stands for? Why doesn't he/she just CHILL and let people live?

To get people excited about our big event on Thursday, we are going to watch a video of Greta Christina's epic presentation in 2011 when she tries to answer the question, "Why are Atheists so Angry?" And eat ice cream. So come join us on Tuesday, February 28th, in the Uncommon Room in the basement of Rockefeller Chapel. If you want, RSVP on Facebook.


Announcements

• Greta Christina: On March 1st, Greta Christina will be coming to UChicago to give a talk on Atheism, and Sexuality, in an event co-sponsored by the Secular Alliance and Queers and Associates. If you don't know who Greta is, here is a short bio:
  

  Greta Christina has been writing professionally since 1989, on topics including atheism, sexuality and sex-positivity, LGBT issues, politics, culture, and whatever crosses her mind. She is on the speakers's bureaus of the Secular Student Alliance and the Center for Inquiry. She is editor of the "Best Erotic Comics" anthology series, and of "Paying For It: A Guide by Sex Workers for Their Clients.

  Greta also blogs at http://freethoughtblogs.com/greta/.
  For more information about this talk, check out the Facebook event. Greta's talk will be followed by one from Riese Bernard of Autostraddle, another queer blogger. Additionally, if you can't come on Thursday, on Friday, March 2nd, at DePaul, Greta will be giving another talk titled "Coming Out: What Can the Godless Learn from the Queers?" More information can be found on their Facebook event.  
• Less Wrong Meetup: Today! Hutch Commons, 1pm-4pm. Come join us!
• Transfaith Discussion Panel: On Monday, March 5th, members of the Secular Alliance and the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship will be challenging each other with tough questions to get at the heart of each others' worldview. If you are interested in being on the panel, please contact us as soon as possible at ssa.uchicago@gmail.com. Or, if you just want to come out to the event, there's more information on the Facebook event.
• Speedfaithing: On Thursday, March 8th, the Spiritual Life Council will be hosting an afternoon of interfaith learning, with participants from Atheist to Zen. We are still looking for people to participate for the Secular Alliance, so again, if you are interested in participating, please email us at ssa.uchicago@gmail.com. As usual, more information can be found on the Facebook event. 

Links You Should Follow

• Want to help others, but want to make sure your money does as much good as possible? http://givewell.org/ is a good resource to research charities before you donate.
• Changes in Italy's and Israel's treatment of religious people and organizations: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/02/25/italy-and-israel-fewer-special-favors-for-the-religious/
• From last meeting: Thought Experiments and the Online Trolley Problem

That’s all for this installment. In conclusion, this week’s quote is from Arthur C. Clarke

"One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion."

Hope to see you on Tuesday!

~The UChicago Secular Student Alliance~
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