BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//2012 Global Atheist Convention//NONSGML v1.0//EN
X-WR-CALNAME:calendar of 2012 Global Atheist Convention
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Australia/Melbourne
X-ORIGINAL-URL:http://www.atheistconvention.org.au
X-WR-CALDESC:Events from 2012 Global Atheist Convention
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH

BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Australia/Melbourne
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0900 
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=3;BYDAY=-1SU
DTSTART:19810329T020000
TZNAME:GMT+10:00
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
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TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=10;BYDAY=-1SU
DTSTART:19961027T030000
TZNAME:GMT+09:00
TZOFFSETTO:+0900
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE

BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111020T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111020T193000
SUMMARY:Contempt of Court by Jean Ely
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:197-203 Little Londsale St


URL:http://embiggenbooks.com/blog/?cat=6
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111020T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111020T203000
SUMMARY:Jamie Kilstein
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:Corner of Lygon St and Victoria St


URL:http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/13004729D7A5720A?artistid=1187122&majorcatid=10002&minorcatid=5
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111104T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111104T210000
SUMMARY:Atheists in the Pub
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:118 Ireland Street, West Melbourne


URL:http://home.vicnet.net.au/~atheist/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111108T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111108T210000
SUMMARY:The Exclusive Bretheren: A Critical Examination - Robert Bender
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:110 Grey Street, East Melbourne


URL:http://home.vicnet.net.au/~atheist/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111115T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111115T193000
SUMMARY:The Evolution of Purposes - Professor Daniel Dennett
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:801 Swanston Street


URL:http://www.science.unimelb.edu.au/dennett
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111115T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111115T203000
SUMMARY:The Catholic Church is a Force for Good in the World
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:90-120 Swanston Street


URL:http://wheelercentre.com/calendar/event/the-catholic-church-is-a-force-for-good-in-the-world/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111121T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111121T210000
SUMMARY:A Historical and Critical Approach to the Bible - Nicholas Bruzzese
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:140 Lygon St, Carlton


URL:http://vicskeptics.wordpress.com/events/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111123T174500
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111123T193000
SUMMARY:50th Anniversary of the Pill in Australia
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:Federation Square


URL:http://www.vwt.org.au/events-31.html
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111202T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111202T210000
SUMMARY:Atheists in the Pub
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:118 Ireland Street, West Melbourne


URL:http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Atheists/events/38907262/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111213T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111213T213000
SUMMARY:Science and the Objectivity Myth - Alex McCullie
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:110 Grey Street, East Melbourne


URL:http://home.vicnet.net.au/~atheist/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120106T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120106T210000
SUMMARY:Atheists in the Pub
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:118 Ireland Street, West Melbourne


URL:http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Atheists/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120203T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120203T210000
SUMMARY:Atheists in the Pub
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:681 Sydney Rd, Brunswick (cnr Albion St)


URL:http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Atheists/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120214T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120214T213000
SUMMARY:Neanderthals, Devisovans, Hobbits and Homo-Sapiens - Rick Barker
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:110 Grey Street, East Melbourne


URL:http://home.vicnet.net.au/~atheist/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120302T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120302T210000
SUMMARY:Atheists in the Pub
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:681 Sydney Rd, Brunswick (cnr Albion St)


URL:http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Atheists/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120313T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120313T213000
SUMMARY:New Atheism: Destroying golden calfs or worshipping the Wallstreet bull? - Petra Brown
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:110 Grey Street, East Melbourne


URL:http://home.vicnet.net.au/~atheist/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120406T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120406T210000
SUMMARY:Atheists in the Pub
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:681 Sydney Rd, Brunswick (cnr Albion St)


URL:http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Atheists/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120410T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120410T210000
SUMMARY:Islam and Terrorism: An Atheist View - John Perkins
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:110 Grey Street, East Melbourne


URL:http://home.vicnet.net.au/~atheist/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120413T120000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120413T160000
SUMMARY:Student Leadership Conference
DESCRIPTION:Workshops\, student panels\, presentations and more. Enjoy a stand up buffet lunch with fellow students from all over Australia plus mingle with surprise guests from the 2012 Global Atheist Convention line-up. 
      
      Keynote speakers include Debbie Goddard (Centre For Inquiry - On Campus)\, Lyz Liddell (Secular Student Alliance) and Chris Stedman (Interfaith Coordinator of Harvard Humanist Chaplaincy).
LOCATION:1 Convention Centre Pl,


URL:http://freethoughtalliance.eventbrite.com/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120416T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120416T210000
SUMMARY:Evolution and Creationism - Dr Eugenie Scott
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:140 Lygon St, Carlton


URL:http://vicskeptics.wordpress.com/events/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111027T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111027T210000
SUMMARY:The place of philosophy and religious education in Australian secular education - Christopher Dargan
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:336 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn


URL:http://www.victorianhumanist.com/current-events/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111124T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20111124T210000
SUMMARY:How do our State primary schools do religion? - Teresa Puszka
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:336 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn


URL:http://www.victorianhumanist.com/current-events/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120327T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120327T213000
SUMMARY:The Myth of Christian Values
DESCRIPTION:Where does our morality come from? Despite being presented as a book of absolute truth\, the Bible is full of very obvious contradictions.  Yahweh commands the most horrific acts of violence\, often against the innocent and makes contradictory commandments to do the exact opposite\, as well as contradictory records of events\, people\, places and times. Because we are able to discern the difference between these acts then surely our morality comes from somewhere else and not the Bible.
LOCATION:101 Young St, Frankston

ORGANIZER:peninsulaatheists@gmail.com
URL:http://www.meetup.com/Peninsula-Atheists/events/42115072/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T210000
SUMMARY:Trivia Night, Secular Party of Australia
DESCRIPTION:Come to the Secular Party Trivia Night\, and meet other freethinkers before the Convention starts!
LOCATION:2 Raglan Street, South Melbourne

ORGANIZER:pgreen@secular.org.au
URL:http://secular.org.au/component/content/article/161
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120202T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120202T203000
SUMMARY:Russell Blackford: Freedom of Religion and the Secular State
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:197-203 Little Londsale St, Melbourne


URL:http://embiggenbooks.com/blog/?p=1278
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120315T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120315T193000
SUMMARY:Islam, Arrogance and Delusion, by John L Perkins
DESCRIPTION:In this book Perkins feels compelled to speak out forthrightly against the advocates of Islam. In doing this\, his motivation is not to offend\, but to assist. Religions are a hindrance to progress and a detriment to human welfare\, especially Islam. Muslim societies still suffer something akin to religious Dark Age. Yet the truth claims of religions cannot be justified. Only through awareness can solutions be found.
      
      Please RSVP via email or phone.
LOCATION:197-203 Little Lonsdale St

ORGANIZER:(03) 9662 2062

SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120227T181500
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120227T191500
SUMMARY:Alom Shaha: The Young Atheists Handbook
DESCRIPTION:Alom Shaha is a British–Bangladeshi film-maker\, science writer and unabashed atheist. In The Young Atheist’s Handbook\, he argues that regardless of the strictness of the traditions you are raised in\, it’s possible to live a compassionate\, fulfilling\, and meaningful life without God. Prepare to have your expectations challenged as Shaha explains how atheists can break free from inherited beliefs and decide for themselves what to believe and who to be. In conversation with John Safran.
LOCATION:176 Little Lonsdale Street

ORGANIZER:(03) 9094 7800
URL:http://wheelercentre.com/calendar/event/alom-shaha-the-young-atheists-handbook/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120416T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120416T204500
SUMMARY:An evening with Richard Dawkins: In conversation with Lawrence Krauss
DESCRIPTION:\\"Dawkins... is a master of scientific exposition and synthesis. When it comes to his own specialty\, evolutionary biology\, there is none better.\\"The New York Times
      
      The world\\\\\\\\\\'s most famous atheist\, scientist and bestselling author\, Richard Dawkins\, returns to Sydney Opera House this April. In conversation with famed physicist Lawrence Krauss\, he will discuss his new book on the scientific reality of the world\, The Magic of Reality.
      
      Dawkins first catapulted to fame with his iconic book\, The Selfish Gene\, which he followed with a string of bestselling books\, including The God Delusion and The Greatest Show on Earth. Unlike any of his previous books The Magic of Reality is his first book for a family audience andis a dazzling celebration of our planet that will inspire and amaze readers of all ages.
      
      “I want to show you that the real world\, as understood scientifically\, has a magic of its own – the kind I call poetic magic: an inspiring beauty which is all the more magical because it is real and because we can understand how it works.”
      
      Dawkins has helped steer evolutionary science into the 21st century and is amongst the most provocative thinkers of our time. Don’t miss what will be a controversial and enlightening evening\, find out why reality offers so much more than fairy tales ever could.
      
      Appearing courtesy of the 2012 Global Atheist Convention.
LOCATION:Macquarie St


URL:http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/richard_dawkins_2012.aspx
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120223T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120223T201500
SUMMARY:Alain De Botton: Religion for Atheists
DESCRIPTION:The world’s most popular philosopher returns to Sydney Opera House to talk religion. Religion with a twist – hear him discuss his new book\, Religion for Atheists\, a non-believer’s guide to the uses of religion. 
      
      What if religions are neither all true nor all nonsense? De Botton’s inspiring new book suggests that rather than mocking religions\, agnostics and atheists should in fact steal from them. He boldly argues that the supernatural claims of religion are of course entirely false - but that religions still have some very important things to teach the secular world. 
      
      De Botton is the author of six witty and literate books that have helped people learn \\"how to live wisely and well\\" through emphasizing philosophy\\\\\\'s relevance to everyday life. Unraveling love\, travel\, architecture and literature\, his books have been bestsellers in over 30 countries and published in 25.
LOCATION:Macquarie St


URL:http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/alain_de_botton_2012.aspx
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T124500
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T131500
SUMMARY:Chris Stedman: Faithiest: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious
DESCRIPTION:Sometimes there’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned rant. Every Thursday\, the Wheeler Centre hosts an old-fashioned Speakers’ Corner in the middle of the city\, where writers and thinkers can have their say on the topics that won’t let them sleep at night.
      
      Featuring some of our most compelling voices across just about every sector of human endeavour you can imagine\, the themes dominating Lunchbox/Soapbox are proudly idiosyncratic. From pop-cultural analysis to high cultural criticism; from political grandstanding to personal mischief-making\, they’re also guaranteed to be thought-provoking. Bring your lunch along to this bite-sized session.
LOCATION:176 Little Lonsdale Street

ORGANIZER:(03) 9094 7800
URL:http://wheelercentre.com/calendar/event/chris-stedman-faithiest-how-an-atheist-found-common-ground-w
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T203000
SUMMARY:Something from Nothing: Lawrence Krauss and Richard Dawkins
DESCRIPTION:Hear two of the world’s foremost scientists ponder on life\, the universe and everything in this special event!
       
      Presentations will be followed by an audience Q&A chaired by COSMOS magazine editor-in-chief Wilson da Silva. The author\\\\\\'s books will be available for sale\, and an autograph session will follow the event.
       
      Tickets are limited\, so secure your places early!
       
      Brought to you by COSMOS magazine and the Sydney Grammar School.
LOCATION:Yurong St

ORGANIZER:Arnold@cosmosmedia.com.au
URL:http://somethingfromnothingsydney.eventbrite.com.au/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120413T120000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120413T150000
SUMMARY:Lunch with Secular Party members and others
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:Corner of Flinders & King St

ORGANIZER:mclarke@secular.org.au
URL:http://secular.org.au/component/content/article/162
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120403T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120403T193000
SUMMARY:Matt Grantham at the Melbourne Comedy Festival
DESCRIPTION:How Many Politicians does it take to change a light bulb? See Matt Grantham at the Melbourne Comedy Festival! This is a Secular Party fundraising event. Have a great night out and support secularism at the same time.
LOCATION:Fad Gallery 14 Corrs Lane. Chinatown

ORGANIZER:jperkins@secular.org.au
URL:http://secular.org.au/component/content/article/163
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20120505
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20120506
SUMMARY:Australian H+ Summit
DESCRIPTION:The second Australian H+ Summit (And in the southern hemisphere) will be held in Melbourne 2012 H+ conference in May.
      
      This is your chance to hear world-class speakers\, and meet Australian enthusiasts\, geeks\, transhumanists\, singularitarianists\, extropians\, skeptics\, humanists\, rationalists and possibly even luddites in one of Australia’s most vibrant and exciting cities. At the moment\, we don’t know the ticket price\, it is depending on venue costs.  But tickets will likely be less than a million dollars each.
LOCATION:address is to be determined


URL:http://2012.humanityplus.org.au/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120417T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120417T130000
SUMMARY:A Reason for Faith?
DESCRIPTION:How mindless is a religious faith? Join us for an interactive discussion between Ian Robertson (President Emeritus\, Rationalist Society of Australia) and Ian Powell (City Bible Forum) as they talk about the evidence for and against the Christian faith. There will be opportunity for questions. Lunch is available.
LOCATION:242 Exhibition St

ORGANIZER:tim.patrick@citybibleforum.org
URL:http://reasonforfaith.org.au/index.php/events/details/a-reason-for-faith
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120418T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120418T200000
SUMMARY:An Atheist and a Christian Discuss Jesus
DESCRIPTION:Nicholas Bruzzese (atheistic Biblical scholar and founder of ‘The Skeptics’ Testament’ podcast) and Robert Martin (Director\, City Bible Forum Melbourne) will discuss the person\, life and work of Jesus of Nazareth in a Melbourne pub. Can Jesus help us understand God? Come and join the conversation.
LOCATION:282 Exhibition St

ORGANIZER:tim.patrick@citybibleforum.org
URL:http://reasonforfaith.org.au/index.php/events/details/an-atheist-and-a-christian-discuss-jesus
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120418T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120418T133000
SUMMARY:Can we be Good with God?
DESCRIPTION:The history of religion is littered with violence and suffering. Chris Berg (Research Fellow\, Institute of Public Affairs) and Dr Greg Clarke (CEO Bible Society Australia) will discuss the ethical outworkings of atheism and Christianity and whether good and bad human behaviour is necessarily consequent on religious beliefs. There will be opportunity for questions. Lunch is available.
LOCATION:242 Exhibition St

ORGANIZER:tim.patrick@citybibleforum.org
URL:http://reasonforfaith.org.au/index.php/events/details/can-we-be-good-with-god
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120419T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120419T140000
SUMMARY:The Future of Faith
DESCRIPTION:Atheism is growing rapidly amongst today\\\\\\'s youth\, yet paradoxically\, conservative churches are also growing in the same demographic.
      
      Jason Ball (spokesperson and Organising Committee member\, 2012 Global Atheist Convention) and Guy Mason (founding pastor\, City on a Hill Church) will explore this issue and more as they discuss the future of faith. There will be opportunity for questions. Lunch is available.
LOCATION:Level 2, 253 Flinders Ln

ORGANIZER:tim.patrick@citybibleforum.org
URL:reasonforfaith.org.au
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120420T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120420T210000
SUMMARY:‘Collision’ Screening
DESCRIPTION:Is Christianity good for the world? Join us for a collision of lives and worldviews as the late Christopher Hitchens (leading atheist\, political journalist and bestselling author) and Douglas Wilson (author and evangelical theologian) engage passionately over this question in the film \\\\\\'Collision\\\\\\'. Cost is $14 per person.
LOCATION:Federation Square

ORGANIZER:tim.patrick@citybibleforum.org
URL:http://reasonforfaith.org.au/index.php/events/details/collision-screening
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120328T170000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120328T183000
SUMMARY:Does New Atheism promote Islamophobia?
DESCRIPTION:This week\, to herald the coming Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne\, the Deakin Philosophical Society will ask whether New Atheism promotes Islamophobia. 
      
      A small debate between Melbourne’s own Jeff Sparrow and Professor of Biology PZ Myers will form the basis for discussion.
LOCATION:ib3.307, Waurn Ponds Campus


URL:http://deakinphilosophicalsociety.com/forum/ai1ec_event/dps-meeting-does-new-atheism-promote-islamop
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120416T181500
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120416T201500
SUMMARY:The Road Less Traveled: Chris Stedman, PZ Myers & Leslie Cannold
DESCRIPTION:Can believers and atheists work together for the common good? Join Chris Stedman\, PZ Myers & Leslie Cannold in conversation with Meredith Doig. An oficial fringe event of the 2012 Global Atheist Convention. Tickets: $22/$12.
LOCATION:Elisabeth Murdoch Building


URL:http://roadlesstraveled.eventbrite.com/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120410T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120410T203000
SUMMARY:Something from Nothing: Lawrence Krauss and Richard Dawkins
DESCRIPTION:oin critically-acclaimed author and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and world-renowned theoretical physicist and author Lawrence Krauss as they discuss biology\, cosmology\, religion\, and a host of other topics. A book signing will follow the discussion.
LOCATION:Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music, Childers Street

ORGANIZER:events@anu.edu.au
URL:http://billboard.anu.edu.au/event_view.asp?id=88545
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120424T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120424T213000
SUMMARY:Atheism and Agnosticism
DESCRIPTION:How does atheism differ from agnosticism? What are the
      different varieties of each?  Tim Harding will lead an interesting
      discussion of these questions.
      
      Peninsula Atheists
LOCATION:101 Young St, Frankston

ORGANIZER:peninsulaatheists@gmail.com
URL:http://www.meetup.com/Peninsula-Atheists/events/56906392/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120422T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120422T170000
SUMMARY:Reforming Religious and Ethics Education in State Primary Schools
DESCRIPTION:\\"DUE TO THE DELAYED ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE VCAT OUTCOME\, THE FORUM HAS NOW BEEN POSPONED TO SUNDAY 20th MAY (same time & venue). Should a further delay occur\, a Public Notice will appear in The Sunday Age on 13th May.\\"
      
      Over past years there have been increasing concerns expressed by parents\, educators\, community organisations and the general public\, about the way in which Christian religious instruction is currently presented and administered in the majority of Victorian Government Primary Schools.
      
      These weekly sessions are officially known as SRI (Special Religious Instruction)\, but are often referred to as CRE\, RE or RI. They are taken by Christian volunteers. Parents have taken the Education Department to court\, claiming their children  who do not attend these sessions\, suffer discrimination. 
      
      Their cause was publicized by the parents group\, Fairness in Religions in School (FIRIS)\, which claims that SRI divides children and recommends that the current Sunday School lessons be replaced by culturally diverse and unbiased classes. The case of  ‘AITKEN AND OTHERS VS  DEECD’ was heard during 1–9 March 2012\, by  the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
LOCATION:3 La Trobe Street

ORGANIZER:0407 314 558
URL:http://religionsinschool.com
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T213000
SUMMARY:The Role of Reason in Faith and Unbelief
DESCRIPTION:Professor Peter Singer and Rev Professor Brendan Purcell discuss the role of reason in faith and unbelief.
      Free admission (gold coin donation appreciated)
LOCATION:Corner Flinders and Swanston Streets

ORGANIZER:sames@unimelb.edu.au
URL:http://melbourne.anglican.com.au/NewsAndViews/WhatsOn/Lists/Events%20Calendar/DisplayForm.aspx?Sourc
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120413T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120413T143000
SUMMARY:The Post-Christian Bloggers collective luncheon with Dan Barker
DESCRIPTION:Ex Christian minister and convention speaker Dan Barker has a lot to say to those whose path to Reason has come through faith; especially fundamentalist faith.
      This luncheon is specifically for post-Christian GAC attendees\, and by 50-word-or-less application to the below email address on the question
      \\"What question would you most like to put to Dan?\\". Places strictly limited.
LOCATION:Close to the convention centre

ORGANIZER:bodenland@gmail.com
URL:http://deepreason.blogspot.com.au/
SEQUENCE:4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T203000
SUMMARY:Free Will as Moral Competence
DESCRIPTION:Barry Taylor and David Lewis Philosophy Lecture
      
      Speaker: Professor Daniel Dennett\, Co-Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies\, Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy\, Tufts University
      
      Title: \\"Free Will as Moral Competence\\"
      
      Abstract: A number of neuroscientists and commentators have recently suggested that there are important implications for free will arising from recent research in neuroscience. But these claims all rely on a concept of free will that has no moral relevance\, aside from providing us with a better understanding of the importance of predictability for agents in competition.
      
      Bio: Internationally acclaimed philosopher and cognitive scientist Daniel Dennett is best known for his reductive views of consciousness and free will\, which he claims can be fully explained in terms of physical processes of the brain. An influential proponent of Darwinian ideas about evolution\, Dennett has recently argued that religion should be understood in terms of evolutionary biology and cognitive science. He is the author of numerous books including Consciousness Explained\, Darwin’s Dangerous Idea\, Kinds of Minds\, Freedom Evolves\, and Breaking the Spell.
      
      RSVP: Admission is free. Bookings are required. Seating is limited.
LOCATION:Melbourne University

ORGANIZER:masu@unimelb.edu.au
URL:http://alumni.online.unimelb.edu.au/danieldennett
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120411T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120411T203000
SUMMARY:Laureate Professor Peter Doherty in conversation with Peter Ellerton
DESCRIPTION:Nobel Prize winner Peter Doherty in conversation with Peter Ellerton (winner of the Australian Skeptics critical thinking award 2008).
      
      The following quote by Carl Sagan is well known among scientists\, as well as lay people with a general appreciation for science and technology: “We have arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while\, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces”. It expresses their concern over the discrepancy between the widespread use of science-based technologies on the one side and the the anti-science message of the new age\, post-modernists and some religions on the other. How has this come about?
      
      Even as they become one with their smart phones\, has the public truly lost its trust in science?
      
      RSVP essential
LOCATION:197-203 Little Lonsdale St, Behind the State Library

ORGANIZER:03 9662 2062
URL:http://embiggenbooks.com/blog/?p=1453
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120412T203000
SUMMARY:Blackford, Doig and Oppy: Australian Made Secularism
DESCRIPTION:Never mind The Four Horsemen\, come and listen to the Trinity.
      
      Russell Blackford\, Meredith Doig and Graham Oppy are three of Australia’s foremost intellectuals and they’ll be in-store to discuss possible ways to strengthen the secular nature of Australia’s democracy.
      
      Three of Australia’s finest and most rigourous public intellectuals come together to discuss how the ideas of secularism have evolved over the last few decades and how and why the time has come to strengthen the policies and strategies which hold our multicultural societies together. In the last few years we have all heard arguments from religious figures telling us how secularism is devoid of a moral compass — and that the ills of the world are as a result of this and other inadequacies which they see as part of the secular project. This has resulted in politicians showing increased public piety and the growing influence of religious lobby groups and organisations.
      
      In the USA\, Sean Faircloth\, the new Richard Dawkins Foundation Director of Strategy and Policy\, has put forward a 10 Point Plan for a secular America.  In this vein\, our top-shelf panel of thinkers asks:  What could/should be Australia’s 10 Point Plan be for a truly secular nation?
      
      RSVP essential
LOCATION:197-203 Little Lonsdale St, Behind the State Library

ORGANIZER:03 9662 2062
URL:http://embiggenbooks.com/blog/?p=1459
SEQUENCE:4
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120416T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120417T000000
SUMMARY:Shelley Segal An Atheist Album Launch
DESCRIPTION:Come and join us for a night of thought provoking entertainment and friendly company.
      Doors open from 7pm
      Performances start at 8pm
      
      $10 entry or $15 with ’An Atheist Album’
      
      Featuring the incredibly talented: 
      Dan Barker (US)
      http://ffrf.org/about/getting-acquainted/dan-barker/
      
      Simon Taylor
      http://mrsimontaylor.com/
      
      Followed by Shelley Segal 
      performing songs from An Atheist Album
      http://www.shelleysegal.com/an-atheist-album/
LOCATION:Shop G12-13 River Level Southgate Arts & Leisure Precinct Southbank


URL:http://www.shelleysegal.com/melbournelaunch/
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120416T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20120416T210000
SUMMARY:Science and Christianity Discussion Panel
DESCRIPTION:This event will feature a short excerpt of the \\"Test of Faith\\" documentary\, an award-
      winning movie produced by The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion\, followed by
       an expert panel featuring the following distinguished scientists\, philosophers & thinkers:
       • Professor Graham Oppy – prominent atheist philosopher from Monash University
       • Emeritus Prof John Pilbrow – former Australian Institute of Physics President
       • A/Prof Alan Gijsbers – Neuroscientist\, specialist in Addiction Medicine at RMH
       • Dr Bruce Yabsley – High-energy particle physicist\, involved with the LHC
       • Mr Jack Scanlan – editor of ‘The Pseudo Scientists’ podcast\, blogger and founding
       member of Young Australian Skeptics
       • Mr Jonathan Meddings – Medical Laboratory Scientist\, QLD Convener of the
       Freethought University Alliance\, author of the blog ‘The Carapace’
       • Moderator: Mr James Garth\, Aerospace engineer\, Fellow of ISCAST
      The panel will discuss the issues that lie at the heart of the contemporary debates
       between science and religion\, including:
       • What are the limits of science (if any)?
       • Can theistic belief be rational?
       • Does evolution preclude theistic belief?
       • Are science and religion in conflict?
       • Thoughts on New Atheist perspectives on science
      Following the set questions\, audience members will have the opportunity to ask the
       panel questions from the floor.
       All are welcome; to pre-register your seat please contact info@reasonforfaith.org.au
      There will be a $10 cover charge\, which includes tea/coffee/light refreshments\, available
       at the venue from 6:30pm onwards.
LOCATION:State Library of Victoria

ORGANIZER:info@reasonforfaith.org.au
URL:http://reasonforfaith.org.au
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20120420
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20120420
SUMMARY:Melbourne Atheists Meetup Group - GAC Debrief
DESCRIPTION:Global Atheist Convention De-briefing.
      
      All welcome.
      
      From 6:30 pm.
      
      In the side room\, and if you can\\\\\\'t find us\, ask at the bar for \\"Alex\\\\\\'s Room\\"\, or give me\, Alex the English chap\, a buzz on 0406 755 644.
      
      Transport:
      
      Melways 42 B5.
      
      There is ample car parking in the side streets around the hotel.
      
      Take the train to Middle Footscray station via the Sydenham Line\, and then a 30 second walk North\, or take the train to Footscray station via the Sunshine\, Melton\, Sydenham & St Albans\\\\\\'\, Werribee & Williamstown lines\, and then a five minute walk west\, down Irving Place\, turning right on Victoria Street.
      
      Any bus to Footscray station\, and then a short walk\, or catch a bus that runs West down Geelong Road\, and get off at the corner of Victoria Street and Geelong Road. Walk South down Victoria Street for approximately 4 minutes.
      
      Trams that run to Highpoint\, get off on the corner of Droop Street and Geelong Road\, then walk West\, and turn South down Victoria Street.
      
      More Information: Contact Alex on 0406 755 644 or message me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alexmccarthy
LOCATION:43 Victoria Street Footscray

ORGANIZER:0406 755 644
URL:http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Atheists/events/59012032/
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