Vampire victims, round one

Here we are after the blood drive.

We hope to have more next time, but every drop counts.

Congratulations are in order for the people who gave their blood. Good work guys!

Western Sydney Freethinkers Blood Drive

I'm in the waiting room at the Nepean Donor Centre having just donated blood on behalf of the Western Sydney Freethinkers.

This was our first blood drive and has been pretty good, despite having to change dates at the last minute.

We had 4 donors, 3 of which were successful.

I have added us to Club Red and we'll soon have our name on the wall, competing against other local organizations. Emu Plains baptists have 6 donations, the Mormons have 18 and Riverlands Christians have 10. After today, we'll be at 5, so we have a way to go before we catch up. I'm sure we'll be ahead before too long. We just need more regular donors amongst our ranks.

Interestingly, the highest donor level on the board is from the ATO (australian tax office). I'm thinking of contesting their score, as they are probably just donating the blood they suck from us year after year...

I hope to get some pics up when I get home. Keep a lookout!

Our next donation will be on 6th of March. I am looking at the details of plasma donation (which can be more regular) and if so, i'll put details up through the usual channels.

If you are already regularly donating, let them know you're with Western Sydney Freethinkers and your donation will count towards our tally.

If you have any questions about donating, feel free to contact myself (Alan) or the red cross and your questions will be answered.

IN DEFENSE OF ATHEISTS AGAINST DEHUMANISATION

This article was sent in for publication on this blog. To find out more about Marquez Comelab, visit his websites, or order a copy of his book "The Tyranny Of God: Liberating Ourselves From Our Own Beliefs."

Western Sydney Freethinkers encourages members and guests to provide articles for publication on our blog. If you have something you would like to share, email Alan at westernsydneyfreethought@live.com


IN DEFENSE OF ATHEISTS AGAINST DEHUMANISATION
By Marquez Comelab

Apparently, I am part of a plague: an infestation much like the bogong moths in Canberra and the frogs in biblical Egypt. I am an unwelcome and unlovely creature who has the awkward habit of turning up in bulk. Greg Craven, the vice-chancellor of the Australian Catholic University, asserts this in his article, A plague of atheists has descended, and Catholics are the target, published in The Age on the 4^th of November 2009.

Waving the many metaphors Greg Craven has decided to use in his article, like likening atheists to cheap electric kettles, for example, I will focus on the major arguments he is making and write short rebuttals to these.

1.     Atheists want everyone to know that they have not found God, and that no one else should.

As an atheist, my main motivation is not to stop other people from finding God, but rather, to discourage others from having a one-dimensional view of the world and encourage one that is enriched by the facts and evidence science presents to us, since many are in stark contrast to the many teachings of religion.

2.     Atheists are specifically attacking the Catholic religion for strategic reasons.

As an atheist, my arguments are not against one particular religion. Rather, it is against all beliefs that are merely started, asserted and replicated through superstition or indoctrination.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are more Catholics than any other religious group, in Australia. If Catholic doctrines are being criticised then it is likely because, in relation to other religions, Catholic doctrines are the most prevalent and most recognised the world over. Craven should recognise that it is the numerousness and the global ubiquitousness of Catholic doctrines that makes them easier to discuss.

Take, for example, the doctrine of Transubstantiation: the belief that when you swallow the bread and the wine in church, the bread and wine literally turn into the flesh and blood of Jesus. To me, this is an example of a religious belief that is not backed by evidence. I use it NOT because it is Catholic, rather because there is greater probability that more people have heard and can relate to it. Citing it will therefore likely get my point across.

3.     Atheists are atheists as a way to make themselves feel immensely clever.

This comment reminds me of a school kid, who, after not having a good come-back in an argument with a mate, says: “You think you’re smart now, don’t ya?!” There is something peculiarly childish about such arguments, which is quite surprising coming from a Vice-Chancellor of a university.

4.   Atheists do what they do because they hate Christians, as opposed to politely dismissing them.

As an atheist, I do not look at Christians as adversaries. From the tone of his article, Craven seems to look at the world in the simple terms of US-AND-THEM mentality. My mother is a believing Catholic and my father is Anglican. Most of my friends and relatives are Christians. I certainly do not hate them. I certainly do not hate you, Mr Craven. I simply want us, believers and non-believers, to continue our discussions in a way that is not divisive and dehumanising.

Like many citizens of this country and of this world, I am concerned with many issues humanity is currently dealing with. When atheists, including myself, express opinions that religion is at the heart of many of these problems like terrorism, stem cell research, abortion and condom use, we are entitled to express and argue for those opinions just as much as anyone is entitled to express and argue for theirs.

Referring to atheists as hateful bogong moths, frogs and noisy kettles, does two things: it takes the discussion away from the real issues and two, it dehumanises a group of human beings. Dehumanisation, Mr Craven, is a process utilised by groups like the Nazis against the Jews in the Holocaust and by the Hutus against the Tutsis in the Rwandan Genocide. Atheist or religious, Australians expect more from a Vice Chancellor of a university than to resort to such tactics.

Marquez Comelab is the author of The Tyranny Of God: Liberating Ourselves From Our Own Beliefs.

Western Sydney Freedrinkers SPECIAL EVENT!!!

Time: Wednesday 2nd December, 2009
6pm - 10pm

Location to be announced.

This month's freedrinkers will be a special event. We will have a member of the Foundation of International Spiritual Unfoldment (no, I didn't make it up!) coming to talk with us about Spiritual Atheism and using meditation to reach 'higher powers'.

This will be a great chance to discuss our differences and practice our positive argument skills that we have been honing at our meetings.

I will try to sort out a venue more conducive to this kind of event than a pub, but I'm also fine with keeping it there if nothing else good pops up.

I am aware that this visitor is likely to talk about a ideas that are contrary to most of our member's views. The idea is to have a positive discussion about our differences, not a yelling match!

FISU site here: http://www.fisu.org/en/

#3 Skepticism

This recording is from our September meeting. The topic is Skepticism. This meeting was hosted by Alan Conradi. The meeting was opened with a listening of an episode of SGU 5X5 (#32, Ockhams Razor), which was followed by the discussion that begins this podcast, facilitated by Alan Conradi. Peter Bowditch provided the main talk, on the topic of skepticism. Finally, Jason Hamiester provided a psychokinetics workshop (not contained on the podcast, but may be available on video soon).

You can download the mp3 here (93mins). Right click, save target as

Song exerpts are:
Welcome to this world - Primus
Singapore - Tom Waits
Cannibal's Hymn - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Satan Said Dance - Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah!

Links of interest:

SGU 5X5 Episode #32:
http://sguforums.com/index.php/topic,13054.0.html

Peter Bowditch (ratbags.com):
http://www.ratbags.com/

Jason Hamiester (Nonsense Podcast):
http://nonsensepodcast.com/

Find out more about us at http://westernsydneyfreethinkers.blogspot.com/