An opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals.

Discussion and merrymaking. No set topic.

A social event to mark the Winter and the coming New Year.

Those who are interested can bring non-perishable food items or other non-perishable items.

These will be given away to charity.

The speaker is Dr. Ariel Fenster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Fenster

The topic is:

Crime and Detection: The Story of Forensic Science

Sherlock Holmes solved criminal cases only with the help of his magnifying glass and his sense of observation. Today the police can make use of a vast array of scientific techniques from computer fingerprints analysis to DNA profiling. This lecture presents the history of forensic science together with some famous cases ranging from the story of the Poison Umbrella to that of O.J. Simpson.. The lecture concludes with an analysis of several well-known literature and movie thrillers from the chemist's perspective. The lecture is well-suited to a wide-ranging audience with or without a science background

http://oss.mcgill.ca/lecteng.php

It is being presented by CFI MTL, McGill Freethought, and the McGill Office for Science and Society.

ROOM - OMC 10 @ The Otto Maass Chemistry Building of McGill University

Filmmaker Kate Churchill is determined to prove that yoga can transform anyone.

Nick Rosen is skeptical but agrees to be her guinea pig.

Kate immerses Nick in yoga, and follows him around the world as he examines the good, the bad and the ugly of yoga.

The two encounter celebrity yogis, true believers, kooks and world-renowned gurus.

Tensions run high as Nick’s transformational progress lags and Kate’s plan crumbles.

What unfolds and what they discover is not what they expected.

(Film screening followed by our own discussion.)

International Blasphemy Day

Wednesday, September 30th

"Irreverence is the champion of liberty." –Mark Twain

Free speech is the foundation on which all other liberties rest. Without having the right to express our opinions, however unpopular, those willing to use political clout, violence, and threats will stifle dissent, and we must all suffer the consequences of this. As George Bernard Shaw quipped, "Every great truth begins as a blasphemy."

The UN, rather than standing up for free speech, has given in to pressure from Islamic nations and has proposed a resolution to essentially ban criticism of religion. In its pursuit of "tolerance" for religion, this resolution wants to strip everyone, everywhere, of their freedom, even their obligation, to criticize what they oppose. Unlike one’s political affiliation or favorite sports team, religion demands – and has been granted – unique and unswerving immunity from criticism since its very inception. Labeling anything deemed critical of it "blasphemy", religions have effectively defined the boundaries for what can and can’t be said about them. We propose we knock down this barrier and break this spell. Religion is no more undeserving of criticism than anything else, and if people’s insecurities are upheld as a reason to stifle the expression of the equally sincere feelings of others, and indeed, the pursuit of truth itself, we will have forsaken our ideals in favor of one-sided and entirely undeserved sympathy. As Richard Dawkins noted,

"Society bends over backward to be accommodating to religious sensibilities but not to other kinds of sensibilities. If I say something offensive to religious people, I'll be universally censured, including by many atheists. But if I say something insulting about Democrats or Republicans or the Green Party, one is allowed to get away with that. Hiding behind the smoke screen of untouchability is something religions have been allowed to get away with for too long."

The primary focus of Blasphemy Day is not to debate the existence of any gods or deities. The objective of International Blasphemy Day is to open up all religious beliefs to the same level of free inquiry, discussion and criticism to which all other areas of academic interest are subjected.

Blasphemy Day International is a campaign seeking to establish September 30th as a day to promote free speech and stand up in a show of solidarity for the freedom to challenge, criticize, and satirize religion without fear of murder, litigation, and reprisal. It is the obligation of the world's nations to safeguard dissent and the dissenters, not to side with the brutal interests of those who demand "respect" for their beliefs (i.e., immunity to being criticized or mocked or they threaten violence).

The purpose of Blasphemy Day is not to promote hate or violence. While many perceive blasphemy as insulting and offensive, this event is not about getting enjoyment out of ridiculing and insulting others. The event was created as a reaction against those who would seek to take away the right to satirize and criticize a particular set of beliefs given a privileged status over other beliefs. Criticism and dissent towards opposing views is the only way in which any nation with any modicum of freedom can exist. Without this essential liberty, those in power are those best able to manipulate others will suppress and silence dissent by labeling it "defamation" or "blasphemy" or whatever other bogey words they can use to stifle opposition by turning popular sentiment against it. Please, do not let them do this. Yes, Muslims find images of Muhammad offensive. But which is more offensive to you? Those who would poke fun at a prophet, or those who would murder innocents in his name?

Blasphemy Day will take place every September 30th, to commemorate the publishing of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons. The purpose of this event is to set a particular day as a day to support free speech, support the right to criticize and satirize religion, and to oppose any resolutions or laws, binding or otherwise, that discourage or inhibit free speech of any kind. The focus on "blasphemy" is simply because it is such a salient issue, and one for which a lot of consciousness-raising is necessary. Religion has had a free ticket from criticism for too long, and it's time we make it clear to the world that we have a right to oppose it.

So if you support free speech, and the rights of those who disagree with religious views to voice their opinions peacefully, support Blasphemy Day and join the cause!

If you're a CFI campus group leader, check out event ideas for Blasphemy Day on the CFI On Campus website.

If you're looking for a Blasphemy Day event at a Center for Inquiry or a CFI Community in North America, please go to their individual websites.

Blasphemy Day International is administered by the Center for Inquiry.

Why Blasphemy Day?

* CFI firmly believes that religious beliefs should be treated no differently than any other belief, such as political, economic, or philosophical beliefs. Religious beliefs can be examined and criticized. Blasphemy Day is a way to draw attention to our position that speech about religion should not be subject to special regulations—as well as the threat to free speech posed by such regulations.

* Our goal is not to offend believers – but offense that might be taken by believers is not a sufficient reason for not holding the contest. After all, many believers are deeply offended simply by skeptics questioning God’s existence – and this attitude underscores the importance of removing the taboo on critiquing religion.

* Believers claim that blasphemy offends them. We can comment on politics, science, economics, sports, philosophy, and so forth – using harsh, abusive terms if we want – and “offense” is not considered a sufficient basis for prohibiting such speech. Religious beliefs should be treated no differently.

* It is a common error to equate blasphemy with ridicule of religion. This is incorrect. Blasphemy laws have almost always prohibited any questioning of religion. Denying God or any of the alleged attributes of God (such as the Christian God being a Trinity) is blasphemy, even when the denial is made “respectfully.”

* Blasphemy laws have been used to prevent objective examination and criticism of religion

* One of the first written laws prohibiting blasphemy was the Athenian law of the fifth century BCE punishing impiety. Among those charged with “impiety” were Euripides, Protagoras, and most infamously, Socrates.

* Thomas Aikenhead, a Scottish student, was the last person executed in the United Kingdom for blasphemy (1697). His crime: he denied the Incarnation and the Trinity and asserted the Bible was not credible. He had also joked – after a night of drinking with his classmates – that he’d prefer to be in hell because he was so cold. This is the stuff of blasphemy.

* Blasphemy laws are still routinely enforced in many Islamic countries.

* There is a movement, spearheaded by Islamic countries to have the U.N. prohibit “defamation of religion.” The Human Rights Council (an ironic name in our view) has already adopted nonbinding resolutions to that effect. A resolution may be introduced in the General Assembly this fall that would seek to make this prohibition binding on member states.

* International Blasphemy Day will help call attention to the continuing threat to free expression posed by blasphemy laws – as well as the informal social restrictions that treat religious beliefs as a topic that cannot be discussed.