Feb 282011
 

TOPIC: ATHEOLOGY: What is it?

WHEN: Tuesday, 1 March 2010, 7:15 pm – 9:00 pm

LOCATION: Room #5, 6th Floor, Stanley A. Milner Library, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton

HOW: Ask the nice security guards to let you up to 6th floor.

DETAILS: Board meeting at 6:30 pm, Round table discussion at 7:15 pm, Drinks at downtown Elephant and Castle after 9:00 pm.  All are welcome to all or any of the three parts.

INTRODUCTION: We have previously discussed atheism, which is the lack of belief in a god or gods. But it is one thing to lack believe, or to criticize the valueof religion. It is quite another to engage in active disproof of the supernatural (or sub-natural). Yet this is an actual field identified as ATHEOLOGY. This will be the first of multiple discussions on the topic. We will discuss some of the leading “proofs” of God’s non-existence, from some of the leading proponent’s such as Victor Stenger, Anthony Flew (before his “conversion”, which was after his mental decline…) and Geoffrey Berg. See below in this email for some helpful starting points to review before we meet. P.S. Please feel free to circulate this email widely…

HELPFUL STARTING POINTS: Referencing VICTOR STENGER in “God: The Failed Hypothesis” 1. Hypothesize a God who plays an important role in the universe. 2. Assume that God has specific attributes that should provide objective evidence for his existence. 3. Look for such evidence with an open mind. 4. If such evidence is found, conclude that God may exist. 5. If such objective evidence is not found, conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that a God with these properties does not exist. Other possible discussion points, thanks to http://atheism.about.com/od/argumentsagainstgod/Arguments_Against_God_Atheological_Arguments_for_Atheism.htm.