tinyurl.com/c4844v7

Update: Photos taken during the brunch are available on CFI Toronto Facebook page.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending the day with a group of unbelievers.

In the morning, CFI Canada hosted a brunch with Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss, the two men Gus Holwerda calls the “rock stars of science.”  Unlike John Lennon’s description of the Beatles, “We’re more popular than Jesus . . .,”  Dawkins and Krauss don’t make that kind of comparison. They are scientists, and Jesus or God is not part of any formula, equation or scientific theory.

Of course, Dawkins and Krauss did not sing or play a musical instrument, but what they said and how they said it was music for the audience.  The members of the audience rose to their feet when Dawkins and Krauss arrived as a signal of appreciation for two men who have done so much for science and unbelief and who share their frustrations with the limits of religious belief.  For Dawkins and Krauss, God is irrelevant, but religious belief is not because it restricts the appreciation of science and the ability to think critically and rationally about science and the world.

Both Krauss and Dawkins spoke to, not at, the audience and spent most of their time at the podium answering questions.  Krauss  freely admitted he couldn’t answer a question about the theories of a particular astrophysicist because Krauss  wasn’t familiar with the astrophysicist or his theories. Dawkins was comfortable about refusing to answer a question from the audience about epigenetics; Dawkins  is “bored with epigenetics,” or at least bored with talking about it.

Dawkins and Krauss were witty, charming, friendly and forthright, and when they were not at the podium, they were part of the crowd signing books, meeting new people and greeting old friends.  A young girl, who attended the brunch with her mother and listened to the speeches, questions and answers with rapt attention, shyly approached Dawkins to ask him to sign her copy of The Magic of Reality, Dawkins’ science book for children and young adults.

The CFI brunch with Dawkins and Krauss was just the beginning of a day filled with the magic of reality.

To be continued, . . .

Centre for Inquiry Presents:

Brunch with Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss

tinyurl.com/bmhgwxd

Join us for an exclusive engagement with Richard Dawkins, named top world thinker by Prospect magazine, and Lawrence Krauss, renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist.

It is rare for these two giants of science to visit Toronto so don’t miss this opportunity!

Please note that there are a limited number of tickets available for this event.

Standard Admission

$250

Includes:

Admission to event

Light breakfast service

Brunch service

$200 tax receipt

Premium Admission

$300

Includes:

Admission to event

Light breakfast service

Brunch service

Preferred seating

Copy of Richard Dawkins’ new book The Magic of Reality

$230 tax receipt

Location: Park Hyatt Toronto, 4 Avenue Road, Toronto ON

Day and Time: Wednesday, May 1st

Please arrive by 8:30 am; the event begins promptly at 9:00 am.

Contact: info@cficanada.ca or 416-971-5676

March 8, 2013

Kronos and Xplane created this video in honor of International Women’s Day (March 8th). The purpose of this video is to provide viewers with a look at several interesting facts and statistics about the changes and developments that have impacted women in the workforce.

This year International Women’s Day is Friday, March 8.  Seneca College is planning a big celebration, which includes a photo collage of Seneca students, staff and faculty from Canada and around the world.

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights” Gloria Steinem

Image and words compliments of Seneca College: https://my.senecacollege.ca/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp

Seneca College remembers:

Remembrance Day is marked each year on the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour. At that time, Canada observes two minutes of silence for the men and women who have defended and continue to defend our country and our freedom.

With November 11 falling on Sunday, we ask everyone, wherever they are, to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. in remembrance of the sacrifice made by others for our country.

Larry Moran, who runs the Sandwalk blog and is one of the speakers scheduled for Eschaton2012, has posted this information on a lecture and discussion series to be held at University of Toronto:

———-

Is it True? Uncovering the Heart of Each of the World’s Religions

The University of Toronto Secular Alliance (UTSA), in conjunction with Power 2 Change, Muslim Students Association and the Multifaith Centre is hosting a lecture and discussion series entitled “…is it true?

This series will feature the following speakers:

Oct. 24:           Islam (Amjad Tarsin, Muslim Chaplain, U of T)

Oct. 31:           Christianity (Kyle Hackmann, Grace Toronto Church)

Nov. 7:            Judaism (Yishaya Rose, Chaplain, Chabad House, U of T)

Nov. 14:          Atheism (Professor Larry Moran, U of T, Secular Alliance)

Each speaker will speak on behalf of the philosophical framework to which they subscribe.

Following the lecture, there will be a period of Q and A following by an open discussion amongst attendees.

I encourage you to attend these talks as I suspect a lot of fruitful conversations can emerge. To this end, specifically, we are delighted to have biochemist Dr. Larry Moran, represent our side of the conversation.

University College 5:30pm-7:00pm,  room 52. Light dinner will be served.

Please find event page below:

Facebook

Hope to see some of you there!

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Larry Moran’s presentation should be fun; the more I learn about atheism, the more I like it!