2011
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Brainwashed! A Cult Survivor's Tale
Arthur Chappell describes how he was seduced into an Eastern meditation cult in the early 1980's, despite being an ex-Catholic atheist. The talk takes you step by step through the process of conversion, so that you can see step by step how the cult world wraps itself around you, cutting off exits, making rational thinking and doubt difficult and later near impossible.
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Faith Schools - Why It Matters
Dan Bye talks about faith schools and why we should be concerned about their current growth.
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Neuroscience for the Soul
Dr. Craig Aaen-Stockdale (Optometry, Bradford) will give an introduction to the field of neurotheology, which attempts to relate religious behaviour and experience to the workings of the brain. He will review the current literature and give his own thoughts on what, if anything, this tells us.
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Personalised Medicine
In 2001 President Bill Clinton stood on the front lawn of the White House flanked by Francis Collins and Craig Venter. That day he announced the completion of the draft human genome, the first ever map of human genetic variation. At the time grandiose pronouncements were made about the coming genomic revolution concerning new cures for diseases and the eradication of cancer. Ten years on many have failed to be impressed by the impact of this scientific milestone, including equal sensationalising from the British media on this decade anniversary.
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Talking to Creationists
Mark Edon discusses how the tslk to people who believe that the world is only 6,000 years old, in the face of insumoutable evidence.
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Neuroscience for the Soul
Dr. Craig Aaen Stockdale (Optometry, Bradford) will give an introduction to the field of neurotheology, which attempts to relate religious behaviour and experience to the workings of the brain. He will review the current literature and give his own thoughts on what, if anything, this tells us.
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From Rutherford to the LHC
This year we celebrate the centenary of Rutherford's "discovery" of the tiny atomic nucleus at the centre of the atom. Why are scientists are still studying this topic a hundred years on? Professor David Jenkins from the University of York will explore the properties of the atomic nucleus and explain the origin of the chemical elements which make up our physical world.
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The Singularity is Near?
In 1999 Ray Kurzweil published "The Singularity is Near" claiming that in 2045 artificial intelligence would surpass human intelligence and our society would enter into a period of exponential technological growth, changing the human race beyond all recognition.
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Superstition
Superstition is often overlooked - while critics of religion have been vocal over the past decade, superstition is actually far more prevalent in our society from phrases like "touch wood" to crossing our fingers and avoiding the number 13.
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Paying for Sex
Dr Natalie Hammond discusses her research on the topic of men who pay for sex and the laws surrounding prostitution in the United Kingdom.
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Slutwalk Leeds
Lucy discusses her experiences as one of the co-organisers of the Leeds Slutwalk. The Slutwalk movement began in Toronto, Canada when a police officer suggested that a a victim of rape may be partly responsible for the attack, because of the way she was dressed. As a result a worldwide protest movement has sprung up with people taking to the streets in organised events.
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Humanist Action Group
The Humanist Action Group is a volunteering organisation which runs several programmes, including homeless outreach.
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Web Technologies for Societies
Michael Burgess presents an introduction to the various web technologies that can help societies and groups organise, coordinate and manage their activities.
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Leeds Salon
Paul Thomas is co-founder of Leeds Salon, a public debate group based in Leeds. In this talk, he discusses how he started the group and shares his experience and advice on starting such an organisation.
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Introduction to Public Speaking
Michael Burgess presents an introduction to public speaking, with a specific focus on staging, chairing and speaking in debates.
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Coordinating National Events
Nicola Jackson offers advice on how to coordinate national events, reflecting on her experiences working with the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies, including running a student camping weekend.
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Activism on Campus
James discusses his experience running Leeds Atheist Society and the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies, and how best you can coordinative groups and events on campus.
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Perspective: Zoroastrianism
As part of the 2011 Leeds Perspective Citywide course, Malcolm Deboo presents an introduction to what is generally regarded as the world's oldest monotheistic religion - Zoroastrianism.
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Humanist Chaplains: For and Against
The idea of Humanist Chaplains has been a poloarising issue within the non-religious community. In this debate, recorded as the Swarthmore Centre, as part of Leeds Reason Week 2011, sees Dr Paul Dean and Dr Gijsbert Stoet put the arguments for and against Humanist Chaplaincy.
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Thinking About Ethics
As part of Reason Week 2011, Leeds Atheist Society invited Andrew Copson to take part in a debate against a speaker from the Islamic Society. Unfortunately, ISoc pulled out at the last minute, leaving Andrew as the sole speaker. Never the less, in less than a day, Andrew managed to put together this fantastic talk on thinking about ethics.
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Perspective: Scientology
Recorded as part of the Leeds Perspective Citywide course that took place in 2011, Sam Butler presents an introduction to Scientology.
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Stop Playing Tricks on Me
The Amazing Leo Dragon presents a talk on the psychology of all things strange, from magic to psychics, from spoon bending to astrology. A whirlwind tour of why people really jump at the explanations given by the "professionals", with some live magic thrown in along the way.
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Religion as a Human Creation
Over the past century, there has been a steep decline in religious adherence. However, some groups, including many Quakers, Universalists, Humanists and even Anglicans have continued to find benefit from religion, despite discarding their belief in a god.
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Perspective: Quakers
Recorded as part of the Leeds Perspective Citywide course which took place in 2011, University of Leeds chaplains Robin Fishwick and Chris Whichelo present an introduction to the Religious Society of Friends, better known as Quakers.
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Perspective: Humanism
Recorded as part of the Leeds Perspective Citywide events in 2011, Tim Stephenson presents an introduction to Humanism.
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Creationism
Evolution is a topic which is accepted by not only the scientific community worldwide, but now pretty much everybody - including the Church of England and the Vatican!
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Cutting Religion out of Medicine
Recorded as part of Leeds Reason Week 2011, Dr Antony Lempert, coordinator of the Secular Medical Forum, discusses the problems encountered when religious beliefs come into conflict with modern medicine.
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A History of Atheist Charity
People have often claimed that religious people are more generous when it comes to giving to charity. The stats don't hold up though - Sweden give the biggest percentage of their GDP to charity in the world; they're also one of the most irreligious nations.
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Creationism
In this talk, delivered to Leeds Skeptics in the Pub, Mark Edon discusses how creationists in the UK have been trying to infiltrate our school system in order to push their religious ideology.
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Intelligent Design
Heini Reinert discusses the abject failure of the Intelligent Design movement to put forward a coherent theory that could be considered science.
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Perspective: Judaism
As part of the Leeds Perspective Citywide series that took place in 2011, Nicola Jackson presents an introduction to Judaism.
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Transhumanism & The Singularity
Chris Worfolk discusses the two different but very much related topics of Transhumanism and the technological singularity, commenting on the cult like figures which seem to dominate both fields and whether the ideas behind them are valid.