religion

1. 

   Disproving God With Philosophy

   Heini Reinert looks as some of the philosophical arguments against god.

2. 

   Death; a Not So Glum Look

   Humanist Celebrant Matthew Simpson takes a more positive look at death and compares the differences between how Humanists and believers might view the prospect.

3. 

   The New Visibility of Atheism in Europe

   Dr Stuart McAnulla (University of Leeds, POLIS) delivers a talk about the political aspects of the 'New Atheist' movement.

4. 

   How Do People Lose Religion?

   Millions of people have lost religion in the western world since the 1960. How does this happen? At what ages? What are the triggers? Is there a difference between men and women? Professor Callum Brown draws on the accounts of those he has interviewed in North America and Britain.

5. 

   Scientific Standards: Does Religion Measure Up?

   In memory of Gerry Hannant, who sadly passed away in 2010, we present the only known recording of one of his lectures, recorded in 2007 at Leeds Atheist Society.

6. 

   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.

7. 

   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.

8. 

   The Atheist Responses

   Chris Worfolk regularly discusses some of the most common arguments that come up when discussing religion and what the arguments and counter-arguments to these are. These can be seen in the "Debating the Theists" talk which can also be found in the collection.

9. 

   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.