The Humanist Globe science reason compassion Global Humanism.org

Week of March 11- 18/08 -ARCHIVE PAGE Information for the open minded - promoting critical thinking

Science

Scientists Set Sights on an Implantable Prosthetic for the Blind

(By Larry Greenemeier Scientific American Mar 19 08) THE VISUAL PROSTHESIS envisioned by John Pezaris would provide the patient with a special set of glasses that has a small digital camera mounted in the lens. The camera's wire communicates to an external signal processor that translates the image from the camera into neural impulses transmitted to an implanted stimulator, which delivers images to the visual system.A Boston neuroscientist is developing a device that may someday help the blind by sending images directly to the brain. Read Article here

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Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90

(BBC News Wednesday, 19 March 2008) British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died in his adopted home of Sri Lanka at the age of 90. The Somerset-born author came to fame in 1968 when short story The Sentinel was made into the film 2001: A Space Odyssey by director Stanley Kubrick. His visions of space travel and computing sparked the imagination of readers and scientists alike. Read more here

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Cutting-edge Computing Helps Discover Origin Of Life On Earth

ScienceDaily (Mar. 19, 2008)The UK’s national computing grid, along with their counterparts in the US (TeraGrid) and Europe have helped UCL (University College London) scientists shed light on how life on earth may have originated.Deep ocean hydrothermal vents have long been suggested as possible sources of biological molecules such as RNA and DNA but it was unclear how they could survive the high temperatures and pressures that occur round these vents.Professor Peter Coveney and colleagues at the UCL Centre for Computational Science have used computer simulation to provide insight into the structure and stability of DNA while inserted into layered minerals. Computer simulation techniques have rarely been used to understand the possible chemical pathways to the formation of early biomolecules until now.read more here

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Gold Scroll Discovered: Earliest Evidence Of Jewish Inhabitants In Austria

ScienceDaily (Mar. 18, 2008)Archaeologists from the Institute of Prehistory and Early History of the University of Vienna have found an amulet inscribed with a Jewish prayer in a Roman child’s grave dating back to the 3rd century CE at a burial ground in the Austrian town of Halbturn. Read more here

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Regrowing Limbs: Can People Regenerate Body Parts?

(By Ken Muneoka, Manjong Han and David M. Gardiner Mar 17/08) Progress on the road to regenerating major body parts, salamander-style, could transform the treatment of amputations and major wounds.A salamander’s limbs are smaller and a bit slimier than those of most people, but otherwise they are not that different from their human counterparts. The salamander limb is encased in skin, and inside it is composed of a bony skeleton, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and blood vessels. A loose arrangement of cells called fibroblasts holds all these internal tissues together and gives the limb its shape. read more here

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Bird Brains Suggest How Vocal Learning Evolved

ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2008) Though they perch far apart on the avian family tree, birds with the ability to learn songs use similar brain structures to sing their tunes. Neurobiologists at Duke University Medical Center now have an explanation for this puzzling likeness. read more

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Mr. Gates Goes to Washington

By Jeffrey Mervis
ScienceNOW Daily News
12 March 2008WASHINGTON, D.C. Bill Gates shared his views with the House Science and Technology Committee.

After inviting Bill Gates to help celebrate its 50th anniversary, the House Science and Technology Committee had no intention of putting him through the wringer. So it was no surprise that the Microsoft chair came, talked, and conquered the panel today during a 2-hour discussion on how to improve U.S. competitiveness.Read more

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Which Came First, Social Dominance Or Big Brains? Wasps May Tell

ScienceDaily (Mar. 12, 2008) There's new evidence supporting the idea that bigger brains are better. A study of a tropical wasp suggests that the brainpower required to be dominant drives brain capacity. Read more here

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Chemical brain controls nanobots

The researchers have already built larger 'brains'

Mar 11/08 By Jonathan Fildes
Science and technology reporter, BBC New.s A tiny chemical 'brain' which could one day act as a remote control for swarms of nano-machines has been invented. Read more here and comment

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Should Galileo's tomb be opened for DNA tests?

From New ScientistDavid Shiga, online reporter (Image: Melissa Ranieri/Wikipedia) More than 365 years after his death, Galileo Galilei has become the focus of another controversy involving the Catholic Church and science. Italian scientists want to open his tomb to do DNA tests, but the priest in charge of the church where he is buried says it would be disrespectful. Read full article here and comment

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Astronomers Capture Rare Video Of Meteor Falling To Earth; Hunt For Meteorite

ScienceDaily (Mar. 8, 2008)Astronomers from The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, have captured rare video of a meteor falling to Earth. Article

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Sensor Necklace Records When Pill In Swallowed, And Prompts Patient When It Is Time To Take Another

ScienceDaily (Mar. 7, 2008) Researchers now have a possible solution for the one in three adults who fail to take their medicines as prescribed by their doctors, as well as for everyone else who occasionally forgets: a sensor necklace that records the exact time and date when specially-designed pills are swallowed, and reminds the user if any doses are being missed. Read more and comment

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Blood Stem Cells Originate And Are Nurtured In The Placenta

ScienceDaily (Mar. 6, 2008) Solving a long-standing biological mystery, UCLA stem cell researchers have discovered that blood stem cells, the cells that later differentiate into all the cells in the blood supply, originate and are nurtured in the placenta. Read more and comment

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Boys And Girls Brains Are Different: Gender Differences In Language Appear Biological

ScienceDaily (Mar. 5, 2008) Although researchers have long agreed that girls have superior language abilities than boys, until now no one has clearly provided a biological basis that may account for their differences. Read more and comment

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First Humanoid Robot That Will Develop Language May Be Coming Soon

ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2008) iCub, a one metre-high baby robot which will be used to study how a robot could quickly pick up language skills, will be available next year. Read more here and comment

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New Material Shows Great Promise For Nuclear Waste Clean-Up

ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2008) Nuclear power has advantages, but, if this method of making power is to be viable long term, discovering new solutions to radioactive waste disposal and other problems are critical. Otherwise nuclear power is unlikely to become mainstream. Read more and comment

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The second issue of Evolution: Education & Outreach

For those interested in promoting evolution through their associations and in their local schools, this free online journal is invaluable.
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Device Allows Scientists To Control Gene Activity Across Generations Of Cells

ScienceDaily (Mar. 3, 2008) Just as cells inherit genes, they also inherit a set of instructions that tell genes when to become active, in which tissues and to what extent. Now, Rockefeller University researchers have built a device that, by allowing scientists to turn genes on and off in actively multiplying budding yeast cells, will help them figure out more precisely than before how genes and proteins interact with one another and how these interactions drive cellular functions. read more here

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See archives for previous articles

News

The Origin of Obama's Pastor Problem

By JAMES CARNEY AND AMY SULLIVAN Time Mag. Mar 20 2008 Long before the sermons of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright became instant hits on YouTube and talk-show fodder for the cable news channels, Barack Obama knew he had a preacher problem. On the eve of launching his campaign for the White House in February 2007, Obama abruptly withdrew an invitation to Wright to deliver the invocation at his announcement speech in Springfield, Ill. Wright had been Obama's pastor for nearly 20 years. He had brought Obama into the church, helped him find his faith in God, officiated at Obama's wedding and baptized both his children. But Wright had also said a lot of incendiary things from his pulpit about America over the years, things that would be awkward to explain away for a politician hoping to unite the country and become the first African-American President of the United States. read more here

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Darwin exhibit survives thanks to unlikely backers

ROM's usual sponsors wary of controversy Mar 15, 2008 04:30 AM Stuart Laidlaw
Faith and ethics reporter

For 150 years, Charles Darwin has driven devout Christians and secularists apart. But at the Royal Ontario Museum this week, his theories are bringing them together.An exhibit celebrating Darwin, the English naturalist whose theories of evolution and natural selection ("survival of the fittest") revolutionized science and presented religion with its greatest challenge, is being sponsored by the United Church Observer and the Humanist Association of Canada after corporate Canada failed to help out. read more here

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Anglican schism not 'catastrophic': theologian.

(Charles Lewis, National Post Published: Tuesday, March 18, 2008) Schism is not a "catastrophic" event and is preferable to placating those who do not treat gays as equal simply for the sake of unity, a Canadian Anglican theologian says."There are moments when treating unity as kind of absolute virtue that's higher than anything else is not necessarily the right thing," Rev. Paul Gibson said in an interview, concerning an essay he wrote that was posted on the Anglican Church of Canada's Web site Tuesday. He wrote the essay in relation to the present schism in the Anglican Church over same-sex blessings, and concluded that a unified church that treats gays unequally would be a greater evil than a divided church. Since the start of the year, eight Anglican parishes, out of a total of about 2,000 across the country, have formally left the national Church. read more here

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Religious groups want Russian cartoon channel shut down

(CBC News Mar 15 2008) For a second time in two weeks, religious groups have called for the closure of Russia's cartoon channel 2X2. Christian and Muslim groups are demanding that 2X2 be shut down because it airs cartoons, such as South Park, which they deem to be anti-religious, violent as well as promoting homosexuality. Read more here

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Is Beijing Manipulating Air Pollution Statistics?

(Time Mag. March 15 2008 By AUSTIN RAMZY/BEIJING) While Steven Spielberg's withdrawal from his role as an artistic adviser was a public relations blow to the Beijing Olympics, the announcement this week that Haile Gebrselassie would not run in the marathon at this summer's Games hints at a more serious challenge facing the organizers. Unlike Spielberg's, the decision of the Ethiopian world record holder in the marathon has nothing to do with politics: Gebrselassie is asthmatic, and he is concerned that Beijing's polluted air could damage his health over the 42-kilometer race. (He still plans to run the far shorter 10,000-meter event.) And the Ethiopian's concern has underscored the stakes in a showdown between city officials and an 26-year-old American environmental consultant who has raised serious questions about Beijing's official air pollution statistics. read more here

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Brenda Martin begs for life from Mexico prison

(Updated Fri. Mar. 14 2008 6:32 PM ET CTV.ca News Staff) A sobbing and broken Brenda Martin begged Friday for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to take action to have her freed from the Mexican prison that has been her home for over two years.

Martin, who is incarcerated in Guadalajara on accusations of being part of a fraud scheme, called CTV's Canada AM Friday morning from jail.

"I'd like to plead for my life to the prime minister of Canada to please pick up the phone and call the president of Mexico and have this travesty ended," she said.

"I don't belong here. I have done nothing, Please help me prime minister, please help me, please help me. I don't know how to get through a day here." read more here

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The Boycott Mexico Campaign

March 14, 2008 (L. Ron Brown The Frame Problem) I hope that bloggers, websiters, myspacers and facebookers will join in encouraging people to boycott travel to Mexico until Brenda Martin is released from her unjust Mexican imprisonment, receives a sincere public apology from the Mexican government, and a multi-million dollar payment as an attempt at restitution for her 2 plus years of unjust detainment. read more

Previous articles on the topic

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The Humanist Association of Canada sponsors the Darwin exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum

(Humanist globe march 13/08)The Humanist Association of Canada (HAC) is proud to announce that it will be a Supporting Sponsor of the Royal Ontario Museum'snewly-opened exhibition Darwin: The Evolution Revolution, the most in-depth exhibition ever assembled on this highly original thinker and his revolutionary theory of evolution by natural selection. The exhibition features the most complete collection of specimens, artifacts, manuscripts and memorabilia related to Charles Darwin, offering visitors an engaging insight into his extraordinary life and mind.

Pat O'Brien, President of the Humanist Association of Canada, has pledged $50.000 in support of this important exhibition. "We heard that, unlike other projects, the Museum had been unable to attract a major exhibition sponsor for Darwin. The ROM's Director & CEO, William Thorsell opined on CBC Radio that while evolution and Darwinism may be controversial topics in the United States, he did not expect the same to be true in Canada. As the use of the scientific method is advocated as one of the principles of Humanism, and HAC is active in promoting Darwin Day (February 12) throughout Canada in honour of Charles Darwin, we strongly felt that this wonderful exhibition deserves our best support." read more here and comment

HAC press release

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Bishop accuses gays of 'conspiracy' against the Catholic Church

(From Times Online March 13, 2008) A Catholic bishop has accused the gay community of leading a ''conspiracy'' against Christianity by allying itself with Holocaust survivors. The Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine, says a ''homosexual lobby'' has aligned itself with minority groups, including Holocaust survivors, to gain persecuted status. He said there was a ''huge and well orchestrated conspiracy'' taking place in the ''gay movement'', which the Catholic Church neglected ''at our peril''. Read more here

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Pastor Shoots first, saves later

Melissa Leong, National Post Published: Africa Thursday, March 13, 2008 Former biker and drug dealer now rescues children in East.

Before embarking on missions in East Africa, Pastor Sam Childers and the soldiers who accompany him join hands and pray.Following that, they drive through the bush, armed with rifles, AK-47s and machine guns. Mr. Childers with a pistol in his belt and sometimes a rifle in his lap seeking to rescue children who have been abducted or orphaned in Uganda and Sudan.The Pennsylvania pastor and his militia have been ambushed and bombed; they responded by engaging in intense gun battles. As a result, his critics have called him a "Christian mercenary." Read more

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Peru meteorite may rewrite rules

(By Paul Rincon March 12/08
Science reporter, BBC News, Houston) A meteorite which ploughed into the Peruvian countryside last year should have shattered and dispersed long before reaching the ground.That is the conclusion of scientists who have been examining samples of the space rock and the 15m-wide crater it dug out in Carancas last September.The discovery of a water-filled hole, following reports of a fireball in the sky, made headlines around the world. Now experts say the event challenges conventional theories about meteorites. More here

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'Mercy' without borders

Macleans Chris Selley (Mar 10, 2008 11:55 am) It's not just just Canadians who struggle with parents who kill their disabled children.

If there's one country willing to come to grips with mercy killing, it's the Netherlands. Euthanasia isn't technically legal there, but in 2001, the Dutch Parliament passed the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act, which codifies the "rights and obligations" of both those who wish to die and the physicians willing to help them do so. It exempts physicians from prosecution provided the diagnosis and prognosis of the patient are sufficiently dire and independently verified by another doctor. read more

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Genetic manipulation, pollution top Vatican's 'new sins'

Philip Pullella, Reuters Published Monday, March 10,2008 VATICAN CITY - Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation.Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of "new" sins such as causing environmental blight.The guidance came at the weekend when Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti, the Vatican's number two man in the sometimes murky area of sins and penance, spoke of modern evils. read more and comment

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Coalition government for Pakistan

ZARAR KHAN BHURBAN, Pakistan March 9, 2008 at 4:27 PM EDT

Associated Press - Pakistan's election winners sealed an agreement Sunday to form a coalition government and said parliament would restore judges fired by President Pervez Musharraf - further clouding the U.S.-allied leader's political future.In the capital, Islamabad, police fired tear gas at protesters who gathered outside the residence of the deposed Supreme Court chief justice to demand his reinstatement. Read rest of article here

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Britain's blasphemy law no longer sacred

(March 6 08 Isam Al-Haj / AFP/Getty Images) ANGER IN KHARTOUM: A Sudanese demonstrator holds a newspaper with a photo of Briton Gillian Gibbons, who was convicted of insulting Islam. Some wanted her executed.fter a teddy bear incident and much debate, the House of Lords votes to abolish it. Read and comment here

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Panel tackles same-sex marriage in Canada

(Globe and Mail Update March 7, 2008 at 8:00 AM EST) Our very own Justin Trottier from CFI Ontario is one of the panel discussing this topic. Look for other topics the panel has discussed previously to the 'same sex marriage in Canada' topic. Other topics include The Golden Compass, Public funding for faith-based schools, Harry Potter, Good or Evil?, & The meaning of the Holiday Season. Thanks to Justin for his efforts and commitment to getting our humanist views heard in the mainstream. View article here

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Vatican recants with a statue of Galileo

(March 4, 2008) The times Four hundred years after it put Galileo on trial for heresy the Vatican is to complete its rehabilitation of the great scientist by erecting a statue of him inside the Vatican walls. read more and comment

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UN agency lashes Canada over crack pipe programs

(CBC newsThursday, March 6, 2008) The United Nations has denounced programs in three Canadian cities that provide safe crack pipes to drug addicts with the aim of curbing disease. The crack pipe programs in Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto violate a worldwide anti-drug convention signed by Canada in 1988, the UN's International Narcotics Control Board says in its annual report, released Wednesday. read more and comment

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Staff cuts predicted next year at Catholic board

Declining enrolment and higher wages pre-empt paring down of teachers
(durhamregion.com Fed 27/08)DURHAM Despite reduced expenditures in a myriad of areas this year, the Durham Catholic District School Board plans to begin cutting some jobs in the 2008/2009 school year in order to balance its budget. Read more and comment

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North Korea Executes 15 People

(Time Mag. Mar 5 08 Seoul, South Korea) North Korea publicly executed 15 people who attempted to flee the country or helped others escape, a warning aimed at stemming the growing flow of refugees to China, an aid group said Wednesday. Read more and comment

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Canada to seek clemency for Montrealer facing beheading

(CBC News Wed Mar 5 2008) Prime Minister Stephen Harper has ordered government officials to seek clemency for a Montreal man facing execution in Saudi Arabia for killing a teen, a senior government source told CBC News.Read more and comment

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See archives for previous articles

Events

Darwin Exhibit @ the ROM

From March 8th to August 4th 2008 Toronto Ontario Canada

sponsored by HAC

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"Misinformation Theory: The Ideological Abuse of
Mathematics"
March 26th, 7pm
Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Shallit

Guelph University
1200 Thornborough Building
2.00 Entry Fee

Mathematics has been used by a variety of groups to further ideological
means. One such group are creationists who claim that mathematics and a new
field of mathematics called information theory prove that evolution is wrong
and that there is an intelligent agent behind the creation of life. This is
done through probability calculations which show that certain structures are
too complex to have been created through evolution, or that the information
content of DNA could only have come from an intelligent cause. Specific
attention will be paid to the claims of Dr. William Dembski, a famed ID
proponent. Dr. Shallit will deal with all of these claims, as well as going
over what Information theory really is. Event Info email here

His blog
Facebook Events Page

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A GENTLE INTRO TO STRING THEORY with Amanda Peet : Fri, March 28, 7pm String theory is a fascinating subject which delights the imagination of laypeople and academic researchers alike. More concretely, it provides the best framework available in today's marketplace of ideas for understanding physics all the way from the sub-microscopic realm out to the very edges of the known universe. String theory realizes this unification dream, by positing the outrageously simple idea that the fundamental building blocks of nature are not point particles but instead one-dimensional strings: vibrating strands of energy. This deep technical consistency enables string theorists to delve into the deepest questions that human minds can dream up.

ontario@centerforinquiry.net 416-971-5676 www.cfiontario.org

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CFI ONTARIO FIRST ANNIVERSARY GENERAL MEETING & PARTY Sat, March 29, 1-4pm (Meet), 4-9pm (Party) The meeting will encompass reports from project leaders and officers, a discussion of roles of groups involved in our freethought movement, appointment of volunteers and committee leaders, and general brainstorming. Those interested in participating in our discussions, hearing what we've been up to and/or becoming more involved as volunteers are especially encouraged to attend. The Party is a free event and will include a celebration of "Earth Hour" where activities from 8-9pm shall take place by candelight!

ontario@centerforinquiry.net 416-971-5676 www.cfiontario.org

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TALES FROM A NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA, with Tom Flynn, Fri, April 4, 7pm Tom Flynn, editor of FREE INQUIRY and longtime freethought activist, talks about the challenges he faced -- and some of the surprising things he learned during his five years editing THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNBELIEF. It covers in unprecedented detail the freethought, atheist, and humanist traditions and histories across the world.Flynn invited, coordinated, and cajoled more than 150 contributors who wrote well over 500 separate entries. The process wasn't always straightforward. In particular, bringing together the entries covering freethought in Canada involved marshaling new scholarship from some surprising sources. Researchers unearthed a once-vibrant, long-forgotten freethought tradition in Toronto with unexpected links to some of the biggest names in Golden Age freethought. CFI Ontario is 1 year old this March 2008. We've accomplished more than any of us thought possible in so short a time. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or you've just heard about the freethought movement, you're invited to join us in celebration! All events at CFI Ontario, 216 Beverley St, downtown Toronto. Party and meeting FREE. Each talk: $5 general, $4 students, FREE for Friends of the Centre. Join today ($60 regular, $20 students & low income) ontario@centerforinquiry.net416-971-5676 www.cfiontario.org

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Dan Barker in St. Catharines

Organized by the Niagara Secular Humanists, the date for the long awaited debate between the prominent American pastor-turned-Atheist,
Dan Barker co-president of the Freedom from Religio Foundation and an equally prominent local minister, Reverend Peter Youngren has been firmed up for Wednesday, April 9/08 at the CWA Hall, Bunting Road in St. Catharines.
Doors open at 6:00 pm, debate starts 7:00 pm., tickets $6.00 each.
Both are the toughest debaters we could find on the subject "Does God exist'', Rev. Peter Youngren apparently often appears on Vision TV and
believes he can bring at least 150 people from his congregation to the debate, along with a camera crew. We have chosen a well-known personality
from the St. Catharine's Standard as moderator - The whole thing could be most interesting!
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HIP - Humanists In Peterborough Monthly Meeting
Discussions will include the Humanist Perspective Radio Show and bringing awareness to Humanism in Peterborough The date will be April 20, time 5:00 PM, Location: Charlotte Anne's. Visit Website for all info

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Sex and Religion
CDRH - Clarington Durham Region Humanists
Friday April 25th 2008
Golden Griddle Restaurant - Pickering Ontario 6:30pm to 10pm approx

After having a successful seminar on Charles Darwin and The Theory of Evolution we are planning to have another seminar to have a dialogue about the controversial topics of sex and religion. Alongside the philosophical and psychological aspects the speakers will share personal struggles in their lives. We hope that it will generate a lively discussion. We look forward to your active participation to make this seminar a success.
Moderator- Mark Witzel
Presenters-

Mark Robinson…Sexuality in the Animal World - Powerpoint Presentation
Hildy Abrams…Sexuality and Morality…When you love a married man in a Jewish Community
Javed Akhtar…Being Gay in a Conservative Muslim Community
Dr. Khalid Sohail Psychology of Religious and Sexual Conflicts…Dilemmas in a psychiatric practice

Visit Website for all information

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"An Introduction to Understanding Science"

Friday May 2, 2008 7pm to 9pm

Presented by The Durham Region Science Club

Our First Meeting - A family event that is free in your community An evening for all ages

John M. James Public School
175 Mearns Avenue
Bowmanville, Ontario Canada
L1C 5C6

Meeting will take place in the Library

Map for info contact905 243 2303 Email

visit our Website

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Weekly Features

The Origins Of Easter by Sheila Ayala

Etymology

The English word “Easter” and the German word, “Ostern”, come from the same root for “Eastre”. The ancient word for spring was “eastre” and this was the name given to Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. A festival was held in her honor every year at the vernal equinox. Christianity merged this rite of spring with the Jewish Passover, which is why in other languages the word for Passover derives from its Hebrew name “Pesach”. In Latin and Greek the word is “Pascha” which in turn becomes in French “Paques”, in Italian “Pasqua”, in Spanish “Pascua”, in Danish “Paaske”, in Dutch “Paasch”, and Welsh “Pasg”. Passover literally means “he passed over” and refers the legend of the destroying angel who “Passed Over” the children of Israel and smote Egyptian firstborn children and firstborn animals instead. In time Easter ceased to be the festival of nature being renewed by spring and
became the time for people to renew their faith in Jesus Christ and God. read more and comment here

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Teenage Holy War

(Rollingstone JEFF SHARLET Posted Apr 19, 2007 8:35 AM)Jesus is really, really pissed at Hollywood, at the media, even at most Christians. But BattleCry, the nation’s largest and most radical youth crusade, is recruiting a new generation of Christian soldiers to fight back. This is how you enlist in the Army of God: First come the fireworks and the prayers, and then 4,000 kids scream, "We won't be silent anymore!" Then the kids drop to their knees, still but for the weeping and regrets of fifteen-year-olds. The lights in the Cleveland arena fade to blue, and a man on the stage whispers to them about sin and love and the Father-God. Read more here.

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The ethics of mixing science and religion

March 12 2008 New Scientist I have to admit, when I picked up the phone to call Michael Heller, the Polish cosmologist and Catholic priest who was today awarded the $1.6 million Templeton Prize, I was a little uneasy. I am strongly committed to the idea that science and religion don't mix, while the prize is awarded by the Templeton Foundation for "progress toward research or discoveries about spiritual realities". read full article here

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Khalid Sohail Mar 10/08

From Religious Fundamentalism to Secular Humanism

My dear atheist friend,
I am quite aware that you enjoy passionate dialogues and heated debates with priests and pundits, maulanas and ministers and most of the times you win those debates because you have all the intellectual tools in your kit to win any debate. You are like a charming and aggressive sales person who can sell sand to the Arabs and snow to the Eskimos.Read full Article here

Dr. Sohail's work can be found at these sites Chowk.com drsohail..com Green Zone Living

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Minds of their Own Animals are smarter than you think. (National Geographic) Read article here and comment

By Virginia Morell Photograph by Vincent J. Musi

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God, power and money

(Mar 3rd 2008) smh.com.au
The television evangelist Benny Hinn has an audience of millions - and makes millions. David Millikan joined the throng on stage intent on asking the American preacher a tough question. Read more and comment

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My evangelical co-worker won't stop preaching to me David Eddie

One of my colleagues is a fervently religious woman who is not content practising her faith on her own time, but instead interrogates her co-workers in their cubicles and preaches to them. On one occasion she followed me on my lunch break to a shoe store and chastised me for "shopping again." read more and comment

From Friday's Globe and Mail February 29, 08

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Book of the week

Chasing a Mirage, the book I have been labouring over for the last two years and that critiques the current problems facing Islamdom, the historical roots of its inner conflict, the contemporary implications, and the Islamist Agenda in the West, went to press last week.

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Video of the week

The Salamander,s Tale By Richard Dawkins from the Ansector's Tale

View video here and comment

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Song of the week critical thinking music

XTC -Dear God- From the Dear God Album Read the lyrics and comment here

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Website of the week

www.samharris.org

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Quote of the week

"I do occasionally envy the person who is religious naturally, without being brainwashed into it or suckered into it by all the organized hustles."
Woody Allen, Rolling Stone, 1987

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Laugh of the Week

Julia Sweeney "Letting Go of God"

view here on Ted.com

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See archives for previous articles

Blogs, Sites & A/V

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The Humanist Perspectives Radio Show

March 9th Show International Womens Day and Dr. Henry Morgentaler More show details

Host Age Smies Tune in here

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CDRH Darwin Day presentations now available listen online

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Learn to live in your green zone

Dr. K. Sohail MB BS FRCP(C)

Bette Davis RN BN MN

Dr. Sohail on Chowk & Web

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The Frame Problem

(March 6, 2008 L. Ron Brown)The short-comings of every theistic argument that I have ever heard, and the one type of case that gives me some pause read here and comment

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Sandwalk

Strolling with a skeptical biochemist

The Sandwalk is the path behind the home of Charles Darwin.

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Petitions

Sign NAF's Petition: Support Dr. Morgentaler

The Order of Canada, the highest civilian honour, was established to recognize outstanding lifetime achievement and service. Please sign this petition to the Advisory Council of the Order of Canada, which has repeatedly overlooked Dr. Morgentaler for this distinguished award.

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