Eva Kundtová Klocová: V co věří nevěřící – sekulární světonázory u nás a ve světě

Jaká přesvědčení spojují lidi, kteří nevyznávají žádné náboženství? Jaké hodnoty formují jejich pohled na svět? Tato přednáška nás zavede do pestré škály sekulárních světonázorů, které zdaleka neznamenají „absenci“ přesvědčení, ale naopak často nabízejí promyšlené odpovědi na otázky smyslu, morálky a osobní odpovědnosti. Přednáška nabídne vhled do toho, co dnes znamená být „nevěřícím“ v deseti různých zemích světa a jakou pestrost sekulárních přesvědčení v nich můžeme najít.
Eva Kundtová Klocová vystudovala religionistiku na Masarykově univerzitě. V roce 2018 získala titul Ph.D. za dizertační práci věnující se komunikační roli těla v náboženských rituálech. Ve své práci se zaměřuje jak na teoretické přístupy k tématu tělesnosti v náboženském rituálu, tak na empirické výzkumné přístupy zaměřené na specifické rituální tělesné praktiky.
Pokračujeme v živých přednáškách. Každý pátek krátce před pátou se setkáváme v budově Přírodovědecké fakulty na Benátské 2 v Krajinově posluchárně B14, která se nachází ve druhém mezipatře.
Přestože stále pořizujeme záznamy a zachováváme i streamování, budeme velmi rádi, když vás uvidíme osobně na přednášce v sále, popřípadě když se s námi po přednášce a diskuzi přesunete k neformální části akce do blízké restaurace.
Pokud se vám naše přednášky líbí, můžete nám pomoci s jejich přípravou a zveřejněním. Přispět na projekt můžete zde: https://www.startovac.cz/patron/vasi-patecnici/
by pan Psax

Humanist Symposium

Humanism in Kenya will be hosting an international event called the „Humanist Symposium“ on November 4th, 2023, focusing on balancing secular values and cultural diversity while respecting religious freedoms.

It’s FREE to attend, but RSVP is required.

Don’t be left out!

by pan Psax

The Skeptics’ Guide to Vexillology – Dr Tom Williamson

Flags! They’re everywhere, from battlefields to Pride marches to the World Cup. But what secrets and mysteries do flags hold? Why do some people get upset if you say Union Flag instead of Union Jack? Are remainers right when they say they want their star back? Why do the bad guys have such well-designed flags? And just what does it mean to fly at half mast?

Tom Williamson, whose fascination with the subject began with investigating his grandfather’s souvenirs, will attempt to answer these questions and more in this taste of vexillology, the study of flags. Every aspect of this diverse field will be covered, so look forward to history, politics and design. Flags: not just colourful pieces of cloth!

Graduating with a PhD in Systems Biology from the University of Manchester, Tom Williamson has decided to do nothing with it whatsoever and instead spends his days designing tills for some of the UK’s biggest charities. When he’s not doing that, Tom is one half of the Retrospecticus podcast, a show that examines The Simpsons and the events in modern history that surround it.

Outside of that, Tom developed the word salad generator Wisdom of Chopra, a website that was used to win an IgNobel prize!

by pan Psax

„Trick or Treatment“ by Edzard Ernst and Simon Singh

This month’s work is the 2008 book „Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts About Alternative Medicine“ by Edzard Ernst and Simon Singh. This book is a pillar of skeptical thinking and a must-read for anybody concerned about alt-med.

Trick or Treatment evaluates the scientific evidence for acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine, and chiropractic, and briefly covers 36 other treatments. It finds that the scientific evidence for these alternative treatments is generally lacking. Homeopathy is concluded to be completely ineffective: „It’s nothing but a placebo, despite what homeopaths say“.

by pan Psax

Modern Humanism in Africa – Kato Mukasa

For this talk, Kato will be drawing from two of his more recent books: The God Business and the Death of Reason in Africa (2021), and: Modern Humanism, and How to make it work for the People.

He will explore the history of religion in Africa, both traditional religions and those imported by colonists, and the effect that religion has had on the lives and the thinking of people in Uganda and further afield throughout Africa.

Kato will also talk about his view of practical Humanism, how it should not be restricted to conferences and lecture theatres, but be taken to the grassroots where it can be seen in action. Modern Humanism is more concerned with activism and there are several ways through which Humanism can be made more relevant

Kato Mukasa is a Ugandan lawyer; he is the Executive Director of Legal Relief Frontiers LTD, a non governmental organization which provides Legal Relief services to the poor in Uganda. Over the years in his practice as a lawyer he has handled human rights cases which involve supporting LGBTQ rights, abused children, rape victims and victims of land evictions among others. He has espoused these views on local media and has a number of published books, such as „Challenging the myths about homosexuality“.

Kato is also a humanist in a country where only 0.2% of the population identify as non-religious. Having had a keen interest in religion in his early teens, he was eventually expelled from his Catholic high school for refusing to attend mass.

He is the chair of Uganda Humanist Association the oldest Humanist organization in Africa, and a former member of the board of directors of the International Humanist and Ethical Union.

In 2007 he co-founded the Humanist Association for Leadership, Equity and Accountability to promote critical thinking and human rights. Its monthly campus discussions are attended by people of faith and non-believers. It also sponsors students and assists young mothers in acquiring entrepreneurship skills, among other programs. He is the founding director of Pearl Vocational Training College and Pearl Mukasa Memorial High School, schools which provide education to the marginalized urban and rural poor, young mothers and needy students.
Sadly it is perhaps not surprising that views such as these, in a very traditional and religious country, have made him the target of attacks.

by pan Psax

Science Friction – how surface interactions shaped the world – Laurie Winkless

We are surrounded by stickiness. From the bike tyre that grips the road and the Post-it note that’s become an office mainstay, to your non-stick frying pan, and the ice that transforms waterways each winter. All of these things are controlled by tiny forces that operate on and between surfaces, with friction playing the leading role. In this talk, Laurie will explore the role of friction in both the manufactured and natural worlds. She will describe how our understanding of surface science, and our ability to manipulate stickiness, have developed throughout history, transforming the world around us. If you’ve ever wondered how the ancient Egyptians could move colossal stone blocks, or why earthquakes happen, you might find the answers here.

This talk is inspired by Laurie’s latest book, ‘Sticky: The Secret Science of Surfaces’. Published by Bloomsbury in the UK and Europe on 11 November 2021, it will reach other markets in early 2022.

Laurie Winkless is an Irish physicist and author. After a physics degree and a masters in space science, she joined the UK’s National Physical Laboratory as a research scientist, specialising in functional materials. Now based in New Zealand, Laurie has been communicating science to the public for 15 years. Since leaving the lab, she has worked with scientific institutes, engineering companies, universities, and astronauts, amongst others. Her writing has featured in outlets including Forbes, Wired, and Esquire, and she appeared in The Times magazine as a leading light in STEM. Laurie’s first book was Science and the City. Her second, Sticky: The Secret Science of Surfaces, is available now (in hardcopy, e-book and audio formats) from all good bookshops.

by pan Psax

Trianle Skeptics in the (Virtual) Pub – Belief in Psychics: What’s the Harm?

What’s the harm in people believing in psychics and mediums? It’s all fun and games, isn’t it?
Well, until you lose your life savings to a con-artist, and your life is destroyed. In this talk, Rob Palmer will reveal the consequences – up to personal financial ruin – that frequently befall the vulnerable victims of these predators. The presentation will provide real-world examples of this type of crime, show why these beliefs are so prevalent in the 21st century, explain why it is easy for most anyone to become a victim, and discuss the battle being waged by skeptical activists to fight this largely unrecognized scourge.

by pan Psax