Upcoming Event: Public talk by author Larry Beinhart

We are pleased to announce another great event - a public talk by author Larry Beinhart.

Larry Beinhart is best known as the author of the political and detective novel “American Hero”, which was adapted for the political-parody film “Wag the Dog”. His novel “No One Rides for Free” (1986) received the 1987 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Larry has also been a Fulbright Fellow and lecturer at Oxford, and has won the Gold Dagger from the Crime Writers Association (UK).

His more recent book “Salvation Boulevard” is about the intersection of faith and politics. It is a page-turning thriller in the tradition of John Grisham and Richard Condon that grapples with the ecstatic and entropic nature of religious faith in contemporary America. It pulls off one of the toughest tricks in modern literature: a sharp, high-energy whodunit that will disturb you with how closely it is based on real life.

We would like to thank the Centre for Inquiry (Ontario) for their support in this event. If you like what the MFA stands for, then I suggest you check out their website for more interesting events.

Additional information:

Larry Beinhart’s Website
Centre for Inquiry Ontario

Details:
Thursday, November 20, 2008
7:30 pm
Kaneff Building, Room 137 (Large Lecture Hall)
FREE ADMISSION!

Teachers ‘fear evolution lessons’ - BBC

The teaching of evolution is becoming increasingly difficult in UK schools because of the rise of creationism, a leading scientist is warning.

Head of science at London’s Institute of Education Professor Michael Reiss says some teachers, fearful of entering the debate, avoid the subject totally.

This could leave pupils with gaps in their scientific knowledge, he says. Prof Reiss says the rise of creationism is partly down to the large increase in Muslim pupils in UK schools.

The days have long gone when science teachers could ignore creationism when teaching about origins Professor Reiss

He said: “The number of Muslim students has grown considerably in the last 10 to 20 years and a higher proportion of Muslim families do not accept evolutionary theory compared with Christian families.

The BBC.co.uk website has more on this story.

Read more on why creationism shoud not be taught in schools.

Britain: Schools Have Right to Ban Veils

LONDON — Schools have the right to ban students from wearing Muslim veils if teachers believe the garments affect safety or pupils’ learning, the British government said Tuesday.

But educators should speak with parents before introducing such a ban, the Education Ministry said in updated guidelines that also addressed keeping uniforms affordable and spelling out disciplinary measures.

Associated Press

BBC News

Post your comments on this subject here.

Religious overload in Mississauga?

Editorial from The Mississauga News, February 14 edition. Brian Stavert - Mississauga

As a humanist I support the Ministry of Transportation’s decision not to allow the EH.MEN2U licence plate (The News, Feb. 14 edition).

We don’t need people’s religion pushed in our faces. I can hardly turn on my TV any time of day or any day of the week without finding religious programming or infomercials, programs that either solicit cash in exchange for salvation, or dispense fear, guilt, shame or in other ways that demean or belittle humanity or sell “miracle water” of dubious value.

Read the rest of the this editorial here

Catholic politicians must oppose gay marriage: Pope

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Church’s opposition to gay marriage is “non-negotiable” and Catholic politicians have a moral duty to oppose it, as well as laws on abortion and euthanasia, Pope Benedict said in a document issued on Tuesday.

Full article Here

Editors Note: This article is quite similar to the documentary of “With God on our Side” the MFA just screened on March 15. Check it out in the events and multimedia section. Separation of Church and State?

Senator calls for answer on creation of universe

  NASHVILLE - Sen. Raymond Finney proposes to use the legislative process to get an answer to the question of whether the universe was created by a “Supreme Being.”

Under Senate Resolution 17, introduced by the Maryville Republican, the answer would come from state Education Commissioner Lana Seivers “in report form” no later than Jan. 15, 2008.

Hmmm…  One year to determine how the universe was formed.  No problem!

Read Full Article Here

When the ain’ts go marching in

With fundamentalists at war and Richard Dawkins in the bookstores, atheism is surging. Canadian humanist groups are calling, ‘Come, all ye faithless.’ But as CHRISTOPHER DREHER asks, will skeptics go to spaghetti socials?

Read more here, courtesy of workopolis.com

Noam Chomsky + Robert Trivers

The anti-war activist and MIT linguist meets the Rutgers evolutionary biologist in the Seed Salon to discuss deceit.

In the 1970s, a Harvard class taught by evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers ignited a controversy that would escalate into the “sociobiology wars.” His papers provided a Darwinian basis for understanding complex human activities and relationships. Across town at MIT, revolutionary linguist Noam Chomsky had earned a reputation as a leading opponent of the Vietnam War. Throughout those pivotal years, and in the following decades, the two explored similar ideas from different perspectives. Long aware of each other’s work, they had never met until a couple of months ago, when they sat down to compare notes on some common interests: deceit and self-deception.

Read Full article Here

The Church of Non-Believers

The New Atheists will not let us off the hook simply because we are not doctrinaire believers. They condemn not just belief in God but respect for belief in God. Religion is not only wrong; it’s evil. Now that the battle has been joined, there’s no excuse for shirking.

Three writers have sounded this call to arms. They are Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett. A few months ago, I set out to talk with them. I wanted to find out what it would mean to enlist in the war against faith.

Read the Full Article Here, courtesy of Wired Magazine

Atheist group takes on Bush initiative

Gaylor has helped transform the Freedom From Religion Foundation from obscurity into the nation’s largest group of atheists and agnostics, with a fast-rising membership and increasing legal clout.

Next week, the group started by Gaylor and her mother in the 1970s to take on the religious right will fight its most high-profile battle when the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on its lawsuit against President Bush’s faith-based initiative.

Read More Here