With 505 registered attendees, it was a big crowd -- but not too big to prevent meeting everybody, including the speakers. (It was a pleasure meeting Julia Sweeney, who speaks tomorrow. See photo below.) The two featured speakers tonight: Richard Sloan and Sam Harris. Dr. Sloan studies allegations of the health benefits of prayer and faith, and points out the methodological failures and ethical problems of attempts to merge medicine with religion. His new book is called "Blind Faith: The Unholy Alliance of Religion and Medicine." Mr. Harris is the author of "The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason" and the new book "Letter to a Christian Nation." "The End of Faith" is becoming a very popular book, as it is becoming more and more obvious that the more religion we have -- the more "fundamental" it gets -- the more problems we all have.
After these stimulating speakers, we unwound at a local karaoke lounge for some libation stimulation!
9 comments:
Cool! I first heard about this group a couple of weeks ago on CyberKitten's blog. I just got my first info packet in the mail from them a couple days ago. Meaning I haven't found time to read it yet. Are you a member? How long? Oh, and Julia Sweeney has a blog. I ran across it on Blogger, I think, about a year ago. :-)
VV ~ FFRF is one of the largest American freethought groups. I'm a supporter and a paid member. Learn more at the FFRF website. It's good to know you joined as well! Julia Sweeney has a Blogger blog, like us, but she's so busy, it does not get updated too often. Click here to read it. It's still a good read, especially after some familiarity with her delightful Catholic-to-Atheist story, "Letting Go Of God."
Looks like everyone was having a good time.
I find the stuff on religion and health very interesting. While I admit many would, I as a Christian I would not be eager to make the case to pray because it will make you healthy or wealthy.
Paul once claimed to get this answer from God when he asked God to make life easier.
2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
So I concede that the speaker may be correct on this issue. For Biblical Christianity seems to teach the opposite:
Phl 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Well I am glad you enjoyed the conference. I have no doubt that one way or another you will find freedom “from” religion. Although I doubt you will be able to get rid of us anytime to soon. (Actually I think Christ does free us from religion but that is a different context I have in mind so I will stow that one for now.)
Peace to you.
i love karaoke. i r back, thanks for visiting boobaloo :)
MyUtopa ~ Indeed, these sincerely happy smiles are not fakes! It's so refreshingly nice to be with hundreds of other freethinkers.
Aaron ~ Oh, I found my own freedom from religion long ago, in college in the mid-eighties. My own "Letting Go Of God" journey lasts from my earliest memories to my mid-twenties. A bit more accelerated than Ms. Sweeney's, but not near as interesting. Someday I'll write about it.
You say, I doubt you will be able to get rid of us anytime to soon. That sounds extremist! "We" don't want to "get rid of you" -- Supporting the Establishment Clause protects us all. America has freedom from religion and freedom of religion. You can choose any god and I can choose no god. It's a unique, fair, and beautiful law! What "we" as non-theists may want is a secular nation and a secular world, but never by denying anyone's right to practice a religion of their choosing. Those tactics belong to the other side (The Crusades, the Taliban, etc.).
As you might guess, I don't follow the Bible, and the verses you quote are one of many reasons why. Wouldn't a doctor be more helpful to a sick person than a priest? In sickness, virtually everybody -- even the theist -- chooses science over religion.
Peace to you, too, Aaron, and thanks again for your insight.
Boo ~ Let's just say that after this night, some of our group are no longer karaoke virgins!
The scripture was of course not meant to be authoritative to you. It was meant to say that I do not think in Biblical Christianity it should be taught that God promises health to His children. So I may very well support what the speaker was saying. It also has nothing to do with going to a doctor. Luke, the author of the Gospel "Luke" was actually a doctor in his day. Why would you go there?? I just got my kids their flu shots today. I love science! Why would I want others to go without or suffer needlessly? I get part of your point though. No one wants to suffer nor would a sane man seek it in itself. But I do not think you have to be a “believer” to admit that suffering for something can have great value and show how important a thing really is to you. Hence the importance of Christ’s passion to believers in His name. Heb 12:2 said that Christ did it for the Joy before him. Ever suffered to experience joy on the other side? It is a simple concept really. You have a daughter right? I bet there are some stories right there worth knowing!
Anyway I was only trying to grant you the argument although I am not well enough equated with the research on either side of the argument to say anything more then, you might be right.
To many who use the term freedom “from” religion really just want NO signs of it or its followers. Example the laws in France against wearing a cross. So my apologies on that.
Take care…
dude!
your hair is rawkin!
my son has curly hair and i'm trying to grow it out for winter. want it to be somewhat shaggy. it's about the same length and cut as yours!
makes me smile|
HEY! Its Pat!!
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