NZ Skeptics 2011

Firstly I'd like to apologise profusely for my unexplained absence. I would like to blame it on external circumstances but that simply isn't the case. I haven't really had much to say, and grow increasingly frustrated with the seemingly impervious-to-criticism nature of the myriad of theistic positions. More on that in a later post though.

Onto the point of the post: The NZ Skeptics Conference is here for 2011, and I'll be attending, and any readers from New Zealand should attend too! It's in Christchurch this year and is set for Fri 26 August - Sun 28 August. As always, there is an interesting series of talks (each with their own Q&A period).

Session 1
Paranormal Belief in Queensland -- now the truth can be told!
Martin Bridgestock

Session 2
Standing strong on shaking ground: earth science in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes
Mark Quigley

Session 3
Token Skepticism - Adventures in Skeptical Podcasting
Kylie Sturgess Session 3

Session 4
The Moral Landscape: Scientifically Determined Human Values
Mark Ottley

Session 5
Chemistry: An Antidote to Irrational Thinking?
Michael Edmonds

Session 6
Are we poisoning paradise with 1080?
Harry Broad

Session 7
Creationism/Evolution
Alison Campbell

Session 8
My Road to Skeptic Activism
H Stu Landsborough

Session 9
TBA

This list may be updated between now and the conference, and for more information on the programme head to the NZ Skeptics website.

Book Recommendation: The Christian Delusion

I just finished reading this book, and I strongly recommend anyone who is interested in seeing some well thought out criticisms of Christianity by a range of very qualified authors.

It contains chapters by Richard Carrier, Hector Avalos, Robert M. Price and John Loftus among others, and it is laid out in five clear sections.
Part 1: Why Faith Fails
Part 2: Why The Bible is Not God’s Word
Part 3: Why The Christian God is Not Perfectly Good
Part 4: Why Jesus is Not the Risen Son of God
Part 5: Why Society Does not Depend on Christian Faith