Secular Portal Blogs

Atheist Society AGM

Monday, May 3rd, 2010 | Chris Worfolk | No Comments

Tuesday saw Leeds Atheist Society’s 2009/2010 AGM. Congratulations to all those who were elected to the coming year’s committee, especially John who is now our new president. Afterward we finished off with the tradition karaoke session that constitutionally every AGM must end with.

Leeds Reason Week 2010

Sunday, April 25th, 2010 | Chris Worfolk | No Comments

Leeds Reason Week has come and gone for another year and what a year it’s been! 22 events and 7 days later and we’ve had another amazing week in which we’ve talked to hundreds of people acquired many new members as well.

The marquee was packed out every night, often with us running out of chairs to put people on. The Christian Union debate alone has 67 people attending and the other nights weren’t too far behind in terms of attendance either.

See the official photo gallery for pictures from the week.

Bare Faced Messiah

Sunday, April 25th, 2010 | Chris Worfolk | No Comments

Last Saturday we kicked off Leeds Reason Week 2010 with Skeptics in the Pub. The duty had fallen to me to deliver the event so I settled on the topic of L. Ron Hubbard. I wanted to find out the true story behind his life and came across the book Bare Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard.

Whether the book itself is entirely accurate is of course open for dispute too, though it does at least go as far as to regularly cite sources. It was a fascinating journey because in many ways Hubbard was an amazing man – everyone laughs at Scientology but he convinced millions to take it up and follow him – no mean feat by any standards!

Election 2009/2010

Friday, April 23rd, 2010 | Leeds Atheist Society | No Comments

Want to run the most successful non-religious student society in the UK? Then run for a committee position at our AGM this Tuesday.

The posititions up for election are:
President (exc)
Vice President
Secretary (exec)
Treasurer (exec)
Meetings co-ordinator
Interfaith co-ordinator (including courses)
Publicity Officer
AHS Rep

N.B. AHS Rep and exec must be students and it is prefered that Publicity officer will be also.

If you would like to know more about the roles all of the current committee will be in the Reason Week Marquee from 7pm tonight and most of us will be there all day too. Feel free too email us with questions.

Election

Friday, April 23rd, 2010 | Leeds Atheist Society | No Comments

Want to run the most successfull non-religious student society in the UK? Then run for a committee position at our AGM this Tuesday.

The posititions up for election are:
President (exc)
Vice President
Secretary (exec)
Treasurer (exec)
Meetings co-ordinator
Interfaith co-ordinator (including courses)
Publicity Officer
AHS Rep

N.B. AHS Rep and exec must be students and it is prefered that Publicity officer will be also.

If you would like to know more about the roles all of the current committee will be in the Reason Week Marquee from 7pm tonight and most of us will be there all day too. Feel free too email us with questions.

Reason Week 2010 is almost here

Monday, April 5th, 2010 | Leeds Atheist Society | No Comments

I just wanted to tell you all how excited I am about Reason Week 2010. I've finally been truly bitten by the bug. With it so close and so much preparation going on at the moment it's really driving it home that it is happening and it's happening really soon!

Leeds Reason Week, formally known as Rationalist Week is not only our biggest event of the year - it's the biggest event run by any free thinking university society in the UK! Last year it was watched by people across the world and this year shall be no less spectacular.

This year we will he having a slightly different focus than last year. We want to get talking to people therefore we have cut out a lot of the talks - they were almost a distraction from the friendly "pull up a chair and have a chat about science, reason and atheism" approach that we're looking for.

Of course there will still be plenty of fantastic events - several per day and we'll be announcing that they will be shortly. Old favourites such as Make Your Own God and All Night Debate still have a debate in the schedule, make no mistake!

We have two final planning meetings taking place before the week so if you do want to get involved there is still time. If you can't make them because you're at home for Easter simply drop us an email to get the details as well.

Scientology and me

Sunday, April 4th, 2010 | Chris Worfolk | No Comments

For the final session of this year’s Perspective we invited Sam Butler over from the Church of Scientology in Manchester. It was really interesting to hear what he had to say and get a good insight into the beliefs that Scientologists hold.

Unfortunately it wasn’t chaired well and we ended up not getting any real chance for questions which was a disappointment. Also I managed to mess up the focus on my camera and so half the photos were out of focus. Still, the first of hopefully more such Perspectives.

UK want to send an atheist to his death!

Thursday, April 1st, 2010 | Norman Ralph | No Comments

Community groups across Leeds have come together to unite behind a campaign to save an openly atheist doctor from being deported to Pakistan where he faces persecution for his beliefs. The campaign is designed to raise awareness via the media as well as social networking sites and an online petition.

Dr. Shaukat Aman Ulla became heavily involved with local atheist and humanist groups while studying for his doctorate at the University of Leeds. Dr. Ulla was in the UK on a student visa and applied for asylum on the completion of his Ph.D. His application was rejected in March; he is currently appealing the ruling.

Chris Worfolk, trustee of the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist & Secular Student Societies said:

This is exactly what our asylum laws were set up for. Here is an individual who faces genuine persecution for his beliefs in his own country. If we truly value freedom of expression and the right to your own beliefs we must grant asylum.

Sophie Stringfellow, president of Leeds Atheist Society said:

Being part of the Atheist Society has really opened my eyes as to how some people view non-belivers, even in modern society. If we encounter this attitude in a secular country such as the UK, I fear what attitudes may be encountered in Parkistan.

Parkistan has no separation of church and state and 95% of the population are Muslim. Apostasy is punishable by death, as is speaking out against Islam (as this is considered blasphemy).

Since the decision a coalition of Leeds community groups, led by Leeds Atheist Society have come together in order to raise awareness of Dr. Shaukat’s case. Dr. Richard Parker of the Leeds-based Humanist Action Group commented:

It’s amazing to see how many people have volunteered to help spread the word. I would strongly urge everyone to sign the petition and show their support.

Arslan is a personal friend of mine and is already receiving death threats from people who wish to punish him for his decision to reject Islam. Support this campaign and sign the petition. If you have any messages of support or would like to get involved with the campiagn then either contact me or join the Facebook group and leave a message there.

Arslan’s Situation

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 | Leeds Atheist Society | No Comments

As most of you know Dr. Shaukat Aman Ulla, known as Arslan to us has been a member of Leeds Atheist Society and friend of many of us for over two years.

He is an out Atheist and ex-Muslim; currently living in the UK in safety. In Pakistan, his home country this is punishable by death!

Unfortunately his visa has run out and he has applied for asylum to stay in the UK.

We strongly feel that by being sent back to Pakistan for Arslan, is like being sent to his death. I urge you to support him.

His appeal is taking place on the 8th April and hopefuly this petition will show that he has support.

Please sign this to support freedom of belief and Arslan's asylum.

http://www.petition.fm/petitions/savearslan/0/4/

Thanks

Perspective looks at Islam

Sunday, March 14th, 2010 | Chris Worfolk | No Comments

With out speaker from the Muslim Debate Initiative having canceled us on the night before, a speaker from the Leeds Makkah Mosque kindly stepped in at the last minute to present the session on Islam. I found it a really good session, there were some excellent questions asked and interesting answers given.