Freethinkers of UTA

On Saturday, May 9th, we will be meeting at the UTA Planetarium at 7:15pm for the 7:30pm showing of "Bad Astronomy: Myths and Misconceptions":


Ticket Prices for Public Shows:
Adults $5
Seniors (55 and over) $4
Children (18 and under) $4
Non-UT Arlington Students $4
UT Arlington faculty, staff, and alumni with ID $3
UT Arlington students with ID $2
http://www.uta.edu/planetarium/public-shows-and-events/public-shows/show.php?id=36

Freethinkers of UTA

Spring 2009 Meeting Schedule

 

 

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Darwin Day

 

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Gameworks at Grapevine Mills

7:00pm

 

Thursday, April 09, 2009

The God Dialogues
Red River/Concho, U.C.
8:00pm

 

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:30pm

 

Thursday, May 7, 2009

TBA

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=300+W+1st+St,+Arlington,+TX+76010&sll=32.625208,-97.396094&sspn=0.009397,0.019312&ie=UTF8&ll=32.733646,-97.110643&spn=0.009386,0.019312&z=16&iwloc=addr

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Palo Pinto Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

 

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Guadalupe Room, U.C.

5:00pm

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=300+W+1st+St,+Arlington,+TX+76010&sll=32.625208,-97.396094&sspn=0.009397,0.019312&ie=UTF8&ll=32.733646,-97.110643&spn=0.009386,0.019312&z=16&iwloc=addr

Zachary Moore, Executive Director of the North Texas Church of Freethought, will be debating local Christian apologist John Ferrer next Thursday, April 10th at 7PM at the University of Texas at Arlington, in room 124 of the Life Science Building. The question at issue: "Is God Good?" John will be taking the affirmative, and Zach will be taking the negative position. You may think you know all there is to know about God and morality, but this debate will bring up some crucial issues that you don't want to miss out on.

UTA Life Science Building:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=501+S.+Nedderman+Dr.+Arlington,+Texas&hl=en

Free parking is available in lots 47 and 49 and there is paid parking in the Parking Garage.

Dr. Ellery Schempp will be visiting the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex from February
28th through March 2nd, 2008. While here, he will be speaking at the University
of Texas at Arlington on behalf of the Freethinkers of UTA. This event will take
place on Thursday, February 28th, at 7:00 PM in the Red River room of the UTA
University Center. His presentation will be entitled, "Our Constitution and the Bible,"
and will examine in detail the lack of any religious directives or mention of any deity in
our nation's founding document. His talk will also explore the political theory advocated
by the Christian Bible, with an emphasis on its lack of any support for democracy or
the civil liberties that are essential to American government. Dr. Schempp will also be
speaking generally on the subject of church/state separation.

A book sale/signing for “Ellery's Protest: How One Young Man Defied Tradition and
Sparked the Battle over School Prayer” will be held prior to the Dr. Schempp’s talk at
UTA in the same location, starting at 6:00 PM.

In addition to his appearance for the Freethinkers of UTA, Dr. Schempp will be the
featured speaker at the North Texas Church of Freethought monthly service,
where he will be addressing the question of whether atheism or secular humanism can
be considered religions. This event will take place on Sunday, March 2nd, at
10:30 AM at the Wyndham DFW Airport North. His presentation will address the
need for equal status in society between theists and non-theists, despite their different
world perspectives. Dr. Schempp will explore the legal and social implications of
regarding secular humanism in the same light as traditional theistic religions.

Following his presentation, Dr. Schempp will answer questions from the general
audience. Both events will be open to the public. Dr. Schempp's schedule also
includes appearances at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas and the Pathways
Unitarian Universalist Church in Southlake.

These events are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and speak with an
important figure in the history of religious freedom in America - be sure to
come to both events, and bring a friend or two!

 
About Ellery Schempp:

Dr. Ellery Schempp is a native of Abington Township, Pennsylvania. While attending
high school in 1956, Dr. Schempp and his fellow students were required by state law
to read ten verses from the Bible every day. As a Unitarian, Dr. Schempp protested
this requirement, which resulted in school discipline. His father Edward accepted help
from the American Civil Liberties Union and brought a lawsuit against the school district,
which eventually was heard by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1963. Their
decision rendered unconstitutional any school-led Bible reading in public schools. In
addition to his role in the struggle to keep church and state separate, Dr. Schempp
is an accomplished physicist, whose work has helped develop the principles which have
led to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a crucial medical imaging technology. Dr.
Schempp is a member of the American Humanist Association, Americans United for
Separation of Church and State, and serves on the Advisory Board to the Secular
Student Alliance.

Directions:

NTCOF Event:

Dr. Schempp will be speaking at the NTCOF regular monthly meeting, held at the
Wyndham DFW Airport North, 4441 W. John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, Texas
75063. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=4441+W.+John+Carpenter+Freeway,+Irving,+Texas&sll=32.734368,-97.110729&sspn=0.008068,0.020084&ie=UTF8&ll=32.918016,-97.007496&spn=0.008052,0.020084&z=16&iwloc=addr

 

UTA Event:

Dr. Schempp will be speaking in the Red River room of the E.W. Hereford University
Center, 300 W First St, Arlington, TX 76010.  http://maps.google.com/maps?q=300+W.+First+St.+Arlington,+Texas&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=32.734368,-97.110729&spn=0.008068,0.020084&z=16&iwloc=addr

 

Free parking is available in lot 40 on Pecan Street and paid parking is available in the
Parking Garage.  The University Center is circled in red and the 2 parking options are
circled in green:

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

When: 5:00pm

Where: Neches/Pedernales, upstairs U.C.

 

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

When: 5:00pm

Where: 213 Trimble Hall

http://www.uta.edu/maps/map?id=TH

 

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

When: 5:00pm

Where: Neches/Pedernales, upstairs U.C.

 

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

When: 5:00pm

Where: Neches/Pedernales, upstairs U.C. - CANCELED

***Our March 4th meeting has been canceled so that our members can attend the Texas primary and caucus if they so choose***


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

When: 5:00pm

Where: Guadalupe room,  upstairs U.C.

 

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

When: 5:00pm

Where: Neches/Pedernales, upstairs U.C.

 

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

When: 5:00pm

Where: 213 Trimble Hall

http://www.uta.edu/maps/map?id=TH

 

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

When: 5:00pm

Where: Neches/Pedernales, upstairs U.C.

 

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

When: 5:00pm

Where: Neches/Pedernales, upstairs U.C.

            The Freethinkers of UTA are proud to have Ellery Schempp coming to campus on Thursday, February 28, to discuss “Our Constitution and the Bible.” The event will start at 7:00pm and will be located in the Red River room of University Center (http://www.uta.edu/maps/map?id=UC) —the event is free and open to the public.

For those of you not in the know—Ellery Schempp was the chief student involved in the landmark Supreme Court decision Abington School District v. Schempp (1963). The Abington School District—following a Pennsylvania law—required a minimum of ten verses from the Bible be read at the opening of each school day. The Schempp family, who were Unitarians, objected to the religious beliefs that were pushed onto the family’s two children attending high school in the Abington School District.

One of these children, Ellery Schempp, decided to protest this school-sanctioned Bible reading by bringing a Quran to school which he proceeded to read during the morning practice. After being reprimanded, the 16 year-old Ellery and his parents sued the school district—the case led to the Supreme Court’s 8-1 ruling which struck down the Pennsylvania law and declared public school-sanctioned Bible readings unconstitutional.

            The Freethinkers of UTA are a group focused on establishing a positive social environment for UTA students who consider themselves atheists, agnostics, skeptics, rationalists, humanists, and/or freethinkers. One of the group’s goals is to enrich the UTA campus life by sponsoring educational events and fostering student dialogue on matters of faith, science, and reason.

            If you enjoy discussing/debating the role of religion in our society come and watch Dr. Schempp discuss the small yet significant role he played in shaping our government’s current stance with respect to prayer in school.       

Rick Jackson is an Interdisciplinary Studies major and has been an active member with the Freethinkers for two years.

We are having a Freethinker social event over the winter break. 

We will be meeting on Thursday, January 3rd from 7-11pm at Gameworks at the Grapevine Mills Mall.  http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3000+Grapevine+Mills+Parkway++Grapevine,+TX&iwloc=A&hl=en
 
They have a Thursday option for $10 unlimited play (with a one-time $5 charge for a card that can be used every time you go).  They also have food and drinks.

 

On Monday, November 12th, Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, and Kevin Harris, Minister of Apologetics at the First Baptist Church of Colleyville will debating "Does God Exist?" at 7:00 pm in the Red River/Concho rooms of the University Center.  (The time has changed from 6:00 to 7:00.)  The event is free and open to the public.

http://www.uta.edu/maps/map?id=UC

Free parking is available in lot 40 (at the far right of the map between W. 2nd St. and UTA Blvd)

We are also holding a Thanksgiving Food Drive, so bring a canned or non-perishable good, if you can!!

On Tuesday, November 13th, we will be hosting an Activist Training with Dan Barker in the Life Science Building, Room 122 at 6:00 pm.

http://www.uta.edu/maps/map?id=LS

 

*A good turnout to both of these events is a great way to strengthen our own group and interact with others*

Tuesday, September 4th
Business Meeting: 5:00
Open Discussion: 5:30
Location: Guadalupe Room, U.C.
Topic: The Future of the Freethinkers of UTA

Tuesday, September 18th
Business Meeting: 5:00
Open Discussion: 5:30
Location: Guadalupe Room, U.C.
Topic: Church/State Separation Issues in Texas

Tuesday, October 2nd
Business Meeting: 5:00
Open Discussion: 5:30
Location: Guadalupe Room, U.C.
Topic: Psychology of Religion

Tuesday, October 16th
Business Meeting: 5:00
Open Discussion: 5:30
Location: Guadalupe Room, U.C.
Topic: TBA

Tuesday, October 30th
Business Meeting: 5:00
Open Discussion: 5:30
Location: Guadalupe Room, U.C.
Topic: TBA

Tuesday, November 13th
Business Meeting: 5:00
Open Discussion: 5:30
Location: Guadalupe Room, U.C.
Topic: TBA

Tuesday, November 27th
Business Meeting: 5:00
Open Discussion: 5:30
Location: Guadalupe Room, U.C.
Topic: TBA

Friends,

Are you tired of hearing about all of the religious bills and now laws coming from our Texas state government lately? Don't you think it's time we had a rally for state/church separation here in Texas?

Come take part in the 2007 Texas State/Church Separation Rally here in Austin, at the Texas State Capitol Building on Saturday, September 8, from noon till 3pm. We'll have speakers from lots of Freethought groups there, including:

American Atheists http://www.atheists.org
The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers http://maaf.info  
The Freethinkers at the University of Texas at Arlington http://www.freethinkersofuta.org
The Freethinkers Association of Central Texas http://www.freethinkersact.org

Four of the goals of this rally are the following:

1 To speak out for the civil rights of non-religious Americans.
2 To vocally promote the separation of government from religion.
3 To show support for the Croft family in Carrollton who have sued over the moment of silence in their public school. (No matter how the case ends, or whether it's over by then or not.)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292619,00.html
4 To protest the flurry of religious bills and now religious laws coming from our current Texas State Legislature.

To all local and national Freethought group leaders: We need more group leaders to come speak. Please contact me if you'd like some speaking time at this rally. We also have some great individual speakers lined up, including at least two Foxhole Atheists.

We'll have some signs and banners, but all groups are urged to bring your group's banner. This needs to be a show of strength in numbers, and we now have more Freethought groups in Texas than ever before. PLEASE mark this date and time on your calendar:

Saturday, September 8, 2007 from noon till 3pm.

The State Capitol Building is located at the corner of 11th St. and Congress Ave. in beautiful downtown Austin. We have permission to rally on the south steps. All parking meters in Austin are free on weekends. The date and time were planned for maximum convenience for the most number of folks attending. So come on down!

More info is on the way. Thanks for reading! :o)

Joe Zamecki, Texas State Director, American Atheists

 

The next stop on our Tour of Faith will be the Christ Church, Assemblies of God.
http://www.christchurch-ag.org/christchurch.asp

Time and Place

Date:	Sunday, August 5, 2007
Time:	10:45am - 12:00pm
Location:	Christ Church
City/Town:	Fort Worth, TX

Here is what to expect at their service:
http://www.christchurch-ag.org/christchurch_about_worship.asp

The church is located at 5301 Alta Mesa Blvd, Fort Worth
http://www.christchurch-ag.org/christchurch_contact_map.asp

 

 

Our next stop on our Tour of Faith will be the Church of Scientology - Celebrity Centre Dallas

Time and Place

Date:	Sunday, July 22, 2007
Time:	10:45am - 12:00pm
Location:	Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Dallas
Street:	1850 N. Buckner Blvd
City/Town:	Dallas, TX

http://www.scientology-ccdallas.org/
http://www.scientology-ccdallas.org/sunday_service.htm

Learn more about Scientology here:
http://www.scientology.org/

The doors open at 10:30.

 

We will continue our Tour of Faith on Sunday, June 10th at the First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church in Fort Worth.

Our president, Becky Robinson, will be speaking about the Freethought organizations she is involved in, as well as a "The New Humanism" conference she attended in April, at the "Adult Forum" starting at 10:00 A.M. The service follows at 11:00.

First Jefferson U.U. Church is located at 1959 Sandy Lane Fort Worth, TX

http://firstjefferson.org/

We will decide our next stop on the Tour of Faith and when that will be after the service.

Following the service, we will be attending the Humanists of Fort Worth Annual Picnic at Trinity Park in Fort Worth.  http://www.hofw.org/

We are to bring our own sandwiches and they will provide drinks (beer and soda).

 

Our "Tour of Faith" starts out this Sunday, May 6th, at the North Texas Church of Freethought. We figured we should start out where we "belong" and then go from there.

The service begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Select D/FW NORTH in Irving, located at the corner of Hwy. 114 (John Carpenter Freeway) at Esters Blvd.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/sl/1/en/hotel/dfwno?irs=null&_requestid=63014

Here is an article about their services: http://www.churchoffreethought.org/cgi-bin/contray/contray.cgi?DATA=&ID=000012&GROUP=007

 

 

Our last meeting of the semester:

Tuesday, May 1st
Group Meeting @ 4:30
Open Discussion @5:00
Location: Guadalupe Room in the U.C.
Topic: Skepticism

We will talk about our plans for next semester, as well as our "Tour of Faith" starting this summer.  I hope everyone can make it!

Group Meeting @ 4:30
Open Discussion @5:00

Topic: Godless Ethics/Morality: Can you be GOOD without GOD?
Location: Guadalupe Room in the upstairs of the U.C.

Some relevant articles:
http://www.atheists.org/Atheism/ethics.html
http://www.atheists.org/Atheism/cohen.html
http://www.creationtheory.org/Morality/MoralWithoutGod.shtml
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=schick_17_3

The opposing view:
http://www.apologeticspress.org/rr/reprints/Foundations-of-Morality.pdf
http://www.apologeticspress.org/pdfs/courses_pdf/hsc0104.pdf
http://www.christianity.co.nz/moralit2.htm
http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/282



"Science has therefore been charged with undermining morality, but the charge is unjust. A man's ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." (Albert Einstein, 1954)

"There is nothing divine about morality; it is a purely human affair." (Albert Einstein)

"I do not believe in immortality of the individual, and I consider ethics to be an exclusively human concern with no superhuman authority behind it." (Albert Einstein)

Tuesday, January 23rd, 4:30
Location: Guadalupe Room in the U.C.

Topic: The Diminishing Freedoms in the U.S.

Tuesday, February 6th, 4:30
Location: Perdernales Room in the U.C.

Topic: Religious Moderates vs. Fundamentalists

Tuesday, February 20th
Group Meeting @ 4:30
Open Discussion @5:00
Location: Pecos Room in the U.C.
Topic: Atheist Discrimination

Tuesday, March 6th

Group Meeting @ 4:30
Open Discussion @5:00
Location: Guadalupe Room in the U.C.

Topic: Religion & Healthcare

Tuesday, March 20th

Group Meeting @ 4:30
Open Discussion @5:00
Location: Guadalupe Room in the U.C.

Topic: Godless Ethics/Morality: Can you be GOOD without GOD?

Tuesday, April 3rd

Group Meeting @ 4:30
Open Discussion @5:00
Location: Guadalupe Room in the U.C.

Tuesday, April 17th

Group Meeting @ 4:30
Open Discussion @5:00
Location: Guadalupe Room in the U.C.

Tuesday, May 1st\

Group Meeting @ 4:30
Open Discussion @5:00
Location: Guadalupe Room in the U.C.

Discussion Topics TBA

 

We are planning to have a Darwin Day Celebration on Monday, February 12th.  If you have any ideas on what you would like to do to celebrate, e-mail utafreethinkers@gmail.com.

 

Hey guys, we have LS Room 424 reserved for this Tuesday at 4:30. I've had it reserved for awhile just in case. Andreas called me today and let me know that he has a video on Intelligent Design vs. Evolution that we can show. Here is the link: http://www.films.com/id/12374/Intelligent_Design_vs_Evolution.htm

 

It's 22 minutes long. We can hold a discussion afterwards or I may have something else to show if we choose to. I know it's short notice, but it all kind of just came together today.  If you can make it, I'll see you there!

 

-Becky

The next general meeting is on Tuesday, November 14th at 4:30.

We will be holding an "informal" meeting. Since the U.C. has nowhere to put us, we will be meeting in the lounge area outside of the San Jacinto Room (our usual meeting place). Holding with the informal-ness, the topic will be decided at the meeting. Start thinking of current events or subjects you may want to discuss.

We are getting together to go to the Hell House at the Trinity Church in Cedar Hill, TX.  http://www.darkrailhellhouse.com/

The documentary "Hell House" was about this particular Hell House.  We will be meeting up on Sunday, October 29th at 7:00-ish at the U.C. by the MavExpress office and Starbucks.  We will coordinate and car pool up to the the Hell House and plan to get there around 8:00-ish.

Information on Hell Houses:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallo_he.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_house

D.J. Grothe is a program Director at the Center for Inquiry, an associate editor of Free Inquiry magazine, and hosts the nationally popular radio show and podcast, Point of Inquiry.

 

A popular speaker on topics at the intersection of science and society’s fundamental assumptions, D.J. has traveled and lectured widely throughout North America, speaking to audiences at hundreds of college campuses.  He has agreed to come speak to us on October 27th in Life Science Room 124 at 6:00.

Tuesday, October 17th

4:30

San Jacinto Room - upstairs of the University Center

Topic:  Right to Privacy: What is the Government's Role?

We will be hosting the Superstition Bash on Friday, October 13th from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. in the U.C. Mall outside of the University Center.

We will have games, a "fortune teller", food, and much more.

Come dressed as your favorite superstition!

GOOD LUCK TOTEM

               \ \ \ | | | / / /                         

                   =========

           ^      |  O    O  |  

           #        \  /\  /

           #         \ @' / 

           #         _|  |_ 

         ( # )     (        )

           #  \ / / | * * | \  \                         

           #  \ / (    *    )  /                         

           #         ======

           #       ( \  |  / )                           

           #       |  |   |  |

           #   .- -'  |   |  ' ---.                      

           #   ' - - -'    ' - - -'       

This totem has been sent to you for good luck 

and to invite you the: 

UTA Superstition Bash

Friday, the 13th 

7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

U.C. Mall

 It has been sent around the world ten times 

so far.

 You will receive good luck within four days 

of relaying this totem and invitation.     

Send 10 copies to people you think need 

good luck.       

The totem must leave your hands in 96 hours or 

your sexual organs will fall off and die.

This is true, even if you are not superstitious.

Good luck, but please remember: 10 copies of this 

message must leave your hands in 96 hours... 

Tuesday, October 10th

4:30

Life Science Room 424

"The God Who Wasn't There"  - www.thegodmovie.com

 I just found out (thanks to a post from Crystal on our discussion board) that Jesus Camp is playing at the Inwood Theater in Dallas all week at 7:20 p.m. For those of you interested, we are going to get a group together to go see it after the meeting. I have a call in to their event coordinator to see if we can get a group rate. As is stands now, we would get the student discount of $6 per ticket, I'll let you know if I can get it for cheaper. Those who want to go see it Tuesday night can just stay after the meeting and we will coordinate a car pool (we need drivers!). Please let me know if you are interested in attending, and if you can be a driver, so I can get an estimate of how many of us will be going. You can e-mail me at utafreethinkers@gmail.com

Thanks!
-Becky

Tuesday, October 3rd

4:30 

Location: San Jacinto Room in the U.C.

Topic: Stem Cells/Cloning

 

Some articles (compliments of Camille) to start us off:

http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/faqs.asp

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/dispatches/050413.html

 

 

Tuesday, September 19th

4:30 

Location: San Jacinto Room in the U.C.

Topic: Creationism in Schools

 

 

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th at 4:30

Bluebonnet South - U.C.

Topic:  The Secular Founding of the U.S.

http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/summer97/secular.html

 

 

ACITIVITIES FAIR
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30TH from 11:00 - 1:30
University Mall

We have a table reserved for the Activities Fair. If anyone wants to be involved in that, please e-mail utafreethinkers@gmail.com. 

Materials will be provided.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29TH at 5:00pm
Guadalupe Room, University Center.

We have reserved the Guadalupe Room in the U.C. on TUESDAY, August 29th at 5:00pm to hold an organizational meeting. This is where we will get together to discuss:
        - the official name of the organizatoin
        - the organization's constitution
        - meeting times and events
        - the goals and direction of the organization

ANYONE who is interested in being a part of the start-up of the group, PLEASE COME!! Bring a friend!!

Even if you are just curious, come check it out. See if this is something you want to be a part of or not.
.

Thanks!!