Reason Week (formally known as Rationalist Week) is the society’s flagship awareness event – a week of talks, debates and events on atheism, reason and science. The week has proved so successful at Leeds it has now spread nationally with societies all over the country running their own awareness weeks.
Events
This year we will be holding our marquee opposite the Edward Boyle Library where you will be able to come in, look around and grab a tea or coffee. There will be informational posters and leaflets in the tent as well as food and drink available and all the drinks are free too!
This year’s timetable will showcase some excellent talks with events going on at 1pm and 7pm every day and the tent being open for people to come in and look around from 10am until 10pm every day. Friday night as ever will be open until the late early hours for all night debate too!
All events are held in the marquee unless otherwise noted.
Event Timetable
| Day | 10:00 | 13:00 | 19:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard Leeds Skeptics presents the first official event of Reason Week 2010. This is talking place at The Living Room, starting at 2pm. Full details and directions can be found on the Leeds Skeptics website. |
Launch Party We’ll be celebrating the first night of Reason Week we a good old fashioned party in The Old Bar starting at 8pm. |
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| Sunday | Trip to Thackray Medical Museum Join us for a group trip to Thackray in Leeds, we’ll be meeting at the Parkinson Steps at 1pm and heading from there. |
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| Monday | Awareness Discussion Untangling Science and Medicine from Religion |
Homoeopathy Former AHS president Norman Ralph presents a talk on what it is and why it’s nonsense. |
Paula Kirby Paula joins us from the Scottish Highlands as part of her work with the Richard Dawkins Foundation to talk about the psychology of religious belief. |
Poker Night Put on your poker faces for a night of playing the cards. £5 freeze out. This event is open to members only, please bring your membership card. |
| Tuesday | Awareness Discussion Islamophobia |
Vitamin Pills James Murray presents a talk on why vitamins pills don’t actually improve your health – and may actually damage it. |
Debate with AbSoc A formal debate with Ahlul Bayt Society on whether Islam provides everything you need to live a good life. |
Film Night Come down and spend the night watching movies. This event is open to members only, please bring your membership card. |
| Wednesday | Awareness Discussion Separation of Church and State |
Make Your Own God Come along and do some craft work, building your own god Blue Peter style. After all – all gods are human creations anyway. |
Debate with the Christian Union Formal debate with the Christian Union on “is atheism a religion?” |
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| Thursday | Awareness Discussion Freedom of Speech |
Science in Action Society president Sophie Stringfellow presents some cool science experiments that everyone can do at home. |
Freedom of Expression A talk on freedom of expression with particular reference to the Danish cartoons controversy. |
Games Night Yes, our popular Sports Night is returning! Come down and play some board games. This event is open to members only, please bring your membership card. |
| Friday | Awareness Discussion Oppression of Women & LGBT |
Evolution 101 Dr. Richard Parker presents a brief introduction to evolution. |
Playing God: On Transhumanism & Eugenics A talk by John Salter and LAS founder Rev Chris Worfolk on the future of the human race. |
All Night Debate We’ll be open all night serving hot drinks to weary travellers on their way home from pubs and clubs. |