Aussie, Kiwi & South Pacific Atheists

This group is hosted by Richard J and Chrys Stevenson

The Australian Book of Atheism

PRE-ORDER THE FIRST BOOK TO BROADLY REPRESENT AUSTRALIAN ATHEIST THOUGHT AND RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT.

NB: Several Atheist Nexus Australian members have contributed to this book.

A variety of prominent overseas authors have made significant contributions to the general public conversation on belief and religion, but Australians have been somewhat less heard. The Australian Book of Atheism aims to change that, gathering together an impressive collection of essays from pre-eminent Australian atheist, rationalist, secular, humanist, and skeptic thinkers, many of whom participated in the 2010 Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne.

The collection showcases a range of authors, including Robyn Williams, Michael Bachelard, Kylie Sturgess, Martin Bridgstock, Max Wallace, Chrys Stevenson, Russell Blackford, Lyn Allison, Lee Rhiannon, Colette Livermore, Prof. Graham Oppy, Tim Minchin, Rosemary Lyndall-Wemm and Leslie Cannold, and others from the blogosphere and beyond, culminating in a diverse and entertaining read that canvasses the political, philosophical, educational, personal, historical, and social and cultural realms of belief and religion.

This is Scribe Publishers' anti-Christmas book for 2010. It contains pieces by around 35 contributors.

Let's show Scribe that atheist books sell! Pre-order now.

High Court Challenge Against National School Chaplaincy Program
Website: http://www.highcourtchallenge.com

Breaking News! The High Court Challenge against National School Chaplaincy has announced its legal team.

Representing Ron Williams in the court action will be high profile barrister, Bret Walker SC (Senior Counsel). The importance of having the case represented by such a leading figure in Australian law cannot be overstated. Walker is one of Australia's leading barristers. He has been president of both the NSW Bar Association and the Law Council of Australia and Governor of the Law Foundation of NSW. He is Editor of the NSW Law Reports and Director of the Australian Academy of Law.



Walker will be supported by Gerald Ng, Barrister and the law firm, Horowitz and Bilinsky. The next step in the legal process is approaching, and further details will be released when it occurs.

People, this case is going to be huge and we're expecting some jaw-dropping revelations to be made about our politicians and education systems. Be a part of it. Please donate whatever you can afford at the High Court Challenge website. Ron has put the financial future of his family on the line for this and really needs our support. Besides, for a small (or large) investment, this is a chance to be a part of Australian history.

This is a serious, carefully considered and important step and it needs your financial support. All proceeds will go into a trust fund for the legal costs, not to Ron personally. Please go to the website High Court Challenge, read all about it, and contribute if you possibly can - every dollar will help. Donation using Paypal is now available.

By the way, if you haven't heard of Ron Williams, he's a very talented guy and committed secularist. For something a little lighter than the High Court Challenge, check out Ron's YouTube video: Why Don't Bees Go to Heaven?

Australian Skeptics - "The Amazing Meeting", Sydney, November 2010

The Amaz!ng Meeting, is the biggest get-together in the Skeptical universe, and in November 2010, TAM comes to Australia. TAM features the best and most interesting, humorous and controversial Skeptics from around the world, and TAM Australia will be the largest event of its kind ever held here.

TAM Australia will be held from November 26-28 at the Sydney Masonic Centre in Sydney, Australia.

The line-up includes James Randi, Simon Singh, the entire cast of The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, Brian Dunning from Skeptoid, Krissy Wilson, Eugenie Scott, George Hrab from the Geologic Podcast, Dr Karl, Fred Watson, Rachael Dunlop and a host of other local and overseas skeptics and freethinkers. TAM Australia offers a variety of divertissements, from education and entertainment to the camaraderie and shared experiences you can only get at Skeptical meetings.

Registration will be open for members of Australian Skeptics (magazine subscribers) and JREF members on June 20 at 9:00AM Australian Eastern Standard Time. Members will be given a two week opportunity to register at a special early bird member’s rate, after which the registration rate will rise. Registration will be available for non-members starting on July 5th.

BECOMING A MEMBER

To become a member of Australian Skeptics, subscribe to The Skeptic magazine. Go to the Australian Skeptics shop and choose your preferred subscription option. Printed copy subscriptions start from A$44 for one year and digital subscriptions start from A$22 for one year.



Reason Australia - A New National Secular Alliance

Just prior to the Convention, Atheist Nexus members Chrys Stevenson, Sean Wright (Sean the Blogonaut) and Warren Bonett (Mr Embiggen) convened a meeting of local atheist group representatives at the Waterside Hotel, Melbourne. More than 20 people, representing most of the country's atheist meetup groups, plus some other groups, attended. Those present listened to our idea for a national network of local groups and, after some discussion, voted enthusiastically and unanimously to proceed with forming an alliance.

We are now working with representatives from all of the country's local atheist groups and a number of other representatives from the rational, skeptical and humanist communities, to establish a mission statement, structure, affiliate plan. In effect, we have shown that cats can be herded and that disparate groups can work together in common cause - something we were told was impossible.

The aim of the new group is to be project based and goal oriented. It is to be an action group, aimed at allowing any of the individual groups to put forward a suggestion for local, state or national action and invite the other groups to get involved. This will allow local groups to keep their independence while still having the advantage of national affiliation and support. We want to grow the memberships of local groups, invite their members to be more active, and to seed new groups throughout the country.

This is an exciting new step for Australian secularism and one which we hope will complement and strengthen all of our existing organizations - including this group.

Keep an eye out here for more exciting news on this development.

Embiggen Books - Your Australian Atheist/Skeptical Bookshop

Embiggen Books, an Australian bookstore devoted to promoting science, philosophy, rationalism and skepticism, has opened it's online store, making it easy for us to purchase books of special interest to atheists without having to hunt for them or pay international postage. Warren Bonett and Kirsty Bruce of Embiggen are also passionate and active members of the atheist and skeptical communities.

Warren will also have a book on Australian atheism published by a major Australian publisher later this year. It will be available in major bookstores by Christmas. Warren has attracted some amazing contributions from some of Australia's best known atheists and, although I don't fit into that category, I was delighted contribute a chapter on the history of atheism in Australia, which I hope to develop into a book over the next 12-18 months.

Australian Atheist Issues

For new members, if you want to get a grasp of some of the issues effecting atheists in Australia, you might like to take a look at the Atheist Nexus (Australia) submission on "Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century" made to the Australian Human Rights Commission early last year. It's long, but easy reading, and worth spending some time on. A report, using information compiled from submissions, should be released later this year.

Atheist Meetup Groups - Australia

If you'd like to meet up with some local atheists, there's no better way than joining your local Atheist Meetup, Skeptics, or Freethought Groups:

Adelaide Atheists
Ballarat Atheists
Brisbane Atheists
Canberra Social Skeptics
Melbourne Atheists
Launceston Skeptics
Macarthur Atheists (Macarthur Region, Sydney (NSW)
Perth Atheists
Perth Skeptics
Sunshine Coast Atheists
Sydney Atheists
Sydney Freethinkers
Western Sydney Freethinkers
Wollongong Skeptics Society

Have we missed your meetup group? Just let me know and I'll add it in.