Tomorrow night's Thinking Matters Auckland Seminar: David Lindsey on “Politics, Religion and Morality” at 7:00pm, Tues 1 Sept, in Lecture Room 2, Laidlaw College, 80 Central Park Drive, Henderson, West AucklandSee you there :-)
Thursday night's Auckland Bloggers Drinks from 6.30pm at Galbraiths, Thurs 3 Sept, 2 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, Auckland.
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Monday, 31 August 2009
This Week in Auckland: Bloggers Drinks & Thinking Matters
Don't forget:
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Video of Matthew Flannagan Speaking on Moral Relativism
Matt spoke at Thinking Matters Auckland on 28 May 2009 on Moral Relativism.
A popular view of ethics holds that actions are right or wrong only if a person or a community believes that they are right or wrong, and that it is inappropriate to apply your own standards to others. This position is known as moral relativism. In this talk Matt looks at the common arguments for relativism, argues that relativism is a mistaken view of ethics and shows how relativism fails.
A popular view of ethics holds that actions are right or wrong only if a person or a community believes that they are right or wrong, and that it is inappropriate to apply your own standards to others. This position is known as moral relativism. In this talk Matt looks at the common arguments for relativism, argues that relativism is a mistaken view of ethics and shows how relativism fails.
RELATED POSTS:
Video of Matthew Flannagan on Apologetics: Answering Objections to the Christian Faith
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
David Lindsey on “Politics, Religion and Morality”
You're invited to the final event in the Thinking Matters Auckland God, Morality and Society series:
What: David Lindsey on “Politics, Religion and Morality”
When: Tuesday 1 Sept – 7:00pm
Where: Lecture Room 2, Laidlaw College, 80 Central Park Drive, Henderson, West Auckland
Format: Talk followed by questions, answers and discussion.
Cost: Free but donations are appreciated
Decisions made by government bodies are not created in a vacuum. Policies are a consequence of the influence of ideologies and worldviews. In New Zealand an increasing preference for secular ideologies since WW2 has resulted in government policies increasingly at odds with orthodox evangelical teaching. This seminar will discuss these changes and suggest that Christianity provides a firmer foundation for governmental action than the alternatives.
David Lindsey is uniquely qualified to speak on political issues due to his qualifications as well his career spanning both the private and public sectors. He holds an MA (First Class Honours) in Social and Economic Geography, aDWS (Diploma of World View Studies), a PGDip (Arts) (Political Studies) and is currently completing a PhD in Political Studies at the University of Auckland specialising in Governance. His thesis topic is “How Parliament Handles Moral Issues.”
After gaining his MA, he worked for 13 years as a consultant to the property development industry and as an advisor in local government. His work in strategic urban development led him to speak on the governance issues with key decision makers at all levels, including cabinet ministers, central and local government politicians, CEOs, and foreign diplomats.
David’s expertise in governance issues has been sought after by numerous media and he has made personal appearances on the network news for TVNZ and TV3, documentaries on Triangle TV and Shine TV, Radio NZ’s Morning Report, the BBC in Britain, bFM, the Dialogue page of the NZ Herald, articles in the Challenge Weekly, as well as many industry publications.
He has had numerous articles published in both academic journals and the mainstream media, including a chapter on moral issues in two editions of NZ Politics and Government, New Zealand’s foremost sourcebook on NZ politics. He has been invited to lecture in both New Zealand and the United States at the University of California San Diego and Loyola Univeristy Chicago and during his professional career was a sought after public speaker speaking to many industry and academic groups.
He is currently teaching courses on NZ Politics in both the Political Studies and Planning departments of the University of Auckland. He has presented at politics conferences in New Zealand, Australia and the United States, and for three months worked with Prof. Philip Cowley, an acknowledged world-expert on moral issues and parliament, in the United Kingdom. After making a mid-career decision to earn his PhD, he was offered four full doctoral scholarships in both New Zealand and Australia. Currently, he is the recipient of a Top Achievers Doctoral Scholarship, awarded by the NZ government to the top 5% of PhD students. David has also earned a Diploma of Worldview Studies, with a 92% grade average, from Laidlaw College.
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Jason Kumar and Stuart McEwing on “Do we Need God to be Good?”
You are invited to a Thinking Matters Auckland, God, Morality and Society, event:
What: Jason Kumar and Stuart McEwing speaking on “Do we need God to be good?”
When: Tuesday 18th August – 7:00pm
Where: Lecture Room 2, Laidlaw College, 80 Central Park Drive, Henderson, West Auckland
Format: Talk followed by questions, answers and discussion.
Cost: Free but donations are appreciated
In recent years we have seen a groundswell of belief that religion is a threat to society. God, it is said, is not necessary for an ethical life. But is that the case? Stuart and Jason will explore these ideas to see if we need God to be good.
Jason Kumar is a Bachelor of Arts student at the University of Auckland Student with a passion for philosophy and hermeneutics. Stuart McEwing holds a Bachelor of Design and is currently studying theology at Laidlaw College. Jason and Stuart are the founders of Thinking Matters NZ and recently debated the University of Auckland Atheist Club on the topic they will be speaking on above.
Monday, 3 August 2009
This Week in Auckland
Don't forget:
Tomorrow night's Thinking Matters Auckland Seminar: Dr Matthew Flannagan speaking on "In Defence of Divine Commands"at 7:00pm in Lecture Room 2, Laidlaw College, 80 Central Park Drive, Henderson, West AucklandSee you there :-)
Thursday night's Auckland Bloggers Drinks from 6.30pm at Galbraiths, 2 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, Auckland.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Key and Goff on Family Matters at the 2009 Forum on the Family
The 2009 Forum on the Family is nearly upon us. This year John Key and Phil Goff are slated to face-off, Lord of the NZ Blogosphere, David Farrar, will be making an appearance, details of the rest of this years lineup are on the poster (click on the image if you cannot read it). You can register here and if you do it now you'll get the early-bird rate.
Matt and I have been to the last two Forums on the Family and can thoroughly recommend them as interesting, informative and a great place to network and meet people; at this stage we plan to attend this one.
Matt and I have been to the last two Forums on the Family and can thoroughly recommend them as interesting, informative and a great place to network and meet people; at this stage we plan to attend this one.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Auckland Bloggers Drinks
On the first Thursday of every month, Auckland bloggers gather for the Bloggers Bar Bash:
See you there :-)
What: A social gathering of bloggers and bloupies (those who read, comment on and hang out with bloggers)Open to any blogger who happens to be in Auckland. Regular blogger attendees include those from Annie Fox, Not PC, Interest.co.nz, Lolly Scramble and MandM, others have been known to stop by...
When: 6 August from 6.30pm
Where: Galbraiths, 2 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, Auckland
See you there :-)
Monday, 27 July 2009
Dr Glenn Peoples on Abortion, Morality and Law
Canterbury student group Prolife UC have organised for Dr Glenn Peoples to deliver some free public lectures at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch on Abortion, Morality and Law.
Thursday 30th July 7.30 pm
“Chasing the Justificatory Goalpost: Public Justification and Religious Beliefs”
There is a broad political tradition that we are a part of that we could call “the liberal democracy.” Some modern thinkers allege that in a liberal democratic society like ours, we should not advocate policies or ideas in the public square that are justified by our religious beliefs (e.g. policies on abortion, marriage, education etc). This is because these people advocate a principle of justification, whereby all policies must be justifiable to our fellow citizen in a certain way, and (as everyone knows, of course!) all policies that are justified by our religious beliefs cannot be justified to our fellow citizens in this way. Dr Peoples will look at exactly what this principle of justification is, whether it is any good (he will argue that it needs improvement), and most importantly, will ask whether or not it is really true that policies that have a religious basis really do fail to be justified in this way.
Friday 31st July 7.30pm
“Abortion, Morality and Law”Is abortion immoral, and should it be legal? The abortion controversy is a persistent one in New Zealand that has seen revived interest lately. Dr Glenn Peoples will provide reasons for deeming abortion immoral and for its legal restriction. He will also consider some arguments for abortion rights and explains how to address these, demonstrating that they overlook the fundamental moral issues involved.
Where: A3 lecture theatre, University of Canterbury, Christchurch (map and more info here)
Cost: free but donation appreciated
Dr Peoples completed his doctoral research on Religion in Public life through the University of Otago and runs New Zealand's most popular podcast on philosophy, theology and politics.
Saturday, 25 July 2009
TANSA Faith and Science Conference
Theology and the Natural Sciences in Aotearoa are holding a one day Faith and Science conference entitled “Faithful Science? – Just How Well Do Science and Faith Get Along?”
When: Saturday 1 August, 9am-5pm.
Where: Northcote Baptist Church.
Speakers:
When: Saturday 1 August, 9am-5pm.
Where: Northcote Baptist Church.
Speakers:
Dale Campbell – Science & Faith: Key Issues
Yael Klangwisan – Reading the book of Genesis
Dr Nicola Hoggard Creegan – Evolution and Evil
Dr Myk Habets – A Scientific Theology
Dr Jeff Tallon – Physics and Faith
Dr Matthew Flannagan – Does Evolution Make Belief in God Untenable?
Dr Graeme Finlay – The Glorious Ape
Prof. Neil Broom – Is there Transcendence in Nature?
Dr Graham O’Brien – Evolution & Purpose
Click on the flyer for more:
Dr Ben Witherington in Auckland
Ben Witherington III, is visiting New Zealand to speak at a conference on the Wesleyan Theological Tradition at East City Wesleyan Church Centre, 219 Burswood Drive, Botany, Auckland. The program costs $20 (excluding the Saturday night dinner) and will run as follows:
I'd love to attend the entire thing, however, I am giving my conference paper, "Does Evolution Make Belief in God Untenable?" at The Theology and Natural Sciences Conference on the Saturday and then I'll be joining Madeleine on Waiheke Island for her Grandfather's memorial gathering.
Hat Tip: Thinking Matters Talk
Friday 31 JulyDr Witherington is the Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and is on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. He has authored over thirty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top biblical studies by Christianity Today. Dr Witherington was one of the NT experts consulted by Lee Strobel for The Case for Christ and is an elected member of the prestigious SNTS, a society dedicated to New Testament studies.
7.30 pm The Johnannine Literature: Legacy of the Beloved Disciple: Part 1
Saturday 1 August
1.30 pm The Johnannine Literature: Legacy of the Beloved Disciple: Part 2
7.00 pm Personal Observations about the Church around the Globe. (Ticket price for this session is an additional $20 as it includes dinner).
Sunday Church Services
10.00 am Morning service at East City Church (219 Burswood Drive, Botany, Auckland)
5.45 pm cession|community (The Depot, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga)
More info here.
I'd love to attend the entire thing, however, I am giving my conference paper, "Does Evolution Make Belief in God Untenable?" at The Theology and Natural Sciences Conference on the Saturday and then I'll be joining Madeleine on Waiheke Island for her Grandfather's memorial gathering.
Hat Tip: Thinking Matters Talk
Hear Dr Matthew Flannagan speak on “In Defence of Divine Commands”
You're invited to a Thinking Matters Auckland, God, Morality and Society, event:
In this talk Matt will challenge this line of thought and will demonstrate that this attempt to dismiss God's commands from our consideration of ethical and moral issues is flawed and will explain, in layman's terms, why a Christian should not be intimidated by this argument.
Matt holds a PhD in Theology, a Masters degree in Philosophy. His area of expertise is Philosophy of Religion, Theology and Applied Ethics. He is an adjunct lecturer in Philosophy for Laidlaw College and Bethlehem Tertiary Institute and is currently re-training to be a high school Religious Studies/Philosophy teacher. He has formally debated the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand’s Dr Zoe During and the New Zealand Association of Rationalist Humanist’s Dr Bill Cooke and his publications appear in international journals of philosophy and ethics. He writes for MandM and has nearly 15 years experience teaching, engaging and challenging secular culture both in New Zealand and internationally.
What: Dr Matthew Flannagan speaking on "In Defence of Divine Commands"Are God's commands irrelevant when we discuss moral and ethical questions? Many claim that this is the case and offer the following as an argument against Divine Commands: either an action is right because God commands it or God commands it because it is right; the latter renders God's commands superfluous, if they are right independently of God then God is unnecessary; however, the former renders God's commands arbitrary, if God commanding an action makes that action right then any action could conceivably be right. Given this, they conclude that God and the commands he issues, should be kept out of consideration of our ethical and moral questions.
When: Tuesday 4th August – 7:00pm
Where: Lecture Room 2, Laidlaw College, 80 Central Park Drive, Henderson, West Auckland
Format: Talk followed by questions, answers and discussion.
Cost: Free but donations are appreciated
In this talk Matt will challenge this line of thought and will demonstrate that this attempt to dismiss God's commands from our consideration of ethical and moral issues is flawed and will explain, in layman's terms, why a Christian should not be intimidated by this argument.
Matt holds a PhD in Theology, a Masters degree in Philosophy. His area of expertise is Philosophy of Religion, Theology and Applied Ethics. He is an adjunct lecturer in Philosophy for Laidlaw College and Bethlehem Tertiary Institute and is currently re-training to be a high school Religious Studies/Philosophy teacher. He has formally debated the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand’s Dr Zoe During and the New Zealand Association of Rationalist Humanist’s Dr Bill Cooke and his publications appear in international journals of philosophy and ethics. He writes for MandM and has nearly 15 years experience teaching, engaging and challenging secular culture both in New Zealand and internationally.
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
See William Lane Craig and Christopher Hitchens debate: Does God Exist?
You are invited to a Thinking Matters Auckland, God, Morality and Society, DVD screening:
What: William Lane Craig v Christopher Hitchens debating Does God Exist?
When: Tuesday 21 July – 7:00pm
Where: Lecture Room 2, Laidlaw College, 80 Central Park Drive, Henderson, West Auckland
Format: DVD followed by discussion.
Cost: Free - donations appreciated.
If you were not one of the 4,000 people who got to see it live in April this year at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology and you do not own a copy of the DVD, this is your chance.Atheist commentator, Christopher Hitchens, author of the best-selling God is Not Great and Christian Philosopher and Theologian, Dr William Lane Craig, author of too many things to list here, who packed Auckland University during his debate with Dr Bill Cooke last year, debate the topic: Does God Exist?
Do not miss this screening - you cannot rent this debate at your video store and this debate is not available online so organise your friends, bring your youth group but most of all be there!
Thinking Matters' resident Philosopher of Religion and Theologian, Dr Matthew Flannagan, will be available for Q&A and discussion after the video.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
BOP Bloggers Drinks - Tonight!
Ozy Mandias, Matt and I will be meeting up at Latitude 37, in Mount Maunganui tonight at 7.30pm. Any other Bay of Plenty bloggers or readers are most welcome.
Monday, 29 June 2009
Bloggers Drinks this Thursday
On the first Thursday of every month, Auckland bloggers gather for the Bloggers Bar Bash:
See you there :-)
What: A social gathering of bloggers and bloupies (those who read, comment on and hang out with bloggers)Open to any blogger who happens to be in Auckland. Regular blogger attendees include those from Annie Fox, Not PC, Lolly Scramble and MandM, others have been known to stop by ...
When: 2 July from 6.30pm
Where: Galbraiths, 2 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, Auckland
See you there :-)
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Theology and Natural Sciences Conferences
TANSA (Theology and Natural Sciences in Aotearoa) run conferences in Auckland. As Matt will be speaking, on "Does Evolution Make Belief in God Untenable? – An Examination of the Common Arguments," at the TANSA August Churches Conference, Faithful Science? – Just How Well Do Science and Faith Get Along? I thought I would refer you to their events page so you can check out what other events they have coming up.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Video of Dr Glenn Peoples speaking on Religion in the Public Square
If you missed Dr Glenn Peoples speaking on Religion in the Public Square for Thinking Matters Auckland you can now watch it online.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Tonight: Dr Matthew Flannagan on Moral Relativism
Don't forget tonight's event from the Thinking Matters Auckland series on God, Morality and Society, Dr Matthew Flannagan speaking on Moral Relativism at Laidlaw College at 7pm.
Not sure if its your thing? Check out the video of Matt's talk Apologetics: Answering Objections to the Christian Faith.
Not sure if its your thing? Check out the video of Matt's talk Apologetics: Answering Objections to the Christian Faith.
See you there :-)
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Auckland Bloggers Drinks
This Thursday come to the Auckland bloggers drinks:
What: A social gathering of bloggers and bloupies (those who read, comment on and hang out with bloggers)Open to any blogger who happens to be in Auckland. See you there :-)
When: 4 June from 6.30pm (we usually get there at 7 pm)
Where: Galbraiths, 2 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, Auckland
Friday, 29 May 2009
Dr Matthew Flannagan on Moral Relativism
If you enjoyed the video of Matt's talk Apologetics: Answering Objections to the Christian Faith come and hear him live at the next God, Morality and Society Thinking Matters Auckland event:What: Dr Matthew Flannagan speaking on Moral RelativismA popular view of ethics holds that actions are right or wrong only if a person or a community believes that they are right or wrong, and that it is inappropriate to apply your own standards to others. This position is known as moral relativism. In this talk Matt will look at the common arguments for relativism, argue that relativism is a mistaken view of ethics and show how relativism fails.
When: Tuesday 9th June – 7:00pm
Where: Lecture Room 2, Laidlaw College, 80 Central Park Drive, Henderson, West Auckland
Format: Talk followed by questions, answers and discussion.
Cost: Free but donations are appreciated
Dr Flannagan holds a PhD in Theology, a Masters degree in Philosophy. His area of expertise is the interface between Philosophy and Theology, Applied Ethics and Worldviews. He lectures in History of Philosophy for Laidlaw College and in Sociological Issues in Education for Bethlehem Tertiary Institute and is currently re-training to be a high school Religious Studies/Philosophy teacher. He writes for MandM and has nearly 15 years experience engaging and challenging secular culture both in New Zealand and internationally.
He has formally debated the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand’s Dr Zoe During and the New Zealand Association of Rationalist Humanist’s Dr Bill Cooke; he has been published in several international journals of philosophy and has a personal reference from the then President of the Evangelical Theological Society in his resume.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Video of Matthew Flannagan on Apologetics: Answering Objections to the Christian Faith
Matt spoke at the Thinking Matters Auckland Launch on 8 March 2009 on Apologetics: Answering Objections to the Christian Faith. If you missed it or wish to see it again or if you have been thinking about attending a Thinking Matters seminar or booking Matt as a speaker and you are not sure if he will go over your head then grab a cuppa and sit back and enjoy the below video.
This talk is a great intro into the subject of apologetics and addresses some common objections such as:
This talk is a great intro into the subject of apologetics and addresses some common objections such as:
- It is irrational to believe things that cannot be proven
- It is arbitrary to believe that one particular religion is true
- The existence of evil disproves Christianity
The question and answer section at the end is very good too.
Feel free to pop over to You Tube and rate this video.
RELATED POSTS:
Video of Matthew Flannagan Speaking on Moral Relativism
RELATED POSTS:
Video of Matthew Flannagan Speaking on Moral Relativism
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