Browse through our past events
When?
Tuesday, November 18 at 7:30PM
Where?
The Park5-9 Hotel Street
Leicester
LE1 5AW
Who?
David Allen Green
What's the talk about?
This talk will address, in an objective and balanced manner, how the law deals with certain controversial issues of belief and non-belief. Prompted by recent developments, the talk will explore whether the courtroom is really the appropriate forum for settling disputes that relate to controversial issues of belief and non-belief.
For example, the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951, the last remnant of the old witchcraft legislation, was repealed in May 2008. Mediums and psychics are now be under a new and modern legal regime in respect of any unfair commercial practices. But how do these new sanctions work in practice? Are mediums and psychics who adopt questionable practices more or less likely to face legal action?
The ancient common law offence of blasphemy may also soon be abolished. A recent High Court decision has effectively narrowed its scope in any case. There is the new offence of incitement to religious hatred. But can the legal process really deal with what can be questions of religious dispute?
Other examples of where the law grapples with issues of belief and non-belief include the "Evolution" trials in United States, the Holocaust denial trials, and when religious groups seek to incorporate aspects of religious law into more general legal systems.
The talk will describe and assess these and other legal developments, using practical examples. It will also offer practical suggestions for both skeptics and non-skeptics on how legal regimes may affect them.
David is a solicitor in London with wide experience of the communications, media, and public sector fields. He is the author of the chapters on the restrictions that criminal law places on free speech in the current edition of Law and the Media (http://books.google.com/books?id=n-EbAdB9jzwC). He is also regularly attends (and used to co-organise) Skeptics in the Pub in London.
When?
Tuesday, October 21 at 7:30PM
Where?
The Park5-9 Hotel Street
Leicester
LE1 5AW
Who?
Emma-Louise Rhodes
What's the talk about?
We will examine the brief history of the Spiritualist movement and the growth of it as a mainstream faith in Britain. Phenomena inexorably linked with Spiritualism, such as materialisations, apports and the spirit trumpet will be discussed, along with the functions of the Spiritualist church. The industry behind the movement will also be examined, and the ‘need’ to believe in the unbelievable.
When?
Tuesday, September 16 at 7:30PM
Where?
The Park5-9 Hotel Street
Leicester
LE1 5AW
Who?
Nick Pope
What's the talk about?
Nick Pope will discuss the Ministry of Defence's policy on UFOs, explain how investigations are undertaken and discuss some of the UK's best known UFO sightings. He'll give some new insights into Britain's most famous UFO incident, in Rendlesham Forest, and will discuss his investigation into a case from 1993 which involved liaison with the US Embassy and led to the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff being briefed. Nick will also discuss the MoD's remote viewing study and their involvement in the crop circle mystery. Finally, Nick will talk about the Freedom of Information Act and the programme to release the MoD's archive of UFO files, which began in May 2008.
About Nick Pope
Nick Pope used to work at the Ministry of Defence, where from 1991 to 1994 he was posted to a division where his duties included investigating UFOs. Initially sceptical, his official research and investigation convinced him that the UFO phenomenon raised important defence, national security and flight safety issues. He was particularly interested in cases where the witnesses were pilots or where UFOs were tracked on radar. Nick is now recognised as a leading authority on UFOs and the unexplained.
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When?
Tuesday, August 19 at 7:30PM
Where?
Who?
Prof. Chris French
What's the talk about?
Ever since records began, in every known society, a substantial proportion of the population has reported unusual experiences many of which we would today label as “paranormal”. Opinion polls show that the majority of the general public accepts that paranormal phenomena do occur. Such widespread experience of and belief in the paranormal can only mean one of two things. Either the paranormal is real, in which case this should be accepted by the wider scientific community which currently rejects such claims. Or else belief in and experience of ostensibly paranormal phenomena can be fully explained in terms of psychological factors. This presentation will provide an introduction to the sub-discipline of anomalistic psychology, which may be defined as the study of extraordinary phenomena of behaviour and experience, in an attempt to provide non-paranormal explanations in terms of known psychological and physical factors. This approach will be illustrated with examples relating to a range of ostensibly paranormal phenomena.
About Prof. Chris French:
Chris French is a Professor of Psychology and Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths College, University of London (www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/apru). Anomalistic psychology may be defined as the study of extraordinary phenomena of behaviour and experience, including (but not restricted to) those which are often labelled “paranormal”. It is directed towards understanding bizarre experiences that many people have without assuming a priori that there is anything paranormal involved. He has edited the (UK) Skeptic magazine since 2001. He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the British False Memory Society and the Advisory Board of the Center for Inquiry, London. He has published over 100 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics within psychology. His main current area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. In addition to academic activities, such as conference presentations and invited talks, he frequently appears on radio and television casting a sceptical eye over paranormal claims.
When?
Tuesday, July 15 at 7:30PM
Where?
Who?
Douglas Ellison
What's the talk about?
Websites, the blogsphere, controversial books and the tabloid media love Mars. They tell of the Face on Mars, Cydonia, anomalistic rock formations, spacecraft conspiracies and a coverup to hide 'the truth' about Mars. With half a dozen spacecraft on or around Mars, data is streaming back at an unprecedented rate, adding new layers of detail to our understanding of the Red Planet. Doug Ellison takes you on a tour of the more popular conspiracies and fringe theories, and presents the raw data that tells us the 'Truth about Mars'.
When?
Tuesday, June 17 at 7:30PM
Where?
Who?
Nick Pullar
What's the talk about?
Nick Pullar ran Skeptics in the Pub in London for five years - and in all that time, he didn't drink a drop of beer, or consume any other alcoholic beverage - skeptical?
Nick says skepticism is a useful tool to have in our own mental toolbox to help deal with difficult subjects. Come along to see how skepticism can help understand UFOs, psychic healers and God.
When?
Tuesday, May 20 at 7:30PM
Where?
The Park5-9 Hotel Street
Leicester
LE1 5AW
Who?
Simon Singh
What's the talk about?
Prince Charles is a staunch defender and millions of people swear by it; most UK doctors consider it to be little more than superstition and a waste of money. Welcome to the world of alternative medicine.
Join Simon Singh, as he brings his considerable scientific knowledge and scrupulous impartiality to this most controversial subject and an honest examination of more than thirty of the most popular treatments, such as Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Chiropractic and Herbal medicines.
After completing a PhD in particle physics, Simon Singh joined the BBC and worked as a director and producer on programmes such as Tomorrow’s World and Horizon. He has also presented programmes on Radio 4, BBC4 and Channel 4. He is best known as the author of Fermat’s Last Theorem, The Code Book and Big Bang.