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Service (opening words, reading, closing words). Address was given by Lyn Allison, former Senator and leader of the Australian Democrats. October 5, 2008, Melbourne Unitarian Church

Opening Words

There are many instances of religious persecution and national oppression, some of which lasted for centuries, some of which are on-going today.

Religious Freedom and Persecution

The International Workers Day and Rev. Stephen Fritchman

Crisis? What Crisis?

Dedication

This presentation is dedicated to the Chinese Yangtze river dolphin (also known as "the goddess of Yangtze") which, as of several weeks ago, is now "functionally extinct" [1] following a six week survey that resulted in 0 sightings. The species declined over decades due to a variety of causes, including the building of the Three Gorges Dam, environmental degradation, loss of food supply in the river, electric fishing, noise pollution hunting by humans, and collisions with ships.

It had previously been on the planet for over twenty million years.

An Introduction to Ray Kurzweil

Introduction

This presentation is an elaboration of a talk given in August last year at the Melbourne Unitarian Church on “Role Playing and Religion”. That particular presentation concentrated on the reaction of fundamentalist Christian organisations and individuals to such games. It also provided a convenient opportunity to explain to the congregation what some of their members and others were doing every Sunday after the service.

Purpose of the Presentation

Introduction

Many Unitarian references note in passing the works of Francis David, the founder of the Hungarian Unitarians and the proclamation of Edict of Torda by King John Sigismund Zapolya II, the first time religious freedom was established in modern Europe. These events of the second half of the sixteenth century are however a fascinating story, deserving of more attention, and provide some valuable insights for the treatment and expression of religious views today.

Presentation to The Philosophy Forum, April 18, 2007

1.1 Logic comes from the classic Greek logos (meaning 'word', 'reason' or 'principle'). It is concerned with the validity of inference and demonstration. It is a key component of philosophy along with epistemology and ontology. Logic establishes the correctness of argumentation and judgement[1], almost invariably with deductive reasoning from given axioms. Its greatest strength is the ability to uncover fallacies and its greatest challenge is paradoxes.