Skepticoners!

GUESS WHAT WE HAVE! Speaker talk titles and descriptions for this year! By Thor, we’ve done it. Without further ado, here is what our amazing lineup will be speaking about next weekend:

Laura Thomas: A Skeptic’s Guide to the War on Drugs

Why are some drugs legal and others illegal? Are drugs really winning the war on drugs? An evidence-based look at how we got in this mess and thoughts on how to get out of it.

Carrie Poppy: Everyone’s a Skeptic: Why Setting Yourself Apart as a Critical Thinker is a Mistake

We live in a world of labels: are you a believer, an atheist, a skeptic, a mystic, a conspiracy theorist, a liberal, a conservative, a feminist, an academic? Labels are useful shorthand and often critical in communicating effectively. But the labels of “critical thinker” and “skeptic” can often create unnecessary boundaries and value judgments. Using her five and a half years of immersive investigative journalism among believers of all stripes, from 9/11 Truthers to Scientologists and Mormons, Carrie Poppy examines why she believes everyone is a critical thinker, skeptics are all around us, and the way we describe ourselves matters.

Greta Christina: Practicing Atheism in Everyday Life

So you don’t believe in God. Now what? The way we deal with life can change dramatically when we stop believing in gods, souls, and afterlives. When we leave religion — or if we never had it in the first place — where do we go? How do we deal with love and sex, pleasure and death, reality and making stuff up? How do we decide on our values, and how do we live them?

Dr. Jennifer Raff: The misuse of genetics in pseudoscience

(No description needed!)

Benny Vimes: Maybe He’s Born With It, Maybe It’s Testosterone Cypionate

Benny gives an introduction to medical transition. If you have ever wondered about the medical processes available to transgender people as we transition, here is your opportunity to learn. Benny will cover the medical and surgical options, as well as how people decide which path is right for us.

Margee Kerr: Surrounded by Ghosts: The Science of Sensed Presence

This presentation will cover the environmental, social, psychological, and biological factors which contribute to individuals reporting a “sensed presence”, e.g. feeling like they have had an encounter with a ghost or other paranormal entity. I’ll cover the science of fight or flight, the power of place, and the things in our world that send chills down our spine.

Jerry Dewitt: How non-believers can still help save the world! (If it’s not already too late.)

A discussion of the humanistic (though often unknown at the time) motivations that draw people into religious service and how that love for people can still be used to bring Hope After Faith. Subjects: Religious Humanism vs. Secular Humanism , Ex-ministers and their role in sharing A PRO-future message, Realistic expectation for the future of Civilization, etc

Bridgett ‘Bria’ Crutchfield: Secular Burnout: Walking Away from the Secular Community Guilt Free

Making the right decision for your life when devotion to the Secular Community no longer suffices.

Victor Harris, Jr.: Poetry for Skeptics

Poetry based in science and skepticism highlighting both the folly of christianity and the beauty of a scientific understanding of the natural world.

Rebecca Watson: We have no idea!

No, really. She wouldn’t tell us as she likes to keep it a surprise for us all until she’s literally on stage.

Alix Jules: Tell Me Again You’re not Racist

The lasting power of racist tropes in culture. A look at cultural biases that are immune to both faith and non faith based systems. Does a secular utopia provide an answer?

WOW! We can’t wait to hear these next weekend, what about you? SEE YOU ALL SOON!

Love,

Skepticon

P.s. There is still a matching challenge going on! Donate today and make your contribution count DOUBLE!

 

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