AFA Convention Speakers A quick reference guide with

AFA Convention Speakers A quick reference guide (with thanks to wikipedia)

Friday Night

Catherine Deveny a. Standup Comedian b. Left-wing columnist for The Age newspaper c. Has had many tv and radio appearances d. Will be doing her onewoman show "God Is Bullshit, That's The Good News" for the Melbourne comedy festival (and us!).

Sue-Ann Post a. Self described as "Australia’s favourite six foot, lesbian, ex-Mormon, diabetic, comedian and writer" b. Topic: "Twenty Years of Kicking God in the Shins"

Mark Tier a. Writer b. Businessman c. His expertise is in economics and writing d. Topic: An Atheist in the Kingdom of God

Saturday

Phillip Adams a. Host of Late Night Live on ABC radio b. Writes for The Australian c. Satirist d. Writer

Taslima Nasrin a. Physician b. Writer c. Feminist d. Human rights activist e. Critic of Islam who is now living in excile f. Topic: My Struggle For Secularism, Human Rights, Freedom Of Expression And For Women's Freedom

PZ Myers a. Biology professor in Minnesota b. Famous ID Critic c. Writer of the popular science blog Pharyngula d. Topic: The Inescapable Conflict Between Science and Religion

AC Grayling a. Esteemed British philosopher b. Looking at the relationship between the mind and the world c. Writes a column in the Guardian paper d. Topic: Atheism, Secularism, Humanism: Three Zones of Argument

Max Wallace a. Advocate of secularism in Australia and New Zeland b. Topic: The Delusion We Pay For: How Taxpayers Subsidise Religion Worldwide And Why We Need A Film To Expose This

Russell Blackford a. Australian writer and editor b. Philosopher, dealing with bioethics, law and religion c. Talk deals with how individuals can work to reduce religion's influence on society d. Topic: Freedom From Religion: Atheists for Individual Liberty

Tamas Pataki a. Expertise is in Philosophy b. Topic: Atheism, Humanism And Empiricism

John Perkins a. An economicist studying resource depletion and models of global warming b. President of the Secular party c. Topic: The cost of religious delusion: Islam and terrorism

Stuart Bechman a. President of Atheist Alliance International b. Has worked as a business consultant c. Has a masters in sociology with an emphasis on religion

Panel of Women a. Maggie Millar (actress) a. Chair of the panel b. Topic: Leaving the Father's House: Why Saying Goodbye to God is Good News for Girls and Women. b. Lyn Allison (politician), c. Tanya Levin (ex-hillsong) d. Dr Leslie Cannold (bioethicist, writer, commentator) a. Topic: Atheism or secularism? Picking our fights and watching our backs. e. Jane Caro (author, social commentator, columnist)

Saturday Night Dinner

Simon Taylor A magician whose show demonstrates his ability to influence behavior, detect lies and infers thoughts.

Non. Stamp. Collector A youtube publisher who will discuss how youtube has provided a forum for religious debate online, especially for those without degrees.

Craig Reucassel and Julian Morrow The Chaser boys, involved in Australian media and comedy for many years.

Sunday

Peter Singer a. Philosopher and ethicist b. Advocate of animal rights c. Advocate of secular morality d. Topic: Ethics Without Religion

Dan Barker a. Former evangelical pastor and missionary b. Now an Atheist. . . of course : ) c. Topic: Godless: How An Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists

Robyn Williams a. Science journalist b. Presents radio national's science show c. Has also appeared on TV and written numerous books d. Topic: In-depth Musings On Existence and Atheism

Ian Robinson a. Has worked in the fields of philosophy and education b. Talk attempts to derail attempts to defend against Dawkin's destruction of a personal god c. Topic: Defending Dawkins from the ‘Post-ontological’ Theologians: An exposé of metaphysical gobbledygook.

Jamie Kilstein An up and coming comedian.

Kylie Sturgess a. Perth's very own star attraction : ) b. Skeptic zone presenter c. Author of the blog podblack cat d. Researcher of paranormal belief in women e. Topic: Sex and Skepticism: a Study of Belief in Australian Women

Richard Dawkins a. The Headliner!!! b. Really needs no introduction - books include The Selflish Gene, The God Delusion, The Blind Watchmaker and in 2009 The Greatest Show on Earth. c. Also made the miniseries The Root of All Evil?