Archive for category Skeptics in the Pub
Church Of Fear : Inside The Weird World Of Scientology
Posted by Mike in Skeptics in the Pub on March 21, 2013
When: Thursday, May 16th, 2013 8.00 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Head of Steam, 7 Lime Street, Liverpool
Tom Cruise and John Travolta say the Church of Scientology is a force for good. Others disagree. Award-winning journalist John Sweeney investigated the Church for more than half a decade. During that time he was intimidated, spied on and followed and the results were spectacular: Sweeney lost his temper with the Church’s spokesman on camera and his infamous ‘exploding tomato’ clip was seen by millions around the world.
John Sweeney tells the story of his experiences for the first time and paints a devastating picture of this strange organisation, from former Scientologists who tell heartbreaking stories of families torn apart and lives ruined to its current followers who say it is the solution to many of mankind’s problems.
Electric cars? They’re rubbish aren’t they?!
Posted by Mike in Skeptics in the Pub on February 21, 2013
by Robert Llewellyn
When: Thursday, March 21st, 2013 8.00 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Head of Steam, 7 Lime Street, Liverpool
Nothing but glorified golf carts that take forever to charge and then run out of power on the way to the shops. Try finding somewhere to charge them. They cost a fortune to buy and another fortune to replace the battery when its range drops to half. You don’t want to believe all that nonsense about them being environmentally-friendly. They are actually worse than petrol-powered cars because the batteries are made from dirty lithium and use electricity made from dirtier coal. There isn’t even enough lithium in the world to make all the new batteries we’d need anyway. Electric cars are just rubbish. Aren’t they? – Robert says no. This evening he’ll tell us why he thinks we need to put away our prejudices and think seriously about electric vehicles as the future of transport.
The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories
Posted by Mike in Skeptics in the Pub on January 17, 2013
by Rob Brotherton
When: Thursday, February 21st, 2013 8.00 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Head of Steam, 7 Lime Street, Liverpool
Why do some people believe unproven and implausible conspiracy theories? What’s the harm if they do? And just what is a conspiracy theory, anyway? Rob Brotherton provides a psychological perspective on the peculiar phenomenon of conspiracy theorising.
Rob Brotherton is a doctoral researcher at Goldsmiths, University of London. His ESRC-funded PhD concerns the measurement and cognitive correlates of conspiracist ideation. Rob is Assistant Editor of The Skeptic, the U.K.’s longest running sceptical magazine (www.skeptic.org.uk). Rob blogs about the psychology of conspiracy theories at www.ConspiracyPsych.com.
Skeptics in the Pub: tonight!
Posted by Mike in Skeptics in the Pub on January 17, 2013
In a last-minute change to our scheduled programming – this evening’s talk will now be presented by Dr Geraint Parry on the “Future food: Why GM is Important!”.
Geraint is a plant biologist and researcher at the University of Liverpool. He has had papers published in Nature Cell Biology, PNAS and Plant Cell.
NOTE: This event replaces our advertised talk from Andy Lewis on Steiner Schools, which has unfortunately been post-poned due to circumstances beyond our control.
Dr Geraint Parry: Future food – Why GM is Important!
Posted by Mike in Skeptics in the Pub on December 20, 2012
When: Thursday, January 17th, 2013 8.00 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Head of Steam, 7 Lime Street, Liverpool
In a last-minute change to our scheduled programming January’s talk will presented by Dr Geraint Parry on the “Future food: Why GM is Important!”.
Geraint is a plant biologist and researcher at the University of Liverpool. He has had papers published in Nature Cell Biology, PNAS and Plant Cell.
NOTE This event replaces our advertised talk from Andy Lewis on Steiner Schools, which has unfortunately been post-poned due to circumstances beyond our control.
Andy Lewis: What Every Parent Needs To Know About Steiner Schools
With Michael Gove and the coalition approving new Steiner Schools to open under the Free School Programme, it is timely to look closely at the origins and beliefs of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of the occult movement of Anthroposophy. Steiner was a mystic who believed he had direct clairvoyant access to cosmic knowledge. As such he developed an esoteric belief system based on karma, reincarnation, astrology, homeopathy and gnomes. His visions gave insights into architecture, art, dance, agriculture, medicine, education, science and diet. His racial hierarchy of spiritual developmental resonated in Germany in the early 20th Century turning a personal belief into a worldwide movement. Today we find hundreds of anthroposphically inspired organisations in the UK alone: everything from Steiner Schools, Biodynamic farms to banks, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies, charities and cheese makers.
Andy Lewis has been trying to lift the veil on the inner secrets of the movement and will discuss how this secretive movement has direct impact on public life. He is the developer of the web site quackometer.net, which explores the pseudo-medical claims of alternative medicine web sites and their impact on society.
Mike Hall: The Nativity
Posted by Mike in Skeptics in the Pub on November 15, 2012
When: Thursday, December 20th, 2012 8.00 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Head of Steam, 7 Lime Street, Liverpool
Herod, shepherds, stables and kings–every schoolchild knows the story of the Nativity… or do they? Mike Hall takes a critical look at the Nativity story presented in the New Testament. It may not be quite as familiar as you think.
Mike Hall is the president of the Merseyside Skeptics Society and presenter of the Skeptics with a K podcast. His particular interests are the existence of God, alternative medicine, logic and Doctor Who. He once appeared on the Sky One game show “Are You Smarter Than A Ten Year Old?”. He wasn’t.
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