So what can I say to that forum? Hmmmmmm…if I’m going to scale it from 1 to 10…I give it a 9.3. That’s not bad.
Personally I find it quite a success…if only we have more time. But a first is a first isn’t it? So I expect more on future forums. The venue was great! It’s a book store and what best suited freethinkers than a book store. The host was also great. Redtani is not a boring person.
Another great thing about the forum is seeing old acquaintances like Cris Vega and that science writer from …eh…whatever.
So there I was, together with 60+ wild cats, oh and did I mention that I have brought some friends from Luneta? – Mr. Rico, Mr. Noel and Mr. Vale.
There was this game of guessing some pictures of past freethinkers. I think that was an ice breaker. Then Red read some greetings from other freethinkers like Mr. Hemant Mehta (AKA The Friendly Atheist), Mr. Dan Barker of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Mr. Daniel Dennett, American philosopher and author of Breaking the Spell. I like Daniel Dennett’s greeting. That’s the best!
We also gave the credit where the credit was due. Cheers to Dr. Jose Rizal for being a freethinker. I consider myself lucky as a Filipino for we have a freethinker for a national hero.
Then there are the speakers.
The first speaker was sooooo dull. Damn! That nut case was so boring he must be put to sleep!
Uh...hey wait a minute, that’s me?
OK so we proceed to the next speaker (Mr.Geri Villas).
I think the topic was about secular humanism. It was OK…but I got a little uncomfortable when that speaker began to contrast atheism with his secular humanism. Does he want atheists in the audience to be converted in his philosophy? Woah…is there really a comparison between atheism and secular humanism in the first place?
Hmmmmm…Something’s not right. Anyway, before the program, Red told us that if there’s a problem or a debate, we should bring it on the parking lot. So, it was my mistake for not dragging that speaker in the nearest parking lot (Grrrrrrr!).
The third speaker (Ms.Maria Isabel Garcia) was an old acquaintance. It’s a long story so its better not to tell it here (baka mag-iyakan pa tayo!). Anyway, hatchets were buried, right?
I like her speech about science and free thought and how freethinkers must not worship science. That’s good since a lot of atheists here in the Philippines are into science worship. Science is a tool not a divine idol.
I also like the topic about science in the Philippines. Holy crap, are we that low when it comes to science?
Unfortunately, my colleagues from Luneta didn’t get the picture and they thought that she’s saying that freethinkers must not only rely on science because science lacks the capacity of showing us everything that we need to know. OK…OK I also think she’s too moderate to be in conflict with religion, but the forum was about free thought not atheism.
Break time and thanks to Tanya for the cookies and that catering service that Redtani’s wife provided. TSALAP!
The next speaker (Ms. Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio) tackled the Reproductive Bill. Now here’s a real agnostic that is fighting the battle front. I was glad that a lot of people today have accepted the pros of the Reproductive Health Bill and glad she talk about issues and information that have been smeared by the church. She still looking for more volunteers to disseminate the information of the benefit of the Reproductive Health Bill. Hope that someday this Filipino freethinkers group will become active to these kinds of endeavors.
The last speaker (Mr.Benjamin Espina) introduced us to the usefulness of the Internet to the free thought movement here in the Philippines. The issue wasn’t that too techkie...but I doubt if my Luneta friends were able to catch up. I hope someday he will talk about monetizing your blog and how to make Google Adsense more effective and faster (sigh...).
So then…the forum was finish and…hehehe for 15 years of being a freethinker, all I got is this lousy shirt (Joke!) But seriously, I think this was the first time a group of freethinker exposed themselves so other freethinkers will have the courage to come out of the closet. I just hope the next forum; the number of attendance will be doubled.
Mabuhay kayo Filipino Freethinkers!
Personally I find it quite a success…if only we have more time. But a first is a first isn’t it? So I expect more on future forums. The venue was great! It’s a book store and what best suited freethinkers than a book store. The host was also great. Redtani is not a boring person.
Another great thing about the forum is seeing old acquaintances like Cris Vega and that science writer from …eh…whatever.
So there I was, together with 60+ wild cats, oh and did I mention that I have brought some friends from Luneta? – Mr. Rico, Mr. Noel and Mr. Vale.
There was this game of guessing some pictures of past freethinkers. I think that was an ice breaker. Then Red read some greetings from other freethinkers like Mr. Hemant Mehta (AKA The Friendly Atheist), Mr. Dan Barker of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Mr. Daniel Dennett, American philosopher and author of Breaking the Spell. I like Daniel Dennett’s greeting. That’s the best!
We also gave the credit where the credit was due. Cheers to Dr. Jose Rizal for being a freethinker. I consider myself lucky as a Filipino for we have a freethinker for a national hero.
Then there are the speakers.
The first speaker was sooooo dull. Damn! That nut case was so boring he must be put to sleep!
Uh...hey wait a minute, that’s me?
OK so we proceed to the next speaker (Mr.Geri Villas).
I think the topic was about secular humanism. It was OK…but I got a little uncomfortable when that speaker began to contrast atheism with his secular humanism. Does he want atheists in the audience to be converted in his philosophy? Woah…is there really a comparison between atheism and secular humanism in the first place?
Hmmmmm…Something’s not right. Anyway, before the program, Red told us that if there’s a problem or a debate, we should bring it on the parking lot. So, it was my mistake for not dragging that speaker in the nearest parking lot (Grrrrrrr!).
The third speaker (Ms.Maria Isabel Garcia) was an old acquaintance. It’s a long story so its better not to tell it here (baka mag-iyakan pa tayo!). Anyway, hatchets were buried, right?
I like her speech about science and free thought and how freethinkers must not worship science. That’s good since a lot of atheists here in the Philippines are into science worship. Science is a tool not a divine idol.
I also like the topic about science in the Philippines. Holy crap, are we that low when it comes to science?
Unfortunately, my colleagues from Luneta didn’t get the picture and they thought that she’s saying that freethinkers must not only rely on science because science lacks the capacity of showing us everything that we need to know. OK…OK I also think she’s too moderate to be in conflict with religion, but the forum was about free thought not atheism.
Break time and thanks to Tanya for the cookies and that catering service that Redtani’s wife provided. TSALAP!
The next speaker (Ms. Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio) tackled the Reproductive Bill. Now here’s a real agnostic that is fighting the battle front. I was glad that a lot of people today have accepted the pros of the Reproductive Health Bill and glad she talk about issues and information that have been smeared by the church. She still looking for more volunteers to disseminate the information of the benefit of the Reproductive Health Bill. Hope that someday this Filipino freethinkers group will become active to these kinds of endeavors.
The last speaker (Mr.Benjamin Espina) introduced us to the usefulness of the Internet to the free thought movement here in the Philippines. The issue wasn’t that too techkie...but I doubt if my Luneta friends were able to catch up. I hope someday he will talk about monetizing your blog and how to make Google Adsense more effective and faster (sigh...).
So then…the forum was finish and…hehehe for 15 years of being a freethinker, all I got is this lousy shirt (Joke!) But seriously, I think this was the first time a group of freethinker exposed themselves so other freethinkers will have the courage to come out of the closet. I just hope the next forum; the number of attendance will be doubled.
Mabuhay kayo Filipino Freethinkers!
Thank Darwin for YouTube! Hahaha!
This is me talking about Freethought and the Filipino Grassroot.
More on the First Filipino Freethinkers Forum...Click here!
Until the next forum,
John the Atheist
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