About us
Serious Learning for Serious Atheists
Atheist Scholars Meetup is a monthly book club for Atheists who are serious about learning from a free-thinking, post-religious, and atheistic perspective, while building long-term friendships.
We don't admit people who don't self-identify as Atheists. Our group is for those who have already completed their journey to atheism and are building upon it as an intellectual foundation.
If you self-identify as an Atheist, you are invited to apply for membership by clicking on the link below. Meetings are now held online on the 4th Tuesday of every month, from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. The required membership dues are $25 every six months to cover the Meetup.com subscription cost.
Our meeting format consists of a review and discussion of a selected book that has a strong appeal to Atheists in a rich context of science, philosophy, sociology, history, and/or psychology. All books will have a distinct atheistic or free-thinking perspective, i.e., they were written by and for Atheists or “Nones”. This is not a science or philosophy book club. A book based solely on a scientific or philosophical topic might be very interesting but does not serve the purpose of our Atheist Scholar Meetup.
In fairness to everyone attending who expects to have a meaningful discussion and productive learning experience, you must have read the chosen book prior to attending each meeting. We want active participants who can add to our discussion. Most books chosen are also available as audiobooks.
The next book we read is chosen by consensus among those members attending the prior meeting.
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Calling oneself an Atheist is just the beginning, not the end, of a life-long journey of learning, dialog, and discovery. The Atheist Scholars Meetup group raises the standard among local Atheist groups by building a private membership focused on serious learning in a harmonious environment. By “Scholars”, we mean serious students of Atheism. Maybe you have been reluctant to join an Atheist group in the past or maybe you are just not interested in what the other groups in our area have to offer.
Atheist Scholars is for those who appreciate the value of exchanging ideas with a like-minded group and who enjoy asking “why” more than claiming to know “because.” It’s for committed lifelong learners looking for an impressive group of smart friends to share in intellectual discussions in a supportive atmosphere.
If you call yourself an Atheist, are a lifelong learner who is not gullible enough to believe in conspiracy theories, and you see the benefits of a Meetup group that offers serious book discussions with order and civility, please apply for membership in Atheist Scholars.
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If you wish to apply to join the Atheist Scholars Meetup group, click on the button below or click here. If you have questions about our group, please visit our FAQ page.
Norm Cohen
Founder and Organizer
If you are interested in learning more about the many topics related to Atheism, ***[www.AtheistScholar.org ](http://www.atheistscholar.org/)***is an excellent resource for you!
Upcoming events
1
"Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness & the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria"
·OnlineOnlineHavana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria
2020
by Robert W. Baloh and Robert E. Bartholomew
Springer International Publishing
190 pages plus endnotes
9 hrs 3 min audio
https://www.amazon.com/Havana-Syndrome-Psychogenic-Illness-Hysteria/dp/3030407454/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0book preview:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/GhkxzQEACAAJ?hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjv5dzH55qUAxVXk4kEHY63KKMQre8FegQIEhAI"It is one of the most extraordinary cases in the history of science: the mating calls of insects were mistaken for a 'sonic weapon' that led to a major diplomatic row. Since August 2017, the world media has been absorbed in the 'attack' on diplomats from the American and Canadian Embassies in Cuba. While physicians treating victims have described it as a novel and perplexing condition that involves an array of complaints, including brain damage, the authors present compelling evidence that mass psychogenic illness was the cause of “Havana Syndrome.”
This mysterious condition that has baffled experts is explored across 11 chapters, which offer insights by a prominent neurologist and an expert on psychogenic illness. A lively and enthralling read, the authors explore the history of similar scares from the 18th-century belief that sounds from certain musical instruments were harmful to human health, to 19th-century cases of “telephone shock,” and more contemporary panics involving people living near wind turbines that have been tied to a variety of health complaints.
The authors provide dozens of examples of kindred episodes of mass hysteria throughout history, in addition to psychosomatic conditions and even the role of insects in triggering outbreaks.
Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria is a scientific detective story and a case study in the social construction of mass psychogenic illness."
-- from the Publisher
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NOTE:
In fairness to everyone attending who expects a meaningful discussion and a productive learning experience, you must have read or listened to this entire book in order to attend this meeting.NOTE:
For this video conference, you must have a computer with a camera, microphone, and speakers, or a headset. We are using Microsoft Teams to host this meeting.Download and install Microsoft Teams here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app
A free Microsoft account is required if you don't already have one:
https://signup.live.com/signupYOU MUST RSVP TO SEE THE LINK that is required to join our online meeting.
Find answers about Microsoft Teams here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/introducing-microsoft-teams-free-bba89850-d946-43f8-a9ea-e742cdc0128c***
About the Author
Robert W. Baloh, MD is a neurologist and a Professor of Neurology at Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles, CA. Author of 11 books and over 300 articles in peer-reviewed science journals, he is a pioneer in the study of the vestibular system: the part of the inner ear which helps people to maintain their sense of balance and spatial awareness.
Robert Bartholomew is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland. He holds a Masters Degree in sociology from The State University of New York at Albany and a Ph.D. in sociology from James Cook University in Queensland, Australia. He has published over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, The British Medical Journal, and The Medical Journal of Australia. He is the author of 15 books.
Book Review
"As a skeptic, I feel obligated to admit that Baloh and Bartholomew could well be wrong. It is not absolutely impossible that eventually a highly advanced weapon or weapons (breaking the laws of physics as we currently understand them) will come to light that can actually cause all of the unrelated symptoms termed Havana Syndrome.
. . .
But unless and until credible evidence is found that any of those unlikely possibilities are true, the more rational assumption is that Havana Syndrome represents just the latest case of mass psychogenic illness. The likely truth seems to be, as the authors describe it: “Havana Syndrome” is actually “the story of how much of the world came to believe in something that never happened.”Rob Palmer
Havana Syndrome: A Book Review
May 2022
Skeptical Inquirer2 attendees
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