About us
The Existentialist Society is for those who question whether life has a meaning and a purpose. And for those who despairingly ponder whether one can live without self-deception or without hedonistic escapism. Yet who, despite the anguish of life's futility and meaninglessness, still seek purpose and an authentic existence.
The Existentialist Society is for those who are fascinated by the ideas of Simone de Beauvoir, Nicholas Berdyaev, Martin Buber, Rudolph Bultmann, Albert Camus, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Viktor Frankl, Martin Heidegger, Karl Jaspers, Franz Kafka, Nikos Kazantzakis, Soren Kierkegaard, R.D. Laing, Gabriel Marcel, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Max Stirner, Paul Tillich, Colin Wilson, etc.
'Existentialism' is an umbrella term covering diverse and often conflicting schools of thought. Consequently we are not agreed on who or what is an Existentialist; we simply agree to disagree.
Inspired by the Student Revolt of the late Sixties, the Existentialist Society commenced in 1971.
LECTURES take place at 2pm on the first Saturday of the month.
All are welcome. Participation is free.
NOTE: Due to the pandemic, our physical in-person Meetups and lectures were cancelled. All the lectures are now online via Zoom. This enables participation by those interstate and overseas.
Following our monthly lecture, during the extended question and discussion period, additional comments are encouraged from those of our participants who might have more knowledge than the speaker on particular aspects of the topic, as well as from those who have an alternative viewpoint.
Sometimes our lecture topics have no direct bearing upon Existentialism. The speakers on such topics may or may not be conversant with Existentialism.
The Existentialist Society has no formal membership, so there is no membership fee.
See the Existentialist Society website for future lectures, past transcripts and videos etc: www.existentialistmelbourne.org
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@existentialistsociety8453
Facebook: Please feel free to comment on the lectures: -
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066617594761
Upcoming events
10
Harari's Humanist Horror Story: Why History Matters.
·OnlineOnlineATHEIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
Leslie Allan (Rational Realm) will present the topic and lead the discussion.
"HARARI'S HUMANIST HORROR STORY:
- WHY HISTORY MATTERS."~ You may have been enthralled with Harari’s sweeping history of humankind in his Sapiens and Homo Deus. But even an acclaimed best-selling author can get the story terribly wrong—and in ways that do real damage to reputations. In this talk, Leslie Allan subjects Harari’s retelling of humanist history to critical scrutiny.
Did humanism really fracture into three warring sects, giving us Stalin’s gulags, Hitler’s Holocaust and rapacious capitalism? Leslie disentangles Harari's many confusions and shows what the historical record actually tells us about humanism and its legacy.
This talk will be of particular interest to atheists, agnostics and other non-believers, as it challenges Harari’s claim that abandoning belief in God historically led humanity to make a god of Homo sapiens. ~
Wikipedia on Yuval Harari
ZOOM Link will eventually appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 863 7677 0369 - - Passcode: 262493
Don't be deterred if you are late -
Join the event at any time.The Atheist Society welcomes ALL viewpoints, including criticism of Atheism.
Enquiries: atheist7agnostic@gmail.com
Facebook and Website and Meetups for past and future Atheist Society activities.
30 attendees
Can Existentialism Save Christianity?
·OnlineOnlineEXISTENTIALIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
An online presentation, followed by discussion. All viewpoints welcome.
Dr. Paul Tonson will present the topic and lead the discussion.
"CAN EXISTENTIALISM SAVE CHRISTIANITY?"
Wikipedia on Progressive Christianity
ZOOM Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 867 2669 8505 - - Passcode: 560485
Don't be deterred if you are late - Join the event at any time.Existentialist Society's Website - - - Youtube - - - Facebook
16 attendees
The Outrageous Good Fortune of Living.
·OnlineOnlineAGNOSTICS GROUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
"THE OUTRAGEOUS GOOD FORTUNE OF LIVING".
Jackie Bailey will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Jackie Bailey is an author, celebrant, public-speaker,
and non-religious interfaith minister.Spirituality is not exclusive. It's for everyone. Whether you're wearing a cross, a hijab or nothing at all, we all search for meaning. But how do we find it? And how can we build a world that embraces all paths to the divine however we define it and however we live it?
Jackie Bailey's book, The Outrageous Good Fortune of Living, is a guide for the curious, the questioning, the grateful and the hopeful, exploring how life itself can be sacred, wild and extraordinary - no matter who you praise or whether you praise no one at all.
The Agnostics Group discusses the pros and cons of Agnosticism.
They welcome ALL viewpoints, including criticism of Agnosticism.Agnostics Group Facebook
The ZOOM Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 828 4215 9126 - - Passcode: 889916
Don't be deterred if you are late.
Join the event at any time.Existentialist Society:
Website - - YouTube - - Weekly Zoom Meetups17 attendees
The Nubian Pharaohs impact on Biblical History.
·OnlineOnlineEXISTENTIALIST MEETUP - Melbourne, Australia.
History of Religion - Our monthly online Meetup presentation.
The presentations are followed by questions, comments and discussion. All viewpoints are welcome.Early Religion: An Alternative History
What do the historians and archaeologists think of the veracity of religious legends? Legends are an amalgamation of history and mythology. But how much of each?"THE NUBIAN PHARAOHS IMPACT ON BIBLICAL HISTORY."
When the Assyrian Emperor, Sargon II, was killed battling the Cimmerians in Anatolia in 705 BC, Egypt's Pharaoh Shabaka of the Nubian 25th Dynasty, decided to attempt to regain the 'New Kingdom', the old Egyptian Empire. He found an ally - King Hezekiah of Judea.
The new Assyrian Emperor, Sennacherib, defeated Egypt's northward advance and laid siege to Jerusalem. But the 'Angel of the Lord' visited and 185,000 besiegers lay dead. (2 Kings 19:35). The Assyrians fled.
However, the ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, suggested that it was probably the plague.David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Background reading for those interested in doing so:
Wikipedia's entry on the Nubian 25th Dynasty of Egypt
Wikipedia's entry on the Neo-Assyrian Empire
"The Bible Unearthed" by Israel Finkelstein, Professor of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University and his historian colleague, Neil Asher Silberman.
YouTube Audiopedia summary of their book.The Zoom link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 886 6237 0205 - - Passcode: 005250
Don't be deterred if you are late. Join the event at any time.Existentialist Society's Website - - - Facebook - - - YouTube
12 attendees
Past events
521
