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: - www.facebook.com/Existentialist-Society-866984573402226/
Upcoming events
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Gnosticism and Agnosticism: Is there any significant difference?
·OnlineOnlineAGNOSTICS GROUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
"GNOSTICISM AND AGNOSTICISM: IS THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE?"
Bill Hendry will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Wikipedia on Gnosticism
Wikipedia on Agnosticism
The Agnostics Group discusses the pros and cons of Agnosticism.
They welcome ALL viewpoints, including criticism of Agnosticism.The Agnostics Group's introductory statement:
### "Agnosticism, Theism and Atheism."
Agnosticism is about knowledge — an agnostic takes the position that they don't know if any gods exist or not, perhaps that they cannot know if any gods exist or not, and in some cases that no human being can possibly know if any gods exist or not. Saying "I don't know" can indeed be a reasonable answer to the question of what one knows
But neither atheism nor theism address the question of what one knows. They address the question of what one believes.
Theists believe in the existence of at least one god of some sort and atheists don't. That's it, that's all there is to mere theism and mere atheism.
However, both atheists and theists may be agnostics as well. Whether one believes or disbelieves, one may do so in the context of not claiming to know one way or the other. In other words, NOT CLAIMING CERTAINTY.Agnostics Group Facebook
The ZOOM LINK will appear on this page for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 840 4870 3418 - - Passcode: 799049
Don't be deterred if you are late - join the event at any time.Existentialist Society:
Website - - YouTube - - Weekly Zoom Meetups20 attendees
Zarathustra: The Historical Zoroaster?
·OnlineOnlineEXISTENTIALIST MEETUP - Melbourne, Australia.
History of Religion: Our monthly online presentation.
The presentations are followed by questions, comments and discussion. All viewpoints 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?"ZARATHUSTRA: THE HISTORICAL ZOROASTER?"
During the third millennium BC, the nomadic cattle-herders of the steppe-lands north of the Caspian and Aral Seas started moving south. We know them as the proto-Indo-Iranians. Their language was Indo-European.
In the 16th century BC their charioteers invaded India carrying with them their language, related to archaic Sanskrit, as well as their primeval religion. In India this religion eventually became the Vedic and, as such, part of Hinduism and Buddhism.Meanwhile, back in Uzbekistan and Bactria, circa 1400 BC, Zarathustra (Zoroaster) reformed that primeval proto-Vedic religion.
Several centuries later, in 549 BC, Zoroastrianism was utilized as the religious ideology in the formation of the Persian Empire. Ten years later the Empire rescued the Jews from their Babylonian Captivity and sent a number of them back to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple.Over the next few centuries Zoroastrian concepts increasingly influenced Judaism, particularly Judaism's radical elements: the Pharisees, Essenes and Christians.
David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion. He will be presenting his interpretation of the viewpoints of the late Mary Boyce, Professor of Iranian Studies, University of London.
YouTube: David Miller on Zarathustra/Zoroaster
YouTube documentary on Zoroastrianism
The Zoom link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 889 9027 5501 - - Passcode: 355361
Don't be deterred if you are late - Join the event at any time.21 attendees
Jesus Then and Jesus Now.
·OnlineOnlineSEA OF FAITH IN AUSTRALIA (SoFiA) - Melbourne.
Some of us are participating in SoFiA's online event.
Dr. Greg Jenks will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Greg will be introducing us to the issues raised in his book:
Jesus Then and Jesus NowThe ZOOM LINK will appear on this page for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 821 6902 4315 - - Passcode: 180288
Don't be deterred if you are late.
Join the event at any time.~ SoFiA promotes the open exploration of religion, spirituality and the search for meaning. They welcome ALL viewpoints, including Atheism.~
Facebook: 'Sofiatalk' - Please join their ongoing discussions.
22 attendees
Morals, Metaphysics and Naturalism.
·OnlineOnlineEXISTENTIALIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
An online presentation, followed by discussion.
All viewpoints welcome.Leslie Allan will present the topic and lead the discussion.
BIO: Leslie Allan studied history and philosophy at La Trobe University in Melbourne, where he was awarded the David Hume Prize for outstanding achievement in philosophy.
His professional career spanned learning and development, project management and workplace change management.
Now retired, Leslie devotes his time to writing, speaking and humanist advocacy. He previously served as vice-president and secretary of Humanists Victoria and is currently a non-executive director of Humanists Australia.
Drawing on a long-standing concern with the influence of religion on individuals and society, in 2018 he founded Australia's first Ex-Religious Support Network. Leslie’s writings, along with recorded talks on philosophy, religion and humanism, are available at his website: Rational RealmThe Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 832 2887 8258 - - Passcode: 606541
Don't be deterred if you are late - Join the event at any time.14 attendees
Past events
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