Secularism

Please join us this Sunday as we discuss if a secular society can replace the functions of religion (or spirituality), and what this may mean for our lives. We will look at this at both the social and individual level. **We will meet at the Queensberry Hotel, 593 Swanston Street, Carlton (100m north of previous location) at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp.** **We kindly ask attendees to pay $5 to attend to help with MeetUp costs & venue costs. This is not mandatory, but if you are a regular member it would be appreciated. Any extra moneys will go towards buying food and drinks for the table. The venue also expects us to spend money as a group, so grateful if everyone could buy a drink from the venue.** There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged. Find below some questions to consider, however these are free-ranging events and the below serve as a springboard for the discussion: **What might religion offer?** \- Meaning and existential orientation \- Moral formation \- Community and belonging \- Ritual and shared identity \- Authority and moral limits **Is religion needed?** \- Are some countries \(perhaps Australia\, perhaps the Nordic countries\) doing well with a secular society? \- Are they living off the moral inheritance of Christianity? If so\, how long will it last? \- Do we create quasi\-religions instead\, such as nationalism? \- If religion provides useful functions\, can we just replace them with something else? \- Does this question look different elsewhere\, such as in East Asian societies\. **Philosophers to draw upon** \- religion as social glue \(Durkheim\, Tocqueville\, Haidt\) \- religion as psychological response \(Hume\, James\) \- religion as declining foundation of morality \(Nietzsche\, MacIntrye\, Dostoevsky\) \- religion as historical force shaping society \(Weber\, Marx\) \- religion as replaceable or reformable \(Mill\, Comte\, Kant\) Hope to see you there!

Please join us this Sunday as we discuss if a secular society can replace the functions of religion (or spirituality), and what this may mean for our lives. We will look at this at both the social and individual level. **We will meet at the Queensberry Hotel, 593 Swanston Street, Carlton (100m north of previous location) at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp.** **We kindly ask attendees to pay $5 to attend to help with MeetUp costs & venue costs. This is not mandatory, but if you are a regular member it would be appreciated. Any extra moneys will go towards buying food and drinks for the table. The venue also expects us to spend money as a group, so grateful if everyone could buy a drink from the venue.** There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged. Find below some questions to consider, however these are free-ranging events and the below serve as a springboard for the discussion: **What might religion offer?** \- Meaning and existential orientation \- Moral formation \- Community and belonging \- Ritual and shared identity \- Authority and moral limits **Is religion needed?** \- Are some countries \(perhaps Australia\, perhaps the Nordic countries\) doing well with a secular society? \- Are they living off the moral inheritance of Christianity? If so\, how long will it last? \- Do we create quasi\-religions instead\, such as nationalism? \- If religion provides useful functions\, can we just replace them with something else? \- Does this question look different elsewhere\, such as in East Asian societies\. **Philosophers to draw upon** \- religion as social glue \(Durkheim\, Tocqueville\, Haidt\) \- religion as psychological response \(Hume\, James\) \- religion as declining foundation of morality \(Nietzsche\, MacIntrye\, Dostoevsky\) \- religion as historical force shaping society \(Weber\, Marx\) \- religion as replaceable or reformable \(Mill\, Comte\, Kant\) Hope to see you there!

✨ **Do you want to...** * 🫶🏽 Connect with like-minded people in your local community? * 🏋🏽‍♂️ Meet others who are passionate about growing, uplifting themselves, and supporting others? * 🌈 Share insights from your personal journey (or simply listen and learn)? * 🧘🏼‍♂️ Experience a simple yet powerful meditation practice to find calm and clarity? Or maybe you just want to... ☮️💟☯️ **Spend your Sunday evening in a peaceful, zen space and meet some amazing new people?** *** ### **Join us on Sundays!** Let’s come together, share positive energy, and build a warm, supportive local community. **Bring a friend (or two!) and let’s connect.** *** ### **What’s on the evening’s flow?** * **Open meet & greet** – connect and settle in * **Sharing circle** (totally optional!) – share your thoughts or simply listen * **20-30 min guided meditation** – for relaxation and deeper connection *** ### **Everyone is welcome!** All ages (with guardians for under 18), backgrounds, genders, and experiences – no meditation experience needed. The event runs for about **2.5 hours**, but you’re free to come and go as you need. *** ### **What to bring?** * **Donation:** A contribution of **$10 or more is recommended**. Your donations directly help us cover venue costs, provide resources, and keep this meditation community alive and growing. * **Warm jumper/jacket** (just in case!) * **Water** * **Any books/resources/inspiration you’d love to share** *** ### **Where?** 📍 **250 George St, Fitzroy VIC 3065** Enter through the church gates. You’ll see a small garden on the left and stairs on the right leading up to the **Dance of Life Yoga Studio (first door on your right upstairs).** *** ### **Important Notes:** * Spaces are **limited**, so if you can’t make it, please update your RSVP to “Not going” or send us a quick message. * **No-show policy:** To keep it fair for everyone, repeat no-shows without notice may not be able to RSVP in the future. * Attendees under 18 must have a guardian present.

Ayya Yeshe is a visiting nun from the Buddhist tradition. From the Open Sangha website - “Ayya Yeshe Bodhicitta is a Buddhist nun of 21 years, a teacher, contemplative and feminist activist. Ayya is the founder and director of Bodhicitta Foundation, a socially engaged Buddhist charity and girl’s home working to empower ex “untouchable” Ambedkarite people and poor women and children in Central India. Ayya teaches internationally and is the Abbess of Bodhicitta Dakini Buddhist Monastery, Tasmania, Australia. Ayya is the author of “Everyday Enlightenment” published by Harper Collins and has 100k hits on youtube as a sacred chants artist on the album “Dakini.” Ayya trained mainly in Tibetan Buddhism, but was fully ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh and stayed in Theravada monasteries for many years. Ayyas teachers are the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh and Bhante Sujato. She practices a fusion of Tibetan Buddhism and early Buddhism called the Mahayana Forest Tradition.” [www.bodhicitta-monastery.com](http://www.bodhicitta-monastery.com/) (Australia) [www.ayyayeshe.wordpress.com](http://www.ayyayeshe.wordpress.com/) [www.bodhicitta-vihara.com](http://www.bodhicitta-vihara.com/) (India) The discussion will be in Meeting Room 3 at the Kathleen Syme Library, Stefan - 0437777522

## We’re a passionate community of street football Culture lovers who come together regularly to play, connect and celebrate the beautiful games.Our games are friendly, inclusive, and full of energy open to anyone, regardless of age, background, or skill level. Hope you're all doing well. Please see the updated for tonight's games: **Time:** 7:00pm - 10:00pm **Venue:** One Court. **Location: flagstaff gardens courts** **Address:** 309-311 William St, West Melbourne VIC 3003 Please arrive **15 minutes early** to warm up and help with team setup. ⏰ **Kickoff: 7:00 PM sharp** 🕹️ **Game Format** * Maximum **4 teams** * **First to 2 goals wins** and stays on * Teams winning **3 games in a row** must rotate out to give others a chance * Teams that **concede 2 goals** are out (even if under 2 minutes) * Games capped at **7 minutes** if score is 1–0 or a draw * If still tied after 7 minutes → **Penalty shootout** * If final score is **2–1**, game ends immediately * **Goalkeeper Rotation:** Every player rotates into goal **after a goal is conceded.** **👟 What to Bring & Wear** * **Footwear:** Futsal shoes or runners only (artificial turf surface) * **Hydration:** Water fountains available near the courts * **Toilets:** Public restrooms close by courts ( 5 mins walk) * **Valuables:** You are responsible for your own personal items **📢 Important Notes** * Participation is **at your own risk** — no player insurance or on-site medical support provided. * **Respect the game and each other.** * Show good sportsmanship, support everyone’s effort, and **celebrate the winning team.** 📲 How to Book Your Spot [https://forms.gle/f7W9kx1aQvJxDQzT8](https://forms.gle/f7W9kx1aQvJxDQzT8) 📩 **Message us now to book your Place.** **WhatsApp:** [https://whatsapp.com/](https://whatsapp.com/) **Instagram:** [@streetfootballculture](https://instagram.com/streetfootballculture) **Facebook:** [https://www.facebook.com/share/19Vw4Xzbi5/?mibextid=wwXIfr](https://www.facebook.com/share/19Vw4Xzbi5/?mibextid=wwXIfr) 💰 **Fee:** **$10 per player** **Payment Methods:** * PayID * Bank Transfer * **After payment, please take a screenshot and Either: Send it to us Via Message, or show it to us at the court.** **💰 Refund Policy** * **Full refunds are only offered if the event is cancelled (e.g. due to poor weather).** * **If you need to cancel, please give us at least 3 hours’ notice.** * ***🔥 Let’s Play!*** We can’t wait to see you on the pitch, Courts for another awesome Sunday of street-style futsal. Let’s bring the **energy**, the **passion**, and above all — the **heart**. **See you out there!** **#StreetFootballCulture**

**The Telepathy Tapes podcast** brought the ESP abilities of autistic children to the world’s attention, with several studies exploring this association more closely. However, the neurological effects of autism can affect other abilities as well – like present-life memory and even past-life memories. **Jim Matlock and his team are pioneers** in this new cutting-edge field of study - now exploring it more systematically than ever before, with new findings still coming to light. **Some autistic people have outstanding memory** capabilities, while also struggling in other areas. But other autistic people are unable to form the basic episodic memories that underlie autobiographical recall. And research is revealing that the same factors impacting present-life memory can impact past-life memory as well. **In this session, Jim Matlock will discuss** several case studies of autistic children and adults to describe how autobiographical past-life memories can either be suppressed or enhanced under autism. **About Jim Matlock PhD:** * Anthropologist and world-class reincarnation researcher * Creator of the 'Processual Soul Theory' through his comprehensive, multicultural and interdisciplinary approach * 45+ years involvement in parapsychology and reincarnation studies * Editorial Board member of the *Journal of Scientific Exploration* * Editorial Board member of the Journal of Near-Death Studies * Research Fellow with the Parapsychology Foundation, Inc. * Winner of 2021 Parapsychological Association Book Award for Signs of Reincarnation: Exploring Beliefs, Cases, and Theory (2019) * Author of a multitude of academic publications on reincarnation * Curator of top-notch FB group "Signs of Reincarnation" * **Online Option:** While this is billed as an in-person event, there will be online access as well. Just reach out to me via Meetup or [russ.parapsych@gmail.com](mailto:russ.parapsych@gmail.com) **Post-Event Social Lunch Hangout (12.45 - 1.45pm)** Afterwards, you are invited to lunch with everyone at Flora Restaurant (5min walk from the venue) **PLEASE NOTE:** * **11AM Start -** Please be considerate and arrive early. * **$10 Cover Charge:** Room hire, facilities, and running costs.

Join us in our cosy new centre in Carlton North. Whether you are new to meditation or an experienced practitioner you are welcome at these relaxed and informal sessions. Simple instructions are provided and you can sit in a chair or on a cushion. Masks optional but not mandated. Bring your own sealed drink bottle. $10 for workers or $5 for concession. Find out about our Centre's activities Browse our bookshop for books, incense and dharma items. 803 Nicholson Street, Carlton North. Website: https://melbourne.rigpa.org.au/

**The Telepathy Tapes podcast** brought the ESP abilities of autistic children to the world’s attention, with several studies exploring this association more closely. However, the neurological effects of autism can affect other abilities as well – like present-life memory and even past-life memories. **Jim Matlock and his team are pioneers** in this new cutting-edge field of study - now exploring it more systematically than ever before, with new findings still coming to light. **Some autistic people have outstanding memory** capabilities, while also struggling in other areas. But other autistic people are unable to form the basic episodic memories that underlie autobiographical recall. And research is revealing that the same factors impacting present-life memory can impact past-life memory as well. **In this session, Jim Matlock will discuss** several case studies of autistic children and adults to describe how autobiographical past-life memories can either be suppressed or enhanced under autism. **About Jim Matlock PhD:** * Anthropologist and world-class reincarnation researcher * Creator of the 'Processual Soul Theory' through his comprehensive, multicultural and interdisciplinary approach * 45+ years involvement in parapsychology and reincarnation studies * Editorial Board member of the *Journal of Scientific Exploration* * Editorial Board member of the Journal of Near-Death Studies * Research Fellow with the Parapsychology Foundation, Inc. * Winner of 2021 Parapsychological Association Book Award for Signs of Reincarnation: Exploring Beliefs, Cases, and Theory (2019) * Author of a multitude of academic publications on reincarnation * Curator of top-notch FB group "Signs of Reincarnation" **Online Option:** While this is billed as an in-person event, there will be online access as well. Just reach out to me via Meetup or russ.parapsych@gmail.com Here are the Teams meeting details: [Autism and Past-Life Memories - Parapsychology Meetup Melbourne | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams](https://teams.live.com/meet/9353411450149?p=fHMKtHIjiSKrh9ZeA6) Meeting ID: 935 341 145 014 9 / Passcode: 5fj6Cq **Post-Event Social Lunch Hangout (12.45 - 1.45pm)** Afterwards, you are invited to lunch with everyone at Flora Restaurant (5min walk from the venue) **PLEASE NOTE:** * **11AM Start -** Please be considerate and arrive early. * **$10 Cover Charge:** Room hire, facilities, and running costs.

Sunday Evening Meditation 5.30 to 6.30pm Join us in our cosy centre in Carlton North. Whether you are new to meditation or an experienced practitioner you are welcome at these relaxed and informal sessions. Simple instructions are provided and you can sit in a chair or on a cushion. Masks optional but not mandated. Bring your own sealed drink bottle. $10 for workers or $5 for concession. Find out about our activities. Incense and other dharma books and items for sale 803 Nicholson Street, Carlton North. Website: https://melbourne.rigpa.org.au/

Sunday evening meditation from 5.30 - 6.30. Join us in our cosy centre in Carlton North. Whether you are new to meditation or an experienced practitioner you are welcome at these relaxed and informal sessions. Simple instructions are provided and you can sit in a chair or on a cushion. Masks optional but not mandated. Bring your own sealed drink bottle. $10 for workers or $5 for concession. Browse our shop for books, incense and dharma items. Find out what our Centre is offering 803 Nicholson Street, Carlton North. Website: https://melbourne.rigpa.org.au/

**Turn Anxiety and stress into happiness!** Become your natural self again. Discover the drug-free way to a healthy mind. This educational talk is based on the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health by New York Times bestseller author L. Ron Hubbard. Dianetics is an exact science of the mind. In this educational talk you will learn about the hidden source of all irrational thoughts and behavior as well as unwanted emotions (anxiety, fear, depression, apathy) and how to handle them forever. Free entry and free parking. Please send messages to host if you have any question.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Mental Health, how do you understand it? How can you improve it? How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp. This group is hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

ASH is Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists of First Unitarian Universalists of Columbus Ohio TBD Snacks are usually available, and you are welcome to bringing something to share!

Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room. This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us. COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant.

Free at Bexley Library Adventures in Ecological Horticulture with Rebecca McMackin Wednesday, March 18 1:00pm - 2:30pm Gone are the days when a garden could be ornamental alone. We now recognize the impact that our land care practices have on the ecosystems around us, and can see the importance of encouraging biodiversity. Thankfully, we do not need to sacrifice beauty when we invite butterflies and songbirds into our gardens. Rebecca McMackin has cultivated gorgeous landscapes in the toughest environments possible: urban parks, school playgrounds, and the sidewalks of New York City. She will take lessons from her work at Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Museum, and decades of research to share how those of us who are fortunate enough to care for land, can do it beautifully and ecologically. Rebecca McMackin is an ecologically obsessed horticulturist and garden designer. She writes, lectures, and teaches on ecological landscape management and pollination ecology, as well as designs the rare public garden. She is currently Lead Horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society, an Associate with the Harvard Divinity School’s Thinking with Plants and Fungi Initiative, and Consulting Arboretum Curator for Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY. Rebecca spent a decade as Director of Horticulture of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where she managed 85 acres of diverse parkland organically. Their research into cultivating urban biodiversity and ethical management strategies has influenced thousands of people and entire urban parks systems to adopt similar approaches. She has been published by and featured in the New York Times, Gardens Illustrated, on NPR and PBS. Her garden for the Brooklyn Museum recently won the PPA’s Award of Excellence and her TED Talk has been viewed over a million times. She holds M.Sc. from Columbia University and University of Victoria in landscape design and biology and recently completed the Loeb Fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. This program is presented in partnership with Rooted in Bexley and generously funded by the Bexley Community Foundation and Bexley Community Author Series Fund.

Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. We meet in the bar in the room on the right (the cigar shop). You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room. This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us. COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant. *** Did you know that there are atheists everywhere?!?! You may not know it, but we are! We're in your schools, diners, police force, military, government, and some are even still in your churches! So come and join us and meet other local atheists, along with agnostics, heathens, humanists, skeptics, and anyone else who's 'hell bound'! Vision: a Central Ohio that accepts atheism as a viable alternative in all areas of public and private life. Mission: grow, support, and provide community for atheists in Central Ohio. Social meetings held most Tuesdays at a local pub/restaurant at 7:00 PM (and often into the wee hours). Attendees call themselves agnostics, skeptics, humanists, non-theists, deists or even theists. All attendees are welcome but should support our vision. Atheists of Columbus (AoC) is part of Omnipresent Atheists (OA). AoC members are invited to join this OA meetup and/or OA Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/omnipresentatheists/ ) but are free to continue conversations on the AoC Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/columbusatheists/ ). AoC was founded in 2012 as a networking, social group for Central Ohio area humanists, skeptics, atheists, agnostics, nonbelievers, freethinkers, and the curious. It was a member of Columbus CoR and held weekly meetings, mostly on Fridays, for several years but then operated as an online only group for some time. In November 2018, Omnipresent Atheists (OA), a group that routinely meets on Tuesdays, invited AoC to merge. Omnipresent Atheists is a member of the Columbus Coalition of Reason (ColumbusCoR.org). Omnipresent Atheists is a member of the Columbus Coalition of Reason ( http://www.ColumbusCoR.org ). Omnipresent Atheists endorses the mission of the Secular Coalition for America ( http://secular.org ).