Toronto OASIS – Page 27 – Toronto Oasis, Secular Community

Sun Jul 19 – [Online] Desconstructing White Privilege

Please RSVP on meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/hgzwtrybckbzb/

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

Sun Jul 12 – [Online] The Not-So-Intelligent “Design” of the Human Body and Mind

This will be an online Zoom meeting. Please RSVP on our Meetup for this event to get access to the Zoom link. See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions

Our program will run from 11 am to 12:30 pm but you can join in to the meeting starting at 10:45 am. Volunteers please join by 10:30am.

This Sunday our featured presentation will be a YouTube video talk (about 31 minutes long) by Nathan H. Lents about his book “Human Errors”. Dan Cooperstock, who has read the book, will give us a quick intro and facilitate a discussion about the topic after we watch the video together. According to Dan, while the book does not explicitly state that it is a refutation of the “intelligent design” approach of Biblical creationists, it certainly achieves that! Different sections of the book explain the many problems with various aspects of our body, our diet, our DNA, our reproduction, diseases, and mental errors, and the evolutionary explanations for them.

Dan Cooperstock is the Toronto Oasis Treasurer, an atheist Quaker, and a software entrepreneur, writing and selling software for churches and charities.

Please RSVP on meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/hgzwtrybckbqb/

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

Sun Jul 05 – [Online] A Brief History of Nations and Nationalism in Modern Europe (Part 1)

Our program will run from 11 am to 12:30 pm but you can join in to the meeting starting at 10:45 am. Volunteers please join by 10:30am.

Nationalism has been all over the news recently, but what exactly is nationalism, where does it come from and why are so many people ready to defend it with their lives? The purpose of this talk is to introduce the history of an important movement that has affected our modern lives and will continue to affect our world for many years to come.

Our featured speaker on this topic will be Mark Turi. Mark holds a BA from Brock University and studies the History of Nationalism and Revolution in Modern Europe.

Please RSVP on meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/271601062/

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

For Part 2, click here:
https://torontooasis.org/sun-jul-26-online-a-brief-history-of-nations-and-nationalism-in-modern-europe-part-2/

Guest Musician: Pickle Juice Trio

The Pickle Juice Trio is an exploration of rhythms, structures and melodies derived from the blues, gospel and swing music of the mid twentieth century by three musicians who crossed paths in the improvised music scene in Toronto. All three are eclectic musicians who’s playing and influences cross many stylistic boundaries. Arnd Jurgensen has been a prominent contributor to TO’s improvised music scene but here channels influences ranging from Blind Blake to Blood Ulmer with his finger style guitar playing and baritone vocals. Percussionist Bob Vespaziani, also a staple on the improvised music scene, demonstrates his years of experience backing numerous blues and swing performers around town. Last but not least, violinist Cassie Norton with influences from folk, jazz and classical music adds an unusual and intriguing colour to this not so conventional blues trio. Cassie Norton is also the music director of Toronto Oasis.

Speaker: Arnd Jurgensen

Arnd Jurgensen grew up in Germany, received his BA at NYU and MA and PhD from the University of Toronto in Political Science. His research has focused on issues related to development, environment and democratic governance. He has taught in the faculties of Applied Sciences and Engineering, interdisciplinary studies and currently teaches courses on international relations and U.S. Foreign Policy at the University of Toronto. He is also active as an environmental activist and musician.

Speaker: Dr. Sohail

Dr. Sohail was born and raised in Pakistan. After receiving his medical degree from Peshawar University, Pakistan he came to Newfoundland to study psychiatry. After getting his FRCP in psychiatry he moved to Ontario and now practices in his Creative Psychotherapy Clinic in Whitby Ontario. He has published more than 20 books in Urdu and English. His books are available on Amazon Kindle. Check out his website: www.greenzoneliving.ca

Speaker: Phil Cheney

Phil ‘Philosofree’ Cheney is awed by the Cosmos, and excited about human potential. He is a renaissance man who appreciates life, having worked in over 55 countries, including as a university lecturer in his native Australia, Trade leader in Thailand, Government budget consultant in Papua New Guinea, software distributor in Zimbabwe, marketer in Germany, Building Construction in China, farm exporting in Japan and author in his current home in Toronto.

Philosofree is a mystic who is curious about integrating science and the metaphysical. He has published 8 books, 5 CDs of original music and won awards for software design and clinical practice in medicine. His education background includes degrees in Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology. Phil prioritizes his wife, daughters and grandchildren, and loves to sing and dance with them.

Speaker: A. D’Agio

Born in England, A. D’Agio resides now in Toronto, writing poetry and lyrics about humans, and their quirksome relationships with each another. Experience first hand the mind numbing madness https://twitter.com/HumanistPoet or https://www.facebook.com/HumanistPoetAdagio

Speaker: Ryan Zhang

Ryan Zhang graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Toronto majoring in Human Biology and minoring in History. He is currently a second-year student of the Environmental Technology Program at Georgian College and aspires to become a professional in the environmental field when he graduates. He is intensely curious and enjoys keeping fish, learning about nature, listening to history podcasts, and obsessively reading Wikipedia articles for fun.

Guest Musician: Julia Fedec

At 21 years old, Julia Fedec has kicked off her music career with works that have been carried with her for years. For Julia, music has been the outlet through which she explores herself and the world around her – the only outlet that seemed apt to express the beauties and pains of vulnerability, finding inner strength and the complexities of life. Julia only started performing publicly in 2018, and is in the process of writing and recording new music to release.