Texan Heathens Invade New Zealand

Texan Heathens Invade New Zealand

The New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists in conjunction with the Reason and Science Society at Auckland University will be hosting an evening of discussion on March 10 featuring Matt Dillahunty and AronRa talking about the relationships between magic, skepticism and atheism.

The Atheist Experience is a weekly cable access television show in Austin, Texas geared at a nonatheist audience. Every week they field live calls from atheists and believers alike. The show is made available world wide on YouTube, which has made it and one of its hosts, Matt Dillahunty, an Internet Celebrity. He, along with another YouTube personality, AronRa, who primarily produces YouTube videos about evolution and debunking creationism, will be coming to New Zealand on March 10.

Peter Harrison, NZARH Council member said “Matt and AronRa play a critical role in reaching out and providing support for atheists who feel isolated and alone. They also hold religion up to critical scrutiny and questioning in a way that is both honest and forceful. We are very much looking forward to hosting them."

Joshua Guilbert of the Reason and Science Society said “The purpose of our tertiary intuitions is to analyse and criticize all points of view. I hope to promote a strong debate and contemplation amongst theists, atheist and those who simply have no idea. This type of event is the best way to do this as both Aron and Matt are extremely well versed in the topic, excellent public speakers, fun to listen to and challenge."

The event on March 10 will be open. Both atheists and believers are welcome to come along and participate in discussion.

Date: March 10, 2015 Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Venue: University of Auckland Library, RM LibB15/109B15

About Matt Dillahunty

Matt Dillahunty was the president of the Atheist Community of Austin from 2006 to 2013. He hosts the Austinbased webcast and cableaccess television show The Atheist Experience, and formerly hosted the live internet radio show NonProphets Radio. He is also the founder and contributor of the counterapologetics encyclopedia Iron Chariots and its subsidiary sites.

Raised Southern Baptist, Dillahunty sought to become a minister. His religious studies, instead of bolstering his faith as he intended, led him to no longer believe in Christianity and, eventually, all religions. Dillahunty has spoken at atheist and freethought conferences around the US and debated numerous Christian apologists, including New Zealander Ray Comfort on The Atheist Experience and with David Robertson on Premier Christian Radio's Unbelievable.

About AronRa

AronRa is an atheist YouTuber and activist. His videos focus on biology, with an emphasis on countering creationist claims, and advocating rationalism in science education. He also posts written material on his website LocoLobo. He is the Texas State Director of American Atheists. He was also previously a cohost on the podcast Dogma Debate with David Smalley.

In a seventeen part series of videos AronRa addresses the most popular claims of creationists. The series is highly critical of the methods employed by creationists describing the ringleaders as liars some of whom having a financial interest in the beliefs they're pushing. The series is aimed at the general public, or sheep, who he feels are being deceived by the purveyors of creationist misinformation.

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