Join us at 7pm on Sunday, March 4th in Student Building 231 for our weekly discussion meeting!

This week we will discuss something relevant to the future of the SAIU. Which is more important or productive: finding common ground with the religious (coexistence, humanism, etc) or keeping ourselves distinct from them (i.e., promoting the value of a strictly secular society)?

We’ll approach this by discussing the relationship between humanism secularism, and we’ll do this through the lens of inclusiveness (i.e., is secularism inclusive? Is humanism harmful or helpful to the goal of a secular society? Is “Secular” humanism really humanistic? Is “interfaith” and coexistence more important than promoting a secular society, and are the two mutually exclusive?)

We’ll discuss this and more over tea and pastries. Bring food or we’ll have to go to Waffle House afterward to eat.

This Thursday at 7pm in Lindley 102 we will watch the 1979 film Apocalypse Now. IMDb says: “During the on-going Vietnam War, Captain Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade Green Beret who has set himself up as a God among a local tribe.” Besides being a super-famous classic of American film, it has 99% on rottentomatoes.com and is in the National Film Registry. Come watch with us!

The Flying Spaghetti Monster with Adam

Update! The Send an Atheist to Church fundraiser and the Flying Spaghetti Monster Feast combined raised $650 for Doctors Without Borders! Thanks for a great semester of service, everyone!

In case you haven’t heard, SAIU is having a Flying Spaghetti Monster Feast on Friday, April 20th. We will feast in State Room East of the IMU at 6pm. The feast will include copious amounts of spaghetti, dancing to the sweet music of SAIU co-founder Bart J. Helms (End Time Spasm Band), and goodies from the Richard Dawkins Foundation for sale. All proceeds of the event will benefit Doctors Without Borders.

Tickets are $15 for dinner and $25 for dinner + an event t-shirt. Tickets will be available during our community center hours, at regular meetings and events, and at some special times. Watch the website and our Facebook page for more info on tickets. If you visit us in the office to buy your ticket, you can get a special deal on our regular SAIU Shirts! Cash, checks, and credit are accepted forms of payment.

 If you’re on facebook and would like to RSVP  please see the event page here. If not, you may RSVP by emailing secular@indiana.edu

*Have no idea what the heck we’re talking about? Check out the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and read the good word.

SAIU will be volunteering with the Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project on Monday, March 5! As stated on their website, “The Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project is an all volunteer effort that strives to encourage self-education among prisoners in the United States”.

Volunteering is from 7 to 9. However, SAIU members will be meeting at the Sample Gates at 6:45 to offer people rides to the project (located at 118 South Rogers Street). In order to efficiently set up the carpool, please email secular@indiana.edu or comment on the facebook event  if you are able to drive or are in need of a ride!

On the first Friday of every month, the Bloomington Atheists group meets up at Player’s Pub for Atheist Happy hour. Drinks are had, food is eaten, and chat happens. Feel free to drop by anytime between 5:30 and 8pm! If you need a ride to Player’s Pub (424 S. Walnut, on Walnut in between 2nd and 3rd Streets), email secular@indiana.edu and we can arrange one. RSVP on the Facebook event if you wish.

The Chocolate Moose is across the street and opened on March 1st! We will head over there afterward to indulge in dairy-goodness. They have new vegan ice creams too!

This Thursday at 7pm in Lindley 102 we will be watching Limitless (2011). IMDb simply says: “A writer discovers a top-secret drug which bestows him with super human abilities.” As usual, you are welcome to join us after the movie for dinner. RSVP on the facebook event if you wish.

*If you have any requests for future movie nights, feel free to email them to secular@indiana.edu

Members playing Apples to Apples in Halloween costumes!

About once a month the SAIU takes a break from its normally completely serious atmosphere and gathers for board games, card games, mind games, laughter and frivolity. Join us Sunday, February 26th in Student Building 231  for fun and tea. Feel free to bring your own games and snacks.

On Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7pm in Lindley 102, we will watch the 2008 film Doubt, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep. IMDb says: “In a Bronx Catholic school in 1964 a popular priest’s ambiguous relationship with a troubled 12 year old black student is questioned by the school’s principal.”

On Monday, February 20 at 6pm in Fine Arts 015, Hemant Mehta will talk to us about his experiences as a high school math teacher, and the importance of teaching young people how to think critically.  Hemant is an author and the mind behind the popular blog The Friendly Atheist and  also the author of I Sold My Soul on Ebay.We say this about all the talks, but this talk will be spectacular and awesome; don’t miss it.

Many of our activities begin  at7pm, please note that this begins at 6pm!

This week join us to discuss public education. Do we like it? What can be improved? We’ll also delve into critical thinking in schools in preparation for the talk Monday on The Need for Critical Thinking in Schools by Hemant Mehta.

The discussion begins at 7pm in Student Building 231

The Facebook event is here if you would like to RSVP there