Tag Archives: religion

Festival of Ideas talks 2017

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Curiouser and Curiouser: A Quest for Truth

Psychologist Dulamdary Enkhtor explores the idea of truth through the lenses of neuroscience, spirituality, physics, mathematics, arts, mysticism and the Baha’i Writings.

Dr. Dulamdary Enkhtor has worked in her native Mongolia, as well as the UK, USA, Sweden, Czech Republic, Vietnam, India, Israel, Namibia, Indonesia and Serbia for a range of organisations including the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, and Emory University. Currently she is global organisational effectiveness consultant at Roche, Switzerland. She holds a PhD in Psychology and an MSc in Development Studies, and carried out her undergraduate studies in Social & Political Sciences and Modern & Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge.

Organised by Sidney Inspirations Society and the Cambridge University Baha’i Society

Can Truthfulness and Integrity Be Taught and Nurtured?

Truthfulness and honesty are the foundations of a cohesive and progressive society. But can these virtues be taught and nurtured in the classroom? A talk by Geoff Smith and Nita Forouhi.

Talk and discussion, 6-7 pm. Followed by live music on virtues-based themes for those who wish to stay.

Organised by Sidney Inspirations Society and the Cambridge University Baha’i Society

About the speakers:

Geoff Smith is a Head Teacher who has introduced innovative character development programmes in UK schools. He is on the executive team of the Association for Character Education and was part of the advisory group for the ‘Framework for Character Education’, a resource for schools produced by the University of Birmingham.

Professor Nita Gandhi Forouhi from the University of Cambridge draws on the example of the largest school in the world, in Lucknow, India, inspired by Gandhi and the teachings of the Baha’i Faith. The only school in the world to have been awarded the UNESCO prize for peace education, the City Montessori School aims to impart values based education.

Belief in Science & Belief in God

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Belief in Science & Belief in God: A Scientist’s Perspective on “New Atheism”

Talk and Q&A Session with Canadian physicist Dr. Dinesh Singh

Eye_earth
Wednesday, 26 February 2014, 7.30 pm – 9:30 pm
Friends Meeting House (Aldren Wright Room)
12 Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BA

The modern-day proponents of atheism, such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Lawrence Krauss have gained the public’s imagination regarding their claims that God does not exist and that organized religion is harmful to the human race.  They also claim that “no evidence” exists whatsoever to support the presence of God in human experience, suggesting on scientific grounds that the need for a Divine Creator is a “failed hypothesis.”  Furthermore, they contend that holding a belief in God is a “delusional” act with disastrous consequences for global society on multiple fronts.

According to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, science and religion are both complementary and necessary for the progress of humanity into the future.

In this presentation, Dr. Dinesh Singh offers interested people the opportunity to thoughtfully consider his professional and personal response to the “new atheism” of Dawkins and others with examples from theoretical physics to suggest that “belief” within science is not fundamentally different from “belief” within religion, and that the main conclusions drawn by these atheists about the science and religion debate need to be thoroughly re-examined.

Dinesh Singh, Ph.D. is a Canadian research scientist in theoretical physics at the University of Regina, Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, and a member of the Bahá’í Faith.

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Talk on 21 Nov “Man’s Station in the Universe”

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Man’s Station in the Universe: A Scientist’s Spiritual Journey

A talk by Dr. Mehrdad Ehsani

Abstract
The Universe is very simple: it is mostly made of hydrogen, helium and energy.  However, the earth contains amazing complexity that is nearly unique in the universe.  Exceptional circumstances have made possible organic chemistry and life on earth, leading to the most complex structure in the universe: the human brain.  The energy consumption of the human brain per kilogram is 100,000 times the energy per kilogram that our sun can produce.  The purpose of this miraculous combination of events is human consciousness and spiritual awareness.  We will explore this physical-spiritual phenomenon in this talk.

When
Thursday, 21st November, 7-8:30pm
Latimer Room, Old Court, Clare College

The Speaker
Dr. Mehrdad Ehsani is a professor of sustainable energy engineering at Texas A&M University.  He has won numerous U.S. and international honors and awards, and he is the Distinguished Lecturer of several professional societies.  He is the co-author of 17 books, over 350 publications, over 20 patents, and has given numerous invited talks around the world on energy systems, spiritual aspects of technology, and the convergence of scientific and spiritual search over the past three decades.

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Talk on 4th July “Belief in Science & Belief in God”

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Belief in Science & Belief in God: A Scientist’s Perspective on “New Atheism”

Belief_Science_God

Talk and Q&A Session with Canadian physicist Dr. Dinesh Singh

Thursday, 4 July 2013   7.30 pm
Latimer Room, Old Court, Clare College
Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TL

The modern-day proponents of atheism, such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris have gained the public’s imagination regarding their claims that God does not exist and that organized religion is harmful to the human race.  They also claim that “no evidence” exists whatsoever to support the presence of God in human experience, suggesting on scientific grounds that the need for a Divine Creator is a “failed hypothesis.”  Furthermore, they contend that holding a belief in God is a “delusional” act with disastrous consequences for global society on multiple fronts.

According to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, science and religion are both complementary and necessary for the progress of humanity into the future.

In this presentation, Dr. Dinesh Singh offers interested people the opportunity to thoughtfully consider his professional and personal response to the “new atheism” of Dawkins and others with examples from theoretical physics to suggest that “belief” within science is not fundamentally different from “belief” within religion, and that the main conclusions drawn by these atheists about the science and religion debate need to be thoroughly re-examined.

Dinesh Singh, Ph.D. is a Canadian research scientist in theoretical physics at the University of Regina, Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, and a member of the Bahá’í Faith.

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Fireside this Saturday with pot-luck dinner: Religion, A Cause of Unity or Disunity?

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Dear friends,

The fireside series at my home continues this Saturday, 2 March, 5:30 pm pot-luck dinner + 7 pm talk, with a discussion on the topic, “Religion, A Cause of Unity or Disunity?” We will examine how religion has been a cause of disunity, but at the same time a powerful source of unity contributing to the progress of humanity and civilization.

The 2nd of March is the first day of the fast and I’ve decided to host the firesides on Saturdays during the fast in order to be able to host a pot-luck dinner before hand for those friends who would like to break the fast together as well for seekers who wish to join us. Sunset will be at 5:41 pm. Please let me know if you plan to join for dinner and what you can contribute. I’ll be hosting a following fireside on Saturday, 9th March with the one after that on Saturday, 16 March, at someone else’s home, but details to be confirmed.

All are welcome!

With love,
Nabil

Fireside series: Intro to the Baha’i Faith

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Dear friends,

I will be hosting regular fortnightly, i.e. every two weeks, discussion evenings at my place on Fridays, 8 pm, followed by refreshments. These are open to all and are meant to provide a regular space to learn more about the teachings and principles of the Baha’i Faith and how they relate to current issues in the world. The format will be a short presentation on a topic followed by open discussion. The first one will be this Friday on a general introduction to the Faith.  Here is a list of future fireside topics which is subject to change. Let me know if you’d like to propose a topic or have a particular question(s).

Best wishes,

Nabil