http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2007/09/24/News/Student.Group.Works.To.Encourage.Skepticism.Dis...

For anyone listening, or attempting to anyway to last Friday's appearance of Rook at the United Secular Alliance at VCU screening of "The God Who Wasn't There" with discussion following, I wanted to apolgoize for the technical difficulties. Asking Rook to come and engage in debate with us was a last minute idea and due to my own fault, badly planned. We will do this again, soon enough with a better format.

For those in the chat room being disruptive and insulting to VCU, Virginia and our audience, I just want to say, hey...go fuck yourselves. It's easy to sit behind a screen and type some words, try doing something active for a change, which entails getting off your ass....it's hard enough to organzie a secularist group while working full time and getting a master's degree and having people insult you at an event they were invited to listen in.

To those who were patient enough to sit through it, and were not disruptive, thanks for tuning in.

Anyway, this story was covered here: http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2007/09/24/News/Student.Group.Works.To.Encourage.Skepticism.Dis...

Student group works to encourage skepticism, discussion at film screening

Student group works to encourage skepticism, discussion at film screening
CHRISTEN DUXBURY- Co-news Editor
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: News

The United Secular Alliance encouraged skepticism
and debate by screening the documentary film, “The
God Who Wasn’t There,” Friday night at the University
Student Commons.

Using expert interviews and historical evidence, the
documentary argues Jesus was not a God as Christianity
sees him. In the film, writer-director Brian Flemming
says many ancient heroes not-so-coincidentally share
characteristics with Jesus. However, “The God Who
Wasn’t There” does not denounce Jesus’ existence.

“We wanted to provide a community for those who
want to question,” said Larry Mendoza, president of
the alliance.

Nearly 35 people attended this year’s screening
of the documentary, Mendoza said, while last year’s
screening event brought more than 100 people. The
last event they hosted was a screening of the film
“Jesus Camp.”

“We had to turn people way,” said Roberts.
Attendance this year was low because the screening
was held on a Friday night, Mendoza said, and because
the alliance was unable to meet the deadline for posting
an event notice on the VCU Telegram.

Historian Rook Hawkins was able to join this
year’s group via webcam and audio links. Hawkins,
who is an ancient-text expert, fielded questions after
the viewing.

The Q-and-A session also was viewed by members in
an online chat room, rationalresponders.com, although
there is no way to estimate how many people listened
to the session online.

The United Secular Alliance has 15 regular attendees,
Mendoza said, some of whom mediated throughout
the evening.

Audience member Jonny Cecka thought the film
mocked Christianity, and this detracted from its greater
message — the importance of skeptical thinking.

“Plenty of people have faith who I think should
be respected,” Cecka said. “Mocking is not constructive.”

Mendoza said the event worked to set misunderstandings
aside while rationally confronting questions
regarding religion.

Mendoza and the group’s vice president, Roy
Roberts, created the alliance when they realized more
than a year ago VCU did not have a community for
secularists.

“So many people put stock in this book (the Bible)
that has been altered so much since its inception,”
Roberts said.

Although the group is still young, Mendoza said,
interest in events seems to be strong. The group
welcomes all who want to ask questions, debate or
just be part of a secular community, Mendoza said.

The group holds weekly meetings Friday at 8 p.m.
in the Shockoe Room in the Commons.

Image courtesy of Beyond Belief Media 2005

The film, directed and written by Brian Flemming, was
a catalyst for open discussion and debate Friday night.