The Friendly Atheist Does Toronto
I have a million and a half pictures, I’m just not home yet - so I’ll do a photo post later. Usually after a speaker comes here I like to rip into them a bit to say what I didn’t like about their talk. Hemant Mehta [I Sold My Soul On eBay] did his talk here in Toronto on Friday so I guess its his turn, oui? So, what didn’t I like?
- there weren’t enough people there to hear what he had to say…Justin counted around 60 people in attendance, I don’t think this was nearly enough - although I should add that 1) its the summer, so no one is on campus, 2) its the long weekend so many people are at their cottage and 3) its pride weekend… no one can compete with pride. Suffice to say the next time we get him here it will be during the school year.
- he didn’t give me credit for stealing at least 89% of my view points out of my brain on atheism and theism
- he didn’t do the talk topless
- the “what about the physical lord our god, Jesus Christ?” lady
- there weren’t more questions
- … that’s about it
If you haven’t gotten it yet - I really liked his talk. I had absolutely no disagreement with him, I loved his delivery, there was a great crowd, it was super funny and he’s an awesome guy. The director of the multi-faith centre wants to bring him back in the school year, and the York group wants to steal him at the same time to do a talk in the North end too. Its already been deemed by many as one of the best talks we’ve have… because he was just really interesting, and his delivery was super entertaining.
Anyway, more on this weekend later/when I get home! It was a fabulous weekend.
I totally enjoyed when the crazy lady spoke up for a couple of reasons. I really like Hemant’s way of answering the first question of “what do you stand for” and later “what do you believe,” because he kept it humanist and real. I think it’s too easy to start talking in rhymes, and she was trying really hard to get Hemant stuck in a bind with subtle wordplay. I leaned over to my friend and whispered, “he probably gets this all the time.”
Also, both she and the Pascal’s Wager kid (who seemed shocked that people already had answers to what he thought was his dad’s idea) revealed the atheists in the group… seeing people all shake their heads in unison and collectively groan just made me glow. This was my first proper Toronto atheist community event, and I think it made me want more.
AND, got me visiting your blog. Score.
Hemant is always awesome.
the pascal’s wager kid was awesome. i felt bad for him though. because we had aaaaall heard what he was going to say. but he didn’t know that we all knew and thought he was being really clever. it was sort of sad.
i will keep you totally updated on the blog about upcoming atheist events in toronto. im usually at them…