Rationalist Think Tank
The RSA holds monthly meetings (at this stage, only in Melbourne and Perth) for Members and others interested in discussing contemporary issues from a rationalist perspective.
If you would like to see a Rationalist Think Tank in your city, please contact info@rationalist.com.au.
Perth
Details of meeting held in Perth can be found here.
Melbourne
Meetings have usually been held at friendly pubs on the southern side of Melbourne (Prahran, South Yarra) on Monday nights. However, in September 2018 our hosting pub decided not to open at all on Monday nights, and we have had to change the day of the week for our meetings, and the venue.
Our meetings will now be held on Wednesdays at the Tivoli Club, 291 Dandenong Rd, Windsor VIC 3181. The club has its own parking area with plenty of room, and it's on the no 64 tram line (stop no 36 at Closeburn Ave, one stop past Williams Road coming from the city).
We are working on getting similar discussion events running in other Australian cities. If you would like to help host such an event, place contact info@rationalist.com.au
| When | What | Discussion |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 10 April | Stay in or opt out? The pros and cons of My Health Record | |
| Wed 13 March | "Why is there something rather than nothing?" | Pre-reading: "Will nothing come from nothing?" RSA's President Emeritus Ian Robinson muses about why there is anything at all! |
| Wed 13 Feb | Alternatives to Prayers before Council, and State and Federal Parliaments | |
| Wed 16 Jan 2019 (Note: third Wednesday rather than second, due to Australia being asleep between Xmas and mid Jan!) | The Role of Reason in a Fractious Society | We'll begin the discussion with a 20 min video of philosopher Julian Baggini at a recent Qld conference. |
| Meetings held in 2018 | ||
| Wed 12 December 2018 | Homelessness | |
| Wednesday 14 November | Chaplains in Schools, Hospitals, Emergency Services and the Armed Services | Please note the change of DAY OF THE WEEK and VENUE |
| 13 August 2018 | The Communist Manifesto | How relevant is it today? |
| 9 July 2018 | China-Australia relations | |
| 12 February | Religious Freedoms for the Non-religious | |
| 8 January | An Aussie President | |
| Meetings held in 2017 | ||
| 11 December | Sport | |
| 13 November | False Witness | |
| 9 October | Human Responsibilities | |
| 11 September | Democracy | |
| 14 August | Genital Autonomy | |
| 10 July | Welcome to the World | |
| 12 June | Is the Australian tax system fair? | |
| 8 May | The new Worldviews curriculum | |
| 10 April | Government funding of the arts | |
| 13 March | Nudity | |
| 13 February | Division of Time | |
| 9 January | Drug Law Reform | |
Information for first time attendees
Transport: TBA
Protocol: Guests should arrive at 6.30pm. Upon arrival, you will be issued a name tag, and can introduce yourself to the other guests. Seating is not allocated, join any table!
Eating/Drinking: You are warmly encouraged to join us for a meal and get to know the others. Allow $25 for a meal and drink.
Discussion programme: The group at each table discusses and endeavours to reach a consensus on questions set for the evening’s topic. It will help if you come with some initial thoughts on the subject. Tables appoint a person to facilitate the discussion and someone to record and report the group's deliberations.
The evening concludes around 8.30 to 9pm.
RSVP
If you are planning to attend, it will assist the organiser if you let us know by emailing thinktank@rationalist.com.au by the Thursday before so we can notify the hotel of the expected numbers.
If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute you can send an email with your comments or answers for consideration on the night.
You can also register via Meetup.com. By signing up, you will be able see information on future meetings, introductions and lists of questions, as well as comment and see who else may be attending. You can RSVP yourself and up to one guest. Go to: https://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Rationalist-Think-Tank/ to join up.