Media Advisory: Atheists and Skeptics Host Major Ottawa Conference, First in Eastern Canada
September 19, 2012
Atheists and Skeptics Host Major Ottawa Conference, First in Eastern Canada
Celebration of reason and science to coincide with December “apocalypse”
Ottawa, Ontario - (September 17, 2012) - In response to the rising furor over December 2012 apocalyptic beliefs, the Centre for Inquiry (CFI) will host Eschaton 2012, the first Eastern Canada conference to celebrate reason, skepticism and atheism, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2.
Similar conferences in the US, Australia and Europe have drawn thousands of atheists. Eschaton 2012, named after the term for the end of the world, will be the first major gathering in Eastern Canada.
“Apocalyptic beliefs, whether by religious fundamentalists or new age practitioners, are surprisingly common,” said Anna Bula, CFI Ottawa Public Relations Officer. “All extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This conference will discuss the role of critical thinking in confronting a variety of topics within religion, alternative medicine and various forms of pseudoscience.”
Provocative biologist and atheist blogger PZ Myers and landmark Dover Intelligent Design trial science advisor Eugenie Scott, will lead a world class line up of speakers and panelists.
“The Museum of Civilization’s new exhibit on the Maya is sure to spark a conversation on apocalyptic beliefs and extraordinary claims about the destruction of the world,” said CFI’s National Communications Director Justin Trottier. “This unprecedented conference in the nation’s capital will remind Canadians that reason, science and skeptical thinking have in fact built our modern world.”
Full information on the conference is available at www.eschaton2012.ca
To arrange interviews with speakers or hosts, please contact:
Anna Bula
Public Relations Officer, CFI Ottawa
613.864.9925
abula@cficanada.ca
Justin Trottier
National Communications Director, CFI Canada
416.402.8856
jtrottier@cficanada.ca
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