This ISSA it! The fall semester's almost over!

Greetings, skeptical schoolmates!

We hope you had a great fall break! Finals are almost upon us, and that means a few last minute ISSA events before it's time to hit the books. Read on for details...

THIS WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This week's meeting will be at the usual time in the usual place: Thursday, December 1st at 7pm in Noyes 165. Click here for a map.

On the agenda...

FREE PIZZA and the new "Agnostic Angel" episode of South Park! Need we say more?

ISSA at Murphy's!

After the meeting, we'll adjourn to Murphy's, as is our tradition. We welcome anyone and everyone who can make it, regardless of whether or not you plan to drink. It's a great chance to get to know your officers and godless cohorts better!

E Pluribus Giving Tree Event -- Saturday December 3rd

Join ISSA and our E Pluribus allies (Interfaith in Action, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, the Navigators, and more) as we help make the holiday season a little brighter for needy families in the Chambana area. Together, we'll shop for gifts and present them to the "adopted" families in person. It's a fun and rewarding opportunity to make the world a better place -- one present at a time! RSVP via the Facebook event page.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ISSA Blood Drive -- Thursday December 8th
Heathens bleedin' for a good cause! Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. requires a blood transfusion. And about 20% of blood used in transfusions is taken from college age men and women just like you! Do your part to help save a life -- sign up here to donate and here to volunteer your time.

Ugly Sweater Party - Saturday December 10th

Cover that tacky blood donor band-aid up with an even tackier sweater and join us for one last shindig before winter break! Details to come soon.

Open call for blog entries -- ONGOING

Got something secular(ish) on your mind? BLOG ABOUT IT! Articles from members are always welcome, and much appreciated -- email IlliniSSA@illinois.edu if you're interested or have any questions!

 

<3 <3 <3
Your ISSA Officers

 

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Can't get enough of us? ISSA online! 

ISSA Blog: www.illinissa.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IlliniSSA

Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uiucatheists

Email: IlliniSSA@illinois.edu

Hell Populated by Women with Pants, Combed Hair

Despite last-minute complications, the Jamila-Carlton debate went exceedingly well. Although Ms. Bey couldn't make the debate due to a delayed flight, she provided a number of questions for Bishop Pearson to discuss. It soon became clear that Pearson isn't your average Bible Belt preacher.

Through his cultural background and experience as an African American bishop, Pearson was able to explain some of the fundamental issues surrounding the debate. Pearson explained, “In the African American community for you to say there is no God, is to say your mom, your grandparents, your culture – are all wrong.” Pearson explained that African Americans relied heavily on faith when they were repressed as slaves in the U.S. “Religion has done a lot for our culture,” Pearson said, and continued to explain how African American beliefs are based on a mixture of Christian beliefs, African spiritualism, and animism.

CoexISSAstence: What the farmer does with the turkey... until Thanksgiving.

The weekly email of the Illini Secular Student Alliance! Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser Illini Secular Student Alliance Greetings, gnarly nonbelievers! Where-oh-where has the semester gone? We can't believe Thanksgiving Break is almost here... Especially because that means it's time for Skepticon IV! Anyhow, we've got a few more things in store for you before we run off to Missouri. Read on for details... Weekly Meeting This week's meeting will take place Thursday, November 17th at 7pm in Noyes 165 -- click here for a map.  On The Agenda Derek and Sam discuss the role of Christianity in American politics and its negative influence on our collective ability to make sound policy decisions... All in an hour. Challenge accepted. ISSA at Murphy's After the meeting we'll adjourn to Murphy's, as is our tradition. We welcome anyone and everyone who can make it, regardless of whether or not you plan to drink. It's a great chance to get to know your officers and godless cohorts better! E Pluribus Giving Tree Event (Saturday, Dec. 3rd) Join ISSA and our E Pluribus allies (Interfaith in Action, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, the Navigators, and more) as we help make the holiday season a little brighter for needy families in the Chambana area. Together, we'll shop for gifts and present them to the "adopted" families in person. It's a fun and rewarding opportunity to make the world a better place -- one present at a time! ISSA Blood Drive (Thursday, Dec. 8th) Yes, it's a ways off, but you gotta start saving that stuff up, right? Right. Plus, a little heathen blood's bound to forever taint even the most pious of transfusion recipients... Save a life, condemn a soul! Sign up here to donate, or here to volunteer your time. Ugly Sweater Party (Saturday, Dec. 10th) Cover that tacky blood donor band-aid up with an even tackier sweater and join us for one last shindig before winter break! Details to come. Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Spread the heresy! Reserve a book now!  Got something secular(ish) on your mind? BLOG ABOUT IT! Posts from members are always welcome -- simply email lliniSSA@illinois.edu if you're interested. Heathens gotta represent! Get your ISSAwear here.  follow us on Twitter | like us on Facebook | read our blog | contact us Because we use Listserv, the link at the bottom of this email will NOT remove you from our list. CLICK HERE TO UNSUBSCRIBE

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Carlton Pearson: Revolutionary Raconteur

"Fear has no place in a relationship where God's grace has already guaranteed our salvation."

-Carlton Pearson

Joining Jamila Bey to debate the question, "Does the Black Community Need God?", Bishop Carlton Pearson is a minister, musician and author who has blazed his own trail as a leader in the African American spiritual community. An alumnus of Oral Roberts University, he formed what would become one of the largest churches in Tulsa and began preaching hellfire and damnation in the Pentecostal tradition.  However, Carlton had what he believed to be an epiphany from God  and began preaching the "Gospel of Inclusion"; the affirmation that there is no Hell and that non-Christians are not condemned.

Once the pastor to more than 6,000 people every week, Bishop Pearson was labeled a heretic by his peers for preaching the Gospel of Inclusion. Carlton went on to found New Dimensions International and recently preached at Chicago's Christ Universal Temple. He has been featured on 2020, Nightline, CNN and Dateline debating such broad topics as the existence of God and Hell. A dynamic and unique figure in the realm of Christianity, Carlton has been featured in his own episode of NPR's This American Life and was also deemed one of America's most influential black spiritual leaders.

You won't want to mISSA this week's debate!

The weekly email of the Illini Secular Student Alliance! Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser Illini Secular Student Alliance Greetings, skeptical schoolmates! The big day is almost here! This week's debate will be the first event of its kind in the history of our group -- maybe even the history of the secular movement as a whole! That being said, there will be no weekly meeting this Thursday as the debate will be held in its place. We hope to see you there! Does the Black Community Need God?: A Debate on Race, Faith & Culture Join us this Thursday, November 10th at 7pm in Temple Hoyne Buell Hall 134 (also known as the Plym Auditorium) as journalist and renowned African American atheist Jamila Bey and famed former evangelical minister and alumnus of Oral Roberts University Carlton Pearson brazenly tackle the role of faith in Black American Culture, bringing rampant social stigmas to light and drawing from their unique experiences as noteworthy members of the black community. RSVP via the Facebook event page. Post-debate Reception After the debate, join us in the Temple Hoyne Buell Hall Atrium for refreshments and some good conversation! The reception will begin at approximately 8:45pm. ISSA at Murphy's After the debate/reception, we'll adjourn to Murphy's, as is our tradition. We welcome anyone and everyone who can make it, regardless of whether or not you plan to drink. It's a great chance to get to know your officers and godless cohorts better! ISSA Blood Drive (Thursday, Dec. 8th) Yes, it's a ways off, but you gotta start saving that stuff up, right? Right. Plus, a little heathen blood's bound to forever taint even the most pious of transfusion recipients... Save a life, condemn a soul! Details to come. Ugly Sweater Party (Saturday, Dec. 10th) Cover that tacky blood  donor band-aid up with an even tackier sweater and join us for one last shindig before winter break! Details to come. Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Spread the heresy! Reserve a book now!  Got something secular(ish) on your mind? BLOG ABOUT IT! Posts from members are always welcome -- simply email lliniSSA@illinois.edu if you're interested. Heathens gotta represent! Get your ISSAwear here.  follow us on Twitter | like us on Facebook | read our blog | contact us Because we use Listserv, the link at the bottom of this email will NOT remove you from our list. CLICK HERE TO UNSUBSCRIBE

Sent to HEATHENS@listserv.uiuc.edu — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Illini Secular Student Alliance · 1401 West Green Street · Urbana, IL 61801