Happy Canada Day! Can you believe it is July? Nothing says Canada quite like the Snowbirds, Canada’s military aerobatic flight team. The team flies the Canadair CT-114 Tutor, which the Canadian forces used as a jet trainer from the early 1960s to 2000. The Snowbirds, officially called 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, was officially established in 1978. The name, Snowbirds, was the result of a contest at Bushell Park Elementary School at CFB Moose Jaw, where the team was based. So, an elementary student named Canada’s aerobatic team.
We do not yet have a webinar confirmed for July. However, we have had some superb presentations over the past few months, which are posted on our RMA YouTube page. If you missed any of our spectacular webinars, you can listen to them on YouTube. Also, if there is a specific topic that you would like to learn more about or a certain person whom you would like to hear make a presentation, let us know at info@rockymountainatheists.com. We would like your input when planning our webinars.
Do you have any friends who have left their religion and are having problems coping with their friends or families who are still religious? Or, do you know someone who lost their entire community because they left their church? Maybe you know someone who is having doubts about their beliefs or is re-examining the things that they were taught about religion. These people usually feel very alone. Often, they feel like they are the only one who has gone down this path. Please assure them that they are not alone and that there is a group of people who have made the same journey and are here to help and support them through this difficult process. That would be our Life Without Religion group. We are a peer support group, just for them. Tell your friend to contact Lois at loislwr@gmail.com.
Lois’s Pick
My pick for this month is The Skeptic Zone, The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason, with Richard Saunders. The podcast includes skeptical news, interviews, and reports with congenial discussion throughout. Richard doesn’t do it alone; he has a team of reporters with the most important reporter being our own Adrienne Hill. Yes, Adrienne reports Australian news from Calgary. Many of the reports make you scratch your head thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding! Do some people really believe that nonsense!?!” The Skeptic Zone does a lot of debunking.
Note: Some events might not appear on this list because they are not yet confirmed. Check the Meetup page to find any new events that might be planned during the month.
Tuesday, July 4  | Skeptics in the Pub First Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p Why go to Skeptics in the Pub? The food, the friends, the new friends, the intelligent discussions, the drinks, and a whole lot more. Check out the fascinating clips that Jeff has assembled and that will lead to some great conversation. Join us at Bottlescrew Bill’s, 140 10 Ave SW, Calgary. |
Thursday, July 6 
| Life Without Religion First Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm Are you embarking on a new Life Without Religion? Did you know that there are many others just like you? When we realize that everything we have been taught about God, the Bible, and doctrine is wrong, it creates a void in our lives. Trying to fill that void alone is tough. It’s even tougher when there are people essentially harassing you about “coming back to God.” But together, we can help each other to get through it and find a much better life ahead. That is the reason that LWR exists. If you have something specific that is bothering you, that is what we will discuss in our meeting. We discuss many different challenges that we all face. We keep the meetings confidential so that everyone will feel comfortable discussing difficult topics. Members will receive the Zoom link by email a day or two before the meeting. If you are not yet a member but feel that you would benefit from the support of those who have had a similar journey as you, contact Lois at loislwr@gmail.com. |
Monday, July 10  | Coffee Chat Second Monday of every month at 1:00 pm What do we chat about at Coffee Chat? Anything! It might be something serious; it might be something hilarious. We never know until we get there. But what we do know is that it will be interesting and enjoyable. So, BYO coffee or tea, click on https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84603819600 and you won’t be sorry. |
Thursday, July 13  | RMA Book Club – ONLINE Second Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm The title of the book for this month’s Book Club meeting is From Dictatorship to Democracy – A Conceptual Framework for Liberation, by Gene Sharp. Is it possible to overthrow a dictatorship by non-violent means? Many people say no. But author, Gene Sharp, professor, believes it is. Not only that, he has described many approaches that he believes can accomplish it. See what you think by reading his treatise. You can join the discussion simply by clicking on https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83632499664.
If you prefer in-person discussions instead of Zoom, scroll down. |
Thursday, July 13 | RMA Book Club – In Person Second Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm The title of the book for this month’s Book Club meeting is From Dictatorship to Democracy – A Conceptual Framework for Liberation, by Gene Sharp. It is the same book that is described above for the online meeting. If you prefer an in-person meeting, you can find out where it is and how to get there by going to the Meetup page and following the directions. |
Sunday, July 16  | RMA Monthly Board Meeting Third Sunday of every month at 1:00 pm Do you have a vision for what you would like RMA to be? Are there things you really like and/or things you would like to be changed or added. Your input is important to us so please come to a board meeting and tell us all about it. Everyone is welcome to come to Board Meetings but only board members vote. Join us at the Sunterra Market, Keynote at 200 12 Ave SE. |
Tuesday, July 18 | Life Without Religion Third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm There are so many different religions and so many different beliefs, they can’t all be true. In fact, only one could really be true. But which one? This is the very reason that many people who have been raised in one, fundamentalist religion begin to doubt. Are any of them right? Many of us have concluded that none of them are right and that there is no supreme being of any kind. We are atheists. But leaving any religion is difficult. Even though the religions are quite different, people who leave any religion experience very similar problems. That is why Life Without Religion (LWR) exists. We are a peer support group. Because we experience similar challenges, we identify with each other and can feel each other’s pain. If you have left a religion and identify with others who have also left their religion, and would like to join us, contact Lois at loislwr@gmail.com. |
Monday, July 24  | Movie Night - Online Fourth Monday of every month at 7:00 pm The movie for this month’s Movie Night is Women Talking. It is based on the book of the same name by Canadian author, Miriam Toews. The story is based on an incident that occurred in a Mennonite colony in Bolivia, in which the women in the colony were abused by the men. In the book and movie, a group of women secretly get together to decide what to do. Their extreme religious beliefs make their decision much harder than it ought to be. The movie is fairly long so we will be starting it soon after the meeting begins. So, join us, on time, by clicking on https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81343917992. |