Nothing Above: The New Atheism and the Unbelief of the “Nones”
Saturday, 12 May 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
The St. John's Centre (Wellington CBD)
What does it mean to not believe? “New Atheists," like scientist Richard Dawkins, express disbelief through active opposition to religion in any form. The “Nones” express nonbelief through passive disaffiliation from traditional forms of religion. Faith and spirituality are now practiced against a backdrop of a scientific skepticism and apathetic agnosticism.
Join us for a daylong symposium featuring talks by Carolyn King (University of Waikato), Graeme Finlay (Victoria University of Wellington), Sonya Lewthwaite (University of Otago), Jeff Tallon (MacDiarmid Institute) and a keynote lecture by Peter Lineham (Massey Univeristy Auckland) “Why is 'No Religion' is on the Rise?"
Registration via email ($25.00, includes lunch) Payment at door
Symposium Schedule
9:00 Registration
9:30 Introduction
10:00 Peter Lineham Keynote
11:00 Morning Tea
11:30 Carolyn King
12:15 Graeme Finlay
1:00-2:00 Lunch
2:00 Sonya Lewthwaite
2:45 Jeff Tallon
3:30 Panel Discussion
4:00 Conclusion
Professor Peter Lineham 
Prof Lineham is Professor of History at Massey University (Auckland). His research focuses the history and practice of religion in New Zealand. His past work covers topic ranging from the impact of missionaries on Aotearoa and the history of Kiwi churches to Christian pacifist and conscientious objection to war. His current work examines new religious movements.
Dr Graeme Finlay
Dr Finlay is Senior Lecturer in Molecular Medicine and Pathology. His research focuses on the relationship between cell biology and cancer. He also writes and speaks widely about topics in the relationship between theology and science, particularly the New Atheism.
Dr Carolyn King
Dr King is Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Waikato. In addition to her primary research on small rodents and the management of national parks, she investigates both traditional and contemporary relationships between science and theology.
Ms Sonya Lewthwaite
Ms Lewthwaite is a chaplain at Victoria University Anglican Chaplaincy (Ramsey House), and works as an administrative assistant at Booth College of Mission, where she also teaches Biblical Theology. She has degrees in theology and politics from the University of Otago.
Dr Jeff Tallon
Dr Tallon is Principal Investigator at the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology and Professor at the Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington. His research in physics focuses on High-TC superconductors, thermodynamics, and hybrid organic/inorganic materials.
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