The Trinity Test
It has been 80 years since the Trinity Test and, with everything that has been going on in the news, I thought that it would be a good topic for our July newsletter.
The Trinity Test was the first detonation of a nuclear weapon, conducted by the United States on July 16, 1945, in the New Mexico desert. This event marked a critical turning point in both science and global politics, as it demonstrated that atomic energy could be weaponized with devastating power.
The test was part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, a wartime effort to build a nuclear bomb before Nazi Germany. Physicists, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Richard Feynman, were central to its development. The bomb, nicknamed “The Gadget,” used plutonium and was detonated atop a 100-foot tower in the Jornada del Muerto valley.
It was portrayed in Christopher Nolan’s 2023 film Oppenheimer, which uses this moment to capture both the scientific triumph and the ethical dread experienced by Oppenheimer and his team.
When it exploded, the blast released energy equivalent to around 21 kilotons of TNT. Observers miles away reported intense light and heat, and a shockwave that rattled windows. The mushroom cloud rose more than seven miles into the sky. The test confirmed the design’s viability and directly influenced the decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
Beyond its immediate military impact, the Trinity Test ushered in the nuclear age. It raised ethical and existential questions that remain unresolved—about science, war, and humanity’s power to destroy itself.
Written with the help of ChatGPT
Wildflower Hike
Sunday, July 6, 9:00 am MDT
It’s that time of year in the mountains when the flowers are at their best, so let’s go have a look! This is an easy hike perfect for the whole family.
Meet to carpool at Brentwood C-train at 9 am or meet at the Bow Valley Provincial Park Administration by the entrance to the park at 10 am
Note: there is a $15 per vehicle park pass for 1 day, so I expect most to want to carpool.
*This event is hosted by our friends at the Calgary Secular Assembly*
Go to our Meetup Page for more details.
Book Club
Thursday, July 10
Second Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm MDT
This month, the Book Club will be discussing the book What It Means to Be Moral: Why Religion Is Not Necessary for Living an Ethical Life, by Phil Zuckerman.
Head over to our Meetup page to register and get the Zoom link.
Coffee Chat Online
Monday, July 14
First Monday of every month at 1:00 pm MDT
Our Coffee Chat is an enjoyable, unstructured afternoon conversation. Anyone can introduce an idea or ask a question, and the group will jump in and discuss it. You never know where the conversation will go, but it is always interesting and sometimes even educational. Join us and add your two-cents-worth.
Go to our Meetup page to register and get the Zoom link.
Life Without Religion – Online
Tuesday, July 15
Third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm MDT
Live Without Religion (LWR) is a peer support group for people whose lives have been negatively impacted by religion. Nearly anyone who has left a fundamentalist or high-control religion can tell you that it leaves not only scars but sometimes open wounds. Nothing helps with the healing better than sharing your experience and discussing how to heal with others who have had a similar experience. That mutual support is what we find in LWR meetings. If you want to learn more about LWR, contact Lois at loislwr@gmail.com.
WeCanReason Webinar (recording)
Wednesday, July 16
Five intentions to create a better life for ourselves and others
The Five Intentions outline a framework for living with integrity, curiosity, and compassion: a commitment to continuous self-improvement in all dimensions of life; a transparent and open-minded embrace of diverse perspectives while avoiding dogmatic certainty; a dedication to critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning; an ethical pursuit of happiness that maximizes freedom while minimizing harm; and a conscious effort to give and receive love, fostering a kind and respectful community.
This event will be recorded with an audience on July 16 and broadcast on July 23. You can be present at both, but only on July 16 there will be a Q&A.
Head over to our Meetup Page to register and get the Zoom link.
Monthly Board Meeting
Friday, July 18
Third Friday of the month at 6:00 pm MDT
The Board of RMA meets on the 3rd Friday of each month, before the Skeptics in the Pub. Meetings are open to all but only Board members can vote.
The location is still pending. Check out our Meetup page for details.
Skeptics in the Pub
Friday, July 18
Third Friday of the month at 7:00 pm MDT
Come to the pub, meet like-minded people and have thought-provoking discussions, along with a drink and some food.
The location is still pending. You can register on our Meetup Page to get updates.
WeCanReason Webinar (broadcast)
Wednesday, July 23
Fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm MDT
Five intentions to create a better life for ourselves and others
This event will be recorded with an audience on July 16 and broadcast on July 23. You can be present at both, but only on July 16 there will be a Q&A.
Head over to our Meetup Page to register and get the Zoom link.
Movie Night
Monday, July 28
Fourth Monday of every month at 7:00 pm MDT
This month’s movie is Penn & Teller: Bullshit! – Alternative Medicine.
Head over to our Meetup Page, to register, get updates and the Zoom link.
All details of our events can be found on our Meetup Page at https://www.meetup.com/rockymountainatheists/events/.