Hello fellow Humanists and Humanist-friendly people,

I have 4 interesting things to tell you.

1. Vote for November’s video presentation
2. Last months presentation available online
3. Discussion group
4. Richard Dawkins’ new book available at next meeting
5. Humanist social / meet-up

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1. Vote for November’s video presentation

The November presentation and AGM is coming up it less than two months. We will be having a video presentation and want you to vote on which short video we will use to start a discussion on November 25th (that’s next month). Please respond to this email with your selection of one of the following three videos:

a) *Jonathan Haidt* on secular morality

Associate Professor of Psychology Jonathan Haidt, author of /The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion/ discusses where innate morality comes from in a secular, naturalistic world view. Also, how morality intersects with politics on the left and the right as well as with religion.

b) *Dan Dennett* on dangerous memes

Starting with the simple tale of an ant, philosopher Dan Dennett unleashes a devastating salvo of ideas, making a powerful case for the existence of memes — concepts that are literally alive.

c) *Julia Sweeney* on letting go of God

This video features Julia Sweeney (of Saturday Night Live fame) giving a sample of her one-woman show ‘Letting Go of God’. This delightful and thought provoking video intertwines a young ladies coming of age story and humour and Julia Sweeney discussions he deconversion from the Catholic faith.

Please respond to this email before October 26th to make your vote count, only a few weeks away.

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2. Last months presentation available online

You can now download last months presentation of the psychology of bahaviourism from our website in MP3 form and the slides. Go to the following website:

http://www.cohumanists.ca/2009/behaviorism-and-daily-life/

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3. Discussion group

At the last meeting I told everyone that we had started an email discussion group. We now have 6 people signed up, and they are interesting people! We have been talking about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and what the proper etiquette for people who don’t believe in gods actually is. Is it more respectful to sit in silence while others pray out loud? Is it mocking their beliefs to pretend to pray or accept communion? Is it disrespectful to not sit down until the hand-holding grace-saying pre-meal festivities are over? What if you are the host and religious people are coming to your house?

Sign up and take part in future conversations. We are inviting all atheist, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers and otherwise Humanist-friendly people in the area and beyond to join the discussion. You don’t need to be a member.

Email shawn @ cohumanists.ca to be added to this email distribution list so you can participate or just listen.

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4. Richard Dawkins’ new book available at next meeting

We are pleased to announce that at this months presentation we will have copies of Richard Dawkins’ new book ‘The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution’. This book is a return to Richard Dawkins’ first interest, evolution. Rather than a critical look on religion this is a biology book. A minimum donation of $20 to COHA is required for you to pick up this book at our next meeting.

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5. Humanist social / meet-up

A bunch of us are getting together at William’s Coffee Pub on Bryne Dr. on Wednesday, October 20th, 2009 at 7:30 PM. If you would like good company come on down and hang out with us. Everyone is welcome to join. This is behind the south-end Wal~Mart.

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Have a good October!