Greetings!

I hope everyone was pleased with our new “digs” at the Barrie Public Library. Your executive was, but if you have any concerns please let me know.

Well, time is flying by and our second meeting of the year will take place on Thursday, February 24 in the Angus-Ross room, just inside the main entrance on the left. Doors will open at 6:30pm with a 7:00pm start.

I’m pleased to announce we have purchased a copy of Nova’s excellent documentary called “Judgement Day,” and this month, we will present and discuss the first half. No, it’s not about the second coming of Christ. In Dover Pennsylvania in 2005, the local school board decided to try to introduce intelligent design into its science curriculum, and to force science teachers to warn students that evolution was “just a theory.” Well, that sparked a landmark court battle, kind of a replay of the 1925 “monkey trial”, which the evolutionists lost.

The Dover account is exciting because the story is told by participants on both sides of the issue, including the vitriol and threats tearing apart the community. Then there is the dramatic court battle, reenacted from actual testimony. I learned a lot, not just about the legal issues, but about cutting edge science presented by the scientists who were called as witnesses. Last but not least is the judgement itself, written by a republican judge who had prior exposure to neither evolution nor creationism. The case was precedent setting and there were consequences to the judge himself. You won’t want to miss this month’s meeting!

Thank you to Bruce Murphy for steering me onto http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4082. I enjoyed reading the articles posted there. The one on “What do Creationists Believe” has excellent information about seven flavours of Creationism (with Intelligent Design as the “science” available to all of them).

And just a reminder that if you want to begin or renew your COHA membership please come prepared to sign up for 2010. Forms will be available, and individual dues are just $30 per year.

Warm regards,
Paul
President, Central Ontario Humanists Association
_______________________________________________
Central Ontario Humanists

http://www.cohumanists.ca/

info@cohumanists.ca

Topic: Secular Morality

(Tomorrow) Wednesday January 20 is COHA’s first meeting at the Barrie Public Library. Doors of the Angus-Ross room, just inside the main entrance on the left, will open at 6:30pm with a 7:00pm start. Our pre-meeting social dinner is as usual at the Swiss Chalet on Bayfield St. at 5pm.

Our topic is What is morality? Where does it come from? Shawn will lead off with a video presentation from an expert — associate professor of Psychology Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion. Prof. Haidt discusses the secular roots of innate morality, and how differing views of morality intersect with religion and the political spectrum. After the video, Shawn has invited two or three members to comment. By then I’m sure the rest of us will be itching to react to all of this, so expect a lively discussion.

Don’t forget to renew your membership — $30 per year.

This month the Central Ontario Humanist Association was pleased to have biology professor Dr. Monika Havelka give us a presentation on Evo-Devo.  In this presentation she explains how small changes in the HOX genes that control development can lead to big changes in how an animal looks.

This video is now posted online and you can watch it right here:

You can download the slides in PDF format.

I just received an email from our featured speaker, Dr. Monika Havelka, saying that her daughter has contracted H1N1 flu, and Monika thinks she is coming down with it too. So, … we will reschedule her visit to a later meeting. Tomorrow we will meet as planned, at 7pm the Barrie Native Friendship Centre (175 Bayfield). In lieu of Dr. Havelka, we will present:

Saturday Night Live comic actor Julia Sweeney’s video: Letting Go of God
When two young Mormon missionaries knock on her door one day, it touches off Julia’s “quest for something I could really believe in” — which turns out to be no God at all. In the process she explores love, cancer, family and faith.

For those inclined to break bread before the meeting, see you as usual at 5pm at the Swiss Chalet, 397 Bayfield.

Sorry about the late notice. And please, … stay healthy or stay home!

The Central Ontario Humanist Association’s Wednesday, October 28th, meeting will feature Dr. Monika Havelka giving her extraordinary presentation on the emerging biological specialty of “evo-devo” — the application of evolutionary theory to the development of all life forms, including us of course. We will see you at the Barrie Native Friendship Centre, 175 Bayfield St. Doors open at 6:30pm. Our usual pre-meeting dinner will be at the Swiss Chalet, 397 Bayfield, 5:00pm.

Hello Everyone,

A record 38 people attended our September meeting. And two first timers wanted to become members on the spot. Momentum is building!

Thanks to fellow member Klaus Kuch, we learned about behaviorism in everyday life.

This was our first experience in the Barrie Native Friendship Centre (175 Bayfield Street, south of #400). We were supposed to meet in their Board Room, but a very heavy roll of carpet took up so much room that at the last minute we decided to cram into a smaller room. And it was crammed. As October’s meeting could enjoy an even larger turnout, I’ve asked the Centre to move or dispose of the carpet.

Why a larger turnout? Last January a snow storm caused most of us to miss Dr. Monika Havelka’s extraordinary slide presentation. Since 2009 is Darwin’s 200th birthday, it is entirely appropriate for us to invite TVO’s twice nominated best lecturer back to tell those who missed her the first time about the exciting discoveries coming from the emerging biological specialty of “evo-devo” — the application of evolutionary theory to the development of all life forms, including us of course. Sooo, by popular demand,… I am pleased to announce she will be treating us to a repeat performance at our October 28 meeting (this time the weather gods will cooperate). There will be ample time for questions, and I intend to ask her about the even newer field of epigenetics.

I expect many non-members, as Barrieites, scientists and non-scientists alike, should have another chance to enjoy it. To this end, I’ve attached a publicity poster of this event. Please post a copy on your favorite grocery store’s bulletin board or other places.

In other news, COHA is now officially a non-profit corporation. This should enable us to meet at the Barrie Public Library during 2010.

More potentially good news: In a recent revision of their affiliation rules, it appears that the Humanist Association of Canada will now permit us to issue tax receipts. We are in the process of confirming this revision.

Warm regards,
Paul
President, Central Ontario Humanists Association

UPDATE: Download the presentation below!

Dr. Klaus Kuch, retired Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and member of COHA, will be our September 30 speaker. Dr. Kuch has practiced and taught behavior therapy for many years and has published in international medical journals and textbooks. He will treat us to slides and a talk on:

BEHAVIORISM AND DAILY LIFE.
Subtle cues, rewards and punishments shape many of our hopes and fears, often without awareness. We may have less control over ourselves than we might wish. Behaviorism, when applied to daily life, can show us how to study our behavior in this context, objectively and without speculation.

He will also demonstrate some of the theory and methods of behavioral assessment, concerning habits, fears and phobias. I expect this talk to be extremely interesting for all Humanists, so please plan to meet us at the Barrie Native Friendship Centre, 175 Bayfield St. Doors open at 6:30pm. Our usual pre-meeting dinner will be at the Swiss Chalet, 397 Bayfield, 5:00pm.

• Slides used in the presentation
  • Behaviourism slides in PowerPoint format
  • Behaviourism slides in PDF format
• Download an audio recording of the presentation
  • Behaviourism audio in MP3 format
  • Behaviourism audio in OGG format

The May 27 meeting is coming up soon — Zehrs Community Room, Big Bay Point Rd. and #11 at 7pm. Coffee tea and juice will be available for donations of $2 to cover costs.

And of course those who would like to meet that day for dinner at our usual Swiss Chalet — 85 Barrie View Drive — see you there at 5pm.

This month’s topic: Reinventing the Sacred

I will critically review the important and deeply provocative ideas contained in scientist-philosopher Stewart Kauffman’s latest book – Reinventing the Sacred. Dr. Kauffman was the first to mathematically show how the origin and evolution of life critically depends on nature’s myriad self-organizing processes. Now he convincingly demonstrates that the universe possesses a “ceaseless creativity” from which emerge such stunningly diverse phenomena as the biosphere, culture, economics, self-awareness, moral principles, and much much more. He also shows why science will never be able to predict the detailed unfolding of these phenomena. This unpredictable, stupendous creativity is the true source of mystery, and of the sacred. Indeed, Prof. Kauffman argues that it is a natural notion of God worthy of superseding all others. Food for secular humanist rumination, indeed!

Bonus: I will also summarize my discussions with Stewart in which we agree to disagree about the nature of mind. Copies of Reinventing the Sacred will be available for a donation.

Download the audio for the May edition of this presentation: MP3

Download the slides for the November edition of this presentation: PPT

Paul
President, COHA

Are there any lessons a Western humanist might learn from experiencing other cultures in other countries around the world? Tom Cooke thinks so. Maybe you do to? Tom, past president of the Central Ontario Humanist Association, has recently returned from Thailand. On Wednesday, April 29 at the COHA meeting he will present a humanist perspective on Thai culture, politics and religion. His presentation will include a slide show.

Are there are better ways to appreciate and celebrate life than the Western world would have us believe?

Others who have also had their eyes opened and minds broadened by their world travels are encouraged to comment on Tom’s observations and to contribute insights from their own experiences.

We are back from winter vacations and anxious to see you again at the April 29 meeting — Zehrs Community Room, Big Bay Point Rd. and #11 at 7pm. Coffee will be available for donations of $2. Admission is free for your first three visits.

And of course those who would like to meet that day for dinner at our usual Swiss Chalet — 85 Barrie View Drive — see you there at 5pm.

On Wednesday the 25th the Central Ontario Humanist Association will be discussing the atheist bus ad phenomena that is sweeping the world.  COHA meets on the last Wednesday of the month at 7PM in the Community Room on the second floor of Zehrs at Big Bay Point Road and Yonge Street. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.