A Quest Toward Interreligious Harmony

How can we promote better relations among people from different religions? The nature of our motivations may be key, specifically whether they are externally motivated, say from peer pressure or fear mongering; or internally motivated, such as by intrinsic satisfaction or spiritual and related quests. There is considerable evidence that the latter correlates with less hostility towards other religions. I will discuss my research on how motivations toward religiosity influence attempts to promote positive interreligious attitudes.

The doors to the Angus-Ross room of the Barrie Public Library open at 6:30. The presentation starts promptly at 7. Guests, as always, are welcome. Remember: you can test us out without paying an entrance fee!

As always, we meet at Swiss Chalet on Bayfield St. at 5PM. Just ask for the Humanist table.

Slides from the presentation will be posted here soon.

We will meet as always at 5 PM at Swiss Chalet on Bayfield St.  To join us, simply ask for the Humanist table.

I hope you’ve been enjoying one of the best summers in recent years. I’m keen to tell you about all the speakers that are excited to talk to us this fall.

Our November meeting will feature Dr. Reeshma Haji, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Laurentian University at Georgian College. In A Quest Toward Interreligious Harmony, she will present her research showing how people’s religious motivations influence attempts to promote positive interreligious attitudes, a topic that should be of great interest to secular humanists. Stay tuned for more details as November approaches.

In October, guess what: Our famous Dr. Monika Havelka returns with more of her amazing insights. This time she her talk is Why Sex? — The Evolution of a Paradox
Birds do it, bees do it — but why did sex evolve and why does sex
persist?? Sexual reproduction represents a troubling paradox to
evolutionary biologists. In case you don’t know, Monika spoke to us (twice) last year on “Evo-Devo” to rave reviews. And did I mention that she was a finalist in the 2010 TVO Best Lecturer Competition, and that I won a Dean’s Merit Award fro Excellence at U of T? You certainly won’t want to miss October’s meeting.

But now the main event: This month’s meeting (Wednesday, September 29, the Angus-Ross room, just inside Barrie Library’s main entrance on the left; open 6:30pm; start 7:00pm sharp) features past President Tom Cooke speaking to us on Humanist ceremonies… an officiant tells all. Tom will share his adventures in the world of Humanist ceremonies. Get ready for his fascinating human interest stories, told as only Tom can tell them.

I would also like to remind you that we must elect a new slate of Directors for COHA in November. All positions are open, including the President – I am retiring at the end of this year. If you enjoy the sorts of things that we do and want to see them continue, please consider volunteering to be a Director. Otherwise, you can expect this year to be our last.

It is my great pleasure to invite you all to the final summer open discussion meeting. Last month’s open discussion went very well and I’m happy to ask you all out again this Wednesday, August 18th at the Barrie Public Library in the Angus-Ross room. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own topics for discussion, news clippings, et cetera. The doors open at 6:30 and the discussion will start promptly at 7 PM.

Also, you are welcome to join us for dinner before the meeting. We will be eating in the Swiss Chalet on Bayfield St at 5 PM. Just ask for the Humanist table.

COHA Calendar:

Wednesday August 18 (discussion meeting)
Wednesday September 29
Thursday October 28
Thursday November 25
Wednesday December 29 (available but not currently planned)

It is my great pleasure to invite you all to another open discussion meeting. Last months open discussion went very well and I’m happy to ask you all out again this Wednesday, July 28th at the Barrie Public Library in the Angus-Ross room. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own topics for discussion, news clippings, et cetera. The doors open at 6:30 and the discussion will start promptly at 7 PM.

Also, you are welcome to join us for dinner before the meeting. We will be eating in the Swiss Chalet on Bayfield St at 5 PM. Just ask for the Humanist table.

COHA Calendar:

Wednesday August 18 (discussion meeting)
Wednesday September 29
Thursday October 28
Thursday November 25
Wednesday December 29 (available but not currently planned)

See you on Wednesday

It is my great pleasure to invite you all to our first* open discussion meeting. This Wednesday, June 30rd at the Barrie Public Library we will be meeting in the Angus-Ross room. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own topics for discussion, news clippings, et cetera. The doors open at 6:30 and the discussion will start promptly at 7 PM.

Everyone is welcome to join us for dinner before the meeting. We will be eating in the Swiss Chalet on Bayfield St at 5 PM. Just ask for the Humanist table.

COHA Calendar:

1. Wednesday July 28 (discussion meeting)
2. Wednesday August 18 (discussion meeting)
3. Wednesday September 29
4. Thursday October 28
5. Thursday November 25
6. Wednesday December 29 (available but not currently planned)

See you on Canada Day Eve.

COHA’s Thursday, April 29 meeting is just two weeks away (in the Angus-Ross room, just inside Barrie Library’s main entrance on the left; open 6:30pm; start 7:00pm sharp).

This month we take a breather from religious issues in order to discuss two topics from the TED website that are kind of related, and that I think will be great discussion starters.

The first one is Daniel Dennett’s 15.5 minute video: Dangerous Ideas. Dan Dennett is a well known philosopher-scientist and author of several popular books, as well as a secular humanist who often debates religious issues. Combining the principle of free speech with the outrageous misinformation, such as what many US politicians have been spreading, make his topic especially relevant today.

The second is Jared Diamond’s 18 minute video: On Why Societies Collapse, based on his book “Collapse,” which I enjoyed reading. He has identified five patterns that lead societies to collapse, and I sense that several of them are at work in the USA and globally. He points out that collapses have occurred suddenly, right after a society has reached some sort of apex, a fact that I found particularly disturbing.

I encourage you to preview the videos before our meeting. That way you might get even more out of them at the meeting, and you can come with your comments and questions ready, thus assuring stimulating discussions. Here are the links:

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_dennett_on_dangerous_memes.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/jared_diamond_on_why_societies_collapse.html

Sneak Preview: For our May 26 meeting, we are very fortunate to have Reverend Don French come and speak to us. His topic will be:

How Science Affects Religion, One Priest’s Perspective

This marks the first time COHA has had a speaker from “the other side.” You may be surprised at how open he is to our ways of thinking. But more on that next month.

And as a great coincidence, I have accepted an invitation from my physicist friend Prof. Gordon Drake, who is also President of Canterbury (Anglican) College, to present the affirmative side of a formal debate to be held on May 8 at the University of Windsor on the question: Do Religion and Science Conflict? Gordon will argue the negative case.

I will be introduced as the president of COHA. Gordon says that the media might be there and I hope to have it recorded. If any of you are interested in vetting the arguments that I plan to make, email me and I will be pleased to send them to you. (Gordon, you and your confederates need not respond.) And this will nicely set the stage for Reverend French’s May 26 talk!

Last but not least, planning for our Summer Solstice Party has started. So please put Saturday, June 19 into your calendar right now!

Best regards,
Paul
President, COHA

PS: Because COHA meeting dates are no longer the last Wednesday of most months, below is a reminder to replace them with these dates:

Thursday April 29
Wednesday May 26
Saturday June 19 – Summer BBQ
Wednesday June 30 (available but not currently planned)
Wednesday July 28 (available but not currently planned)
Wednesday August 18 (available but not currently planned)
Wednesday September 29
Thursday October 28
Thursday November 25
Wednesday December 29 (available but not currently planned)

This years third meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 24 at the Barrie Public Library in the Angus-Ross room, just inside the main entrance on the left. Doors will open at 6:30pm with a 7:00pm start.

This month we will be watching “Judgement Day.” We will present and discuss the second half of this documentary. For those who didn’t see the first part about the division and motives in the community of Dover, PA, you can certainly jump in to the second part that discusses the trial and the US Governments position on teaching Intelligent Design in public schools.

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!

We invite you to join us at Swiss Chalet at 5 PM on Bayfield Street for dinner and chatting before the movie. 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.

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