|
July 3 , 2009
|
| OUR NEXT FORUM _________________________________ |
Monthly Forum
Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 10:30 a.m.
Red Bank Charter School - 58 Oakland St. - Red Bank, NJ 07701
Topic:
“Are We Born to Be Good?”
|
Eastern philosophies have long considered that humans have both good and bad forces in them and it’s important to work on balancing the two (ideally to have the good predominate)…while western religion sees humans as born in sin.
In fact, many modern psychologists are now studying the positive aspects of human makeup, rather than just studying neurosis and psychosis. Darwin's book, "Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals" put him in opposition to the belief that God gave humans special muscles to uniquely portray emotions. He also expressed the importance of cooperation within groups in achieving survival (survival of the kindest??).
|
|
| HELP US PROMOTE RBH BY JOINING MEET-UP___________ |
MeetUp is an online service designed to help people get together to discuss various topics. We have an account there. A few new people have joined RBH because of this, but we need to give this a real scientific test to see if it's worth the money. Please help us.
Many people raised their hands at the last Forum, indicating that they would join MeetUp (it's free to you) and RSVP for this next meeting. If you were one of those people, your RSVP will inspire new people who have never attented. The psychology here is to demonstrate that lots of folks are coming. Then new folks will feel that it's safe to show up. New people seem to believe there is "safety in numbers." If you would like to help RBH bring in more new voices, please follow these instructions:
Go to this link: Click Here and sign up at the right. Then poke around and RSVP for our Forum on July 12.
Thanks for your help - Steelman
|
|
| STAR TREK MADE ME AN ATHEIST_____________________ |
|
I saw the new Star Trek movie and I loved it. However, I was never a devoted Treky. I did see most of the movies. But as the characters on the TV series evolved from one generation to the next, I watched fewer and fewer of the shows.
This new movie reinvigorated my interest. Elaine and I laughed over and over as the young version of each of the characters were revealed and we saw how they became a part of the Startrek crew. They took us back to a time when the crew was a rag-tag collection of recruits just being thrown together for the first time. All those characters who had lost their appeal for me over the years were brought back to life for me in a witty, exciting, and smart story. It was delicious.
THEN...I read an article in the current issue of the Humanist magazine published by the American Humanist Association. It's called "Startrek Made Me An Atheist." Of course, it caught my attention. It's an insiteful and humorous article by Nick Farrantello, sharing how watching Star Trek turned him into an atheist...and a Humanist. I hope you enjoy it. Go see the movie too!
|
|
| |
|
| WE CHOOSE THE MOON ____________________________ |
As the 40th anniversary of man's first walk on the moon approaches,
there will be numerous retrospective articles and TV shows about
the event. I stumbled onto a notice about such a show.
At the web page where I found it, there was a film clip of JFK's call to
the nation to "put a man on the moon in ten years."
As I watched that clip, remembering how electric it was when I originally
saw it happen, I had two thoughts. First, I thought how exciting that era
was, and how JFK really had "IT." What a great sense of humor! What
a smile! What a goal. Second, I thought there was a strong similarity
between JFK's vision for the future and the hopes for humanity
embodied in the Star Trek TV series and movies.
|
| NEXT BOOKCLUB MEETING___________________________ |
| |
|
|
"A Brave New World"
Thursday - August 6, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.
Book Club News
For more information email:
Carol Auer and put
"RBH Book Club" in subject line. |
| |
|
| HUMANIST CHAPLAINCY AT RUTGERS__________________ |
Rutgers + Humanism
RBH member Barry Klassel is busy planning his fall schedule for the
new Humanist Chaplaincy he will be heading at Rutgers. We are thrilled
at his opportunity to share Humanism with with the students at a major
University. It's extremely important that Humanism is presented as a
secular alternative to religion. And the Red Bank Humanists want
to help in every way we can.
So far his fall schedule includes:
- A screening of our Red Bank Humanists video project
- A talk by Greg Epstein, the Humanist Chaplain of Harvard
- A HumanLight Celebration (promoted by a new video which
we are helping to produce for the HumanLight organizers).
We'll keep you posted as more programming is developed.
|
| OUR ANNUAL PICNIC IN AUGUST______________________ |
 |
RBH ANNUAL PICNIC
Sunday - August 9, 2009
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
(in lieu of Forum)
Bodman Park
A Middletown Park located very close to Red Bank... N. on Rt. 35, R. on Navesink River Road, and then left on Market St. |
| This year we have a covered pavilion so we can picnic rain or shine! Also, parking is close to the pavilion. We'll have three grills and the grill master will fire them up at 11a.m. so they'll be ready in time to cook (although you must cook your own food). We'll bring the charcoal, plates, utensils, ice, and a few condiments. You need to bring what you'd like to eat and a dish to share. A lawn chair is a good idea as well. Alcohol is not permitted in the park. |
 |
Laughter is something we cherish. Resident clown Art Weiner hugs Prof. Ivan Steinberg in an impromptu moment of foolishness. |
| |
|
|
| OUR ASBURY PARK PRESS LISTING IN THE DATEBOOK____ |
|
| Thanks to all those who sent clippings to me about the rates to put ads in the Asbury Park Press Datebook. I've signed up for 9 days of listings starting on Saturday. We'll see if this ploy works to bring in some new Humanists. |
|
| CAPTAIN AHAB_____________(RBH VP Bruce Fowler)_____ |
| 
Enjoy the photos from Bruce's May sailing trip to St. Martin. There's a
great map of the islands and the course of their trip. Click here.
|
JULY "OPEN TOPIC" FORUM_________________________ |
Thursday - July 30 - 7:00 p.m.
|
At the Open Topic Forum we invite attendees to suggest topics of interest
to Humanists. We’ll pick the most interesting topics and start from
there. Bring your ideas and
conversation starters.
Red Bank Public Library
84 W. Front St.
Red Bank, NJ 07701 |
| |
|
|
| HUMOR _________________________________________ |
| From the Creator of "The Office"
|
He was brought up as a good Christian boy, but at age eight he lost his faith.
“It was weird. I loved Jesus. But one day I was drawing this picture of him doing something, and my brother came in. He must have been 19. He said, ‘What you drawing?’ I said, ‘Jesus.’ He said, ‘What’s he doing?’ I told him and he said, ‘How do you know he did that?’
I said, ‘It’s in the Bible.’
He said, ‘Why do you believe in the Bible?’ And my mother went, ‘Bob, shut up.’ And I thought, ‘She’s lying.’
And within an hour I was an atheist.” |
| |
(thanks to Tim Zebo for this) |
|
HANDYMAN AVAILABLE_____________________________
|
RBH member and handyman, Stephen Mitchell, is available for general handyman work. Some of his services are; garage/ basement organization, drainage problems, cleaning, painting, carpentry, demolition, landscaping, household repairs/ improvements, power washing, and pet sitting. For all inquiries call him at 908-675-6686, or email him at
(Steelman testimonial: A casualty of the sinking economy, Stephen is taking on hanyman work. I hired him to work for one of my clients and he worked for
us at our home as well. He does excellent work!)
|
|
