Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle

Health Care Reform: Ethics, Policy and Politics
2017-12-10 08:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
Is there a moral right to affordable health care? What are the best policy options to make it possible for everyone to afford the health care they need, and which among them are politically achievable in the US? These questions have been asked for half a century, and in the last decade health care reform has finally been achieved. But where will we go from here, and how can politically sustainable policy be better aligned with ethics? James Coley will explore these questions.
James Coley has a master’s degree in philosophy from UNC Chapel Hill, where he works in the medical school. He has given numerous talks to Ethical Culture and Humanist societies in New York, Chicago, Baltimore and elsewhere and was the host of the “Ethics Matters” radio and podcast program.

A Better Life: An Exploration of Joy & Meaning in a World Without God
2017-12-17 08:30 - 10:30
EHST will celebrate the Winter Solstice by showing the film “A Better Life: An Exploration of Joy & Meaning in a World Without God.” Chris Johnson is the filmmaker. You can find out more about the film, and Mr. Johnson via this link: https://www.theatheistbook.com/pages/about-us.
We will have refreshments during the showing of the film, rather than afterward. Come join us for a celebration of humanism!

No Meeting Today
2017-12-24 08:30 - 10:30
EHST will NOT have a program today. Our next program will be on 12/31/17.

What Should We Resolve To Do In 2018?
2017-12-31 08:30 - 10:30
We will use a small group discussion format to consider what we as individuals, as well as EHST, should resolve to do in 2018. What is important, and what is not? What are your personal goals for a new year? We will share with each other, and perhaps learn something important in the process!

Working Toward Racial Equity
2018-01-07 08:30 - 10:30
Racial equity is focused on addressing racism in organizations and communities. It requires an understanding of the history of racism as well as how institutional racism has created conditions which still prevent people of color from participating equally in our economy. Stephanie Terry is an activist for racial equity, and has been working in Orange, Durham, and Wake Counties for many years. She will help us understand where we are and where we need to go in 2018. She is also an entrepreneur who has her own vegan catering business.

What Went Wrong with Turkey and Why does it Matter?
2018-01-14 08:30 - 10:30
Two members of the Turkish Muslim community in the Triangle will talk to us about the Erdoğan regime in Turkey, and its impact, and why many Turkish Muslim families have recently come and started a new life in the United States, while facing many new challenges here.

One of our speakers is a graduate of Hartford Seminary in Connecticut with a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim relations and Dialogue. She received the graduate certificate in Islamic chaplaincy. She worked as a university chaplain intern at Cornell University and completed her clinical pastoral education at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, as a hospital chaplain. She has lived with her family in Cary, NC since 2010. She has served as one of the board members of Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies, Raleigh branch, and she has taught at the Continuing Education Department of Duke University since 2012, offering Introduction to Islam classes.

Our other speaker describes himself as American by nationality, of Turkish heritage. He is a Muslim by religion, and his principles are Universalist. He first came to San Diego, California in 1998 for graduate studies, and then moved to San Francisco during the dot com boom, where he got married and started a family. He moved with his wife and three children to NC in 2016. He is a head coach to a Buckeyes team. He and his family love the community here. He currently works as a consultant and is in the process of building a new startup.

If you were not able to attend this program, or would like more information about it, you will find a great resource here to help you understand the situation in Turkey:
https://fgulen.com/images/en-EN/what_went_wrong_with_turkey.pdf

A Tender Struggle: Story of a Marriage
2018-01-21 08:30 - 10:30
Krista Bremer, author of “A Tender Struggle: Story of a Marriage,” will speak to us about her book. We can learn a lot about ourselves and humanism when we understand why some people are attracted to other world views and religions. Ms. Bremer will explore her book, and her experiences in her journey toward love and Islam. Here is an excerpt about the book from goodreads.com:
“Fifteen years ago, Krista Bremer, a California-bred feminist, surfer, and aspiring journalist, met Ismail Suayah, sincere, passionate, kind, yet from a very different world. One of eight siblings born in an impoverished fishing village in Libya, Ismail was raised a Muslim–and his faith informed his life. When Krista and Ismail made the decision to become a family, she embarked on a journey she never could have imagined, an accidental jihad: a quest for spiritual and intellectual growth that would open her mind and, more important, her heart.”

EHST Annual Meeting of Members - 2018
2018-01-28 08:30 - 10:30
EHST will hold its annual meeting of members. This is a business meeting where the members will (re-)elect board members, and pass a budget for 2018. We will also seek membership feedback on our activities for 2017 and suggestions for 2018. Visitors are welcome to attend, but they will not be able to vote. Members who can not be present must submit proxies to the EHST secretary if they wish to have their interests/votes counted at the meeting. Plus we have a musical treat to spice up the proceedings; Jack Traywick will sing a few songs for us. Mr. Traywick is a member of EHST, and enjoys singing for friends and neighbors.

The State of Reproductive Rights in North Carolina
2018-02-04 08:30 - 10:30
Tara Romano of NARAL will address reproductive rights in North Carolina. Did you know that North Carolina is on NARAL’s list of “severely restricted access” states for reproductive rights? For example 90% of the counties in NC have no abortion clinic. Here is a summary of reproductive rights in NC: https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/state/north-carolina/. Another good link for comparing NC to other states is from the Guttmacher Institute: https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/state-policies-later-abortions
You also might want to review these two articles about abortions after 20 weeks:
1) Senate Rejects Measure to Ban Abortion after 20 Weeks of Pregnancy.
2) Is the United States one of seven countries that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy?

Thomas Huxley: Darwin's Bulldog
2018-02-11 08:30 - 10:30
EHST is celebrating Darwin Day Eve with a talk by our own Mike Conrad. Mr. Conrad will focus on the life and writing of Thomas Henry Huxley who was known as “Darwin’s Bulldog” for his advocacy of Darwin’s theory of evolution. The official Darwin Day is the 12th. You can find many resources to educate yourself more about Darwin here. To support efforts in Congress to honor Darwin Day, click here.

My Evolution of Thinking About Race – A Personal Journey
2018-02-18 08:30 - 10:30
You don’t know what you don’t know, which is a significant factor when discussing any topic, particularly race and race relations. After being inspired by Solomon Gibson’s presentation to EHST about starting a conversation on race, EHST member (and current President) Dorothy Dale wanted to offer her own perspective on how her thinking regarding race has evolved over the years. She also will talk about what remains personally perplexing to her about race in America.

Book Group… Following this meeting will be our book discussion group at the Chapel Hill Public Library. We are discussing the book “Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History” by Kurt Anderson. The discussion will run from 3:30-5:00 pm in meeting room “D.” Visitors are welcome to join us!
Black History Month… Our recognition of Black History Month continues with the story of Robert Smalls. Born a slave in South Carolina, he made his way to freedom, and later served in the South Carolina State Assembly and Senate until Reconstruction ended, which brought back white rule. PBS has a great writeup about him. Please take a few minutes to pay honor to him.

A Community Day on Racial Justice
2018-02-25 08:30 - 10:30
For too long issues of racial justice have remained unresolved. The focus of this Community Day is to identify major racial justice issues, determine which intersect with the current focus of actions within the ethical movement, and where our efforts as a society would best be spent. In a discussion format of small groups, we will share more personal experiences, and then return to the larger group to consolidate our findings.

Abortion: Three Solutions to the Social Issue
2018-03-04 08:30 - 10:30
The decision on whether or not to terminate a pregnancy has existed for as long as the realization that it was possible. What came with it was generations-long explorations of biological and moral imperatives, gender roles, personal responsibilities, religious beliefs, and much more. In America, issues surrounding the choice of ending a pregnancy crystallized in the ’60s, and remained unresolved despite the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. EHST friend and frequent contributor Solomon Gibson will give a presentation that points out the basic problems of the issue, pros and cons of the momentous court decision, some of its effects, and three solutions that may serve to settle this important issue.

What is Humanism Anyway?
2018-03-11 09:30 - 11:30
James Coley, an EHST member, philosopher, and radio host of “Ethics Matters,” will speak to us about the concepts of Humanism through the lens of the Humanist Manifesto III. What are its key points? This is a must for anyone who is a Humanist, or is curious about what Humanism is. You may view the historic first Humanist Manifesto (1933) via this link. The second manifesto (1973) can be viewed via this link. (These prior manifestos will not be covered in his talk, but are provided for your own curiosity.)
EHST members should attend this program to help them determine whether the Humanist Manifesto III represents their own orientation to Ethical Humanism. EHST will consider whether to change from being an affiliate of, to a chapter of the American Humanist Association, at a meeting to be announced later this year.

Without A Compass
2018-03-18 09:30 - 11:30
Local author Martin Terrell will discuss his new book, a memoir, “Without A Compass.” Here is what Amazon.com says about the book and its author: Without A Compass follows a young man born into a situation where the odds are against him. After the death of his mother he constantly struggles to escape his stepfather and Cincinnati’s notorious West End. Undergoing many changes against a backdrop of drugs, poverty and prison, he finds his purpose through involvement with the historic social movements of his generation. After overcoming bitter set-backs, he finds redemption through an unforeseen combination of individuals and events. Without A Compass shows how frightening, difficult, and even ostracizing, earning a college degree can be if you live on Gest Street in Cincinnati or on any other street like it anywhere in the country.
Martin Terrell and his wife Jeanette live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with their pampered dog, Charlie. Now retired, Martin worked for more than twenty years as a “professional beggar,” as he puts it. The former Campaign Manager and Major Gift fundraiser enjoyed raising funds for both universities and non-profits. He is co-author of the Social, Political and Economic Contexts of Public Relations, a Journalism graduate school textbook, and of a children’s book, Amanda Salamander Discovers the Secret of Happily Ever After. Without A Compass is his first memoir.

The Evolution of Empathy
2018-03-25 09:30 - 11:30
In this TED talk from RSA Animate, bestselling author Jeremy Rifkin investigates the evolution of empathy and the profound ways it has shaped human development and society.
Author and social thinker Jeremy Rifkin asks, “Can we reach biosphere consciousness and global empathy in time to avert planetary collapse?”
We will watch this short (10.39 minutes) TED talk and we will then discuss it in a group setting.
Jeremy Rifkin is an American economic and social theorist, writer, public speaker, political adviser, and activist, with some very controversial theories.

How Fragile Is American Democracy?
2018-04-01 09:30 - 11:30
Randy Best, Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society, will speak on the fragility of American Democracy. American Democracy, with three independent branches, was designed to withstand all threats, domestic and foreign. Is American Democracy robust enough to withstand the challenges that it faces today? Will it be able to be faithful to its principles? What events are required for American Democracy to collapse? Mr. Best will address these challenges and his fears about the future of American Democracy.

The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Chapter of the American Humanist Association
2018-04-08 09:30 - 11:30
Longtime member, Chris Kaman, will give the pros and cons of EHST changing its relationship with the American Humanist Association from an affiliate to a chapter. This is a chance for our members, friends, and visitors to learn and discuss this proposal. EHST does NOT plan to leave the American Ethical Union; we are committed to our longtime national organization. There will be no vote on the AHA proposal at this meeting. Members will vote on this at our Founders Day on May 13th. Notices will be sent prior to that meeting, and proxies are encouraged for anyone who cannot attend that meeting on May 13th.

Why Confederate Monuments Matter
2018-04-15 09:30 - 11:30
The existence of Confederate monuments in our country has been challenged by those advocating racial equity, and defended by those who claim that their Southern heritage includes such monuments. New Orleans has removed all of its monuments on public property. Richmond, Virginia, has established a commission to determine how to reconcile Monument Street with Richmond’s current values. In Durham, protesters removed a statue by force. Howard Fifer, a retired lawyer, will discuss why these monuments matter, and address the situation here in North Carolina where the legislature has tied the hands of local communities in deciding what to do with these monuments.

Back in My Day: A Millennial Monologue
2018-04-22 09:30 - 11:30
What do you call a group of 1980s born rebels? Millennials! Yes, this convolution generation is categorized as uncommitted professionals, socially and personally unavailable, and sensitive adults who are constantly challenging the status quo. The life of the millennial is one filled with stereotypes, but how will this group turn out as they grow older and wiser? Join the Revolutionary Jé Hooper in a creative performance platform entitled, Back in My Day: A Millennial Monologue. Explore with the depth of the millennial mindset through song and dramatization as he shares his joys, sorrows, and hopes. (Some mild explicit language and/or content may be demonstrated.)
AEU Leader-in-Training, Jé Hooper, is our speaker. Mr. Hooper describes himself as a black and gay performer, preacher, producer, and he is PhD bound. He has studied at the Pratt Institute, and has focused on faith, art, and justice at the Union Theological Seminary in New York.

One Hundred Fifty Years of American Musical History
2018-04-29 09:30 - 11:30
Singer and songwriter Patrick Kelly will be with us on April 29. His program, America’s Music, will focus on the four recognized American musical styles. Although each has elements of European and/or African musical styles, these four styles are considered uniquely American by music historians. Patrick will take us on a musical tour of more than 150 years of American musical history.
Patrick Kelly is a composer, songwriter, and singer. Since 1986, he has traveled the world, visiting all the continents except Africa and Antarctica. He also lived for fifteen years in Europe and the Middle East – four years in Ireland and eleven years in Israel. He now lives in Akron, Ohio.

A boomer's 50-year journey from Earth Lover to Humanistic Entrepreneur to Spiritual Visionary
2018-05-06 09:30 - 11:30
“Finding her Way, Listening to her Heart, Discovering what Gift she has to Give: A boomer’s 50-year journey from Earth Lover to Humanistic Entrepreneur to Spiritual Visionary.”
Sharon Ryan grew up on a farm in Connecticut and has been an Earth Lover all her life. In 2006 she founded a local 501(c)(3) called New Millennium Awakening. During the past twelve years, the focus of New Millennium Awakening has evolved from “Mind, Body, Spirit, Right and Left Brain,” to “Mind, Body, Spirit, Heart and Soul.”
Sharon will speak to us about her work as a humanistic entrepreneur and her spiritual vision. New Millennium Awakening seeks to foster greater awareness, understanding, communication, healing and enlightenment among all the inhabitants of Earth. The name symbolizes our hope that we are entering a new era when knowledge will increase in many realms including recognizing the deep ties that bind us all such that we may come to respect one another and peacefully coexist.

EHST Founders Day
2018-05-13 09:30 - 11:30
EHST will celebrate our annual Founders Day commemoration of our society’s founding back in 1986. We will show a brief film about the history of the New York Society for Ethical Culture which was founded by Felix Adler back in 1876.
EHST will also have a membership meeting to vote on whether to change our relationship with the American Humanist Association from an affiliate to a chapter. Only members may vote on this, but our friends and visitors are welcome to stay for the discussion and vote. Members who can not attend can vote via the designation of a proxy.

Love Without Borders
2018-05-20 09:30 - 11:30
Allison Mahaley, a local activist for immigrant rights and for church-state separation, will give a lecture titled “Love without Borders.” It is a call for all people to step up and take action on behalf of immigrants and refugees from a humanist perspective. She will talk about the current political situation, temper it with some humor and personal stories, and then discuss why it is human, not religious, to take care of one another by being loving neighbors. She will also offer those interested an opportunity to become involved in the work of actually protecting immigrants.
We will also have a few songs from “A Different Thread,” the musical duo of Alicia Best, and Robert Jackson. Their “British-Americana” music is inspired by the songs that “crossed and crisscrossed the Atlantic Ocean,” combining traditional English folk, and country, blues, and bluegrass.

Gather the Spirit All Humanists!
2018-05-27 09:30 - 11:00
“Gather the Spirit” deals with the elusive word “spirit” — a word that is often bandied about but seems to mean different things to different people. In this program Eric Thomas, and Helen Wolf visit the concept of spirit from a Humanist perspective and discover that the word embodies a core concept that can be meaningful to many Humanists. Eric and Helen will also employ music in their presentation; both are musicians and composers. Check out their duo called “Constellation.”

Gun Violence in America - What You Need To Know and To Do
2018-06-03 09:30 - 11:30
Sara K. Veety of North Carolina Moms Demand Action will speak about gun violence in America. June 1st is National Gun Violence Prevention Day. Supporters of gun reforms will wear orange June 1-3 to show their support for reasonable laws to stem the level of violence in our schools and communities. Although the CDC has been prevented by Congress from making recommendations regarding gun violence prevention, many nonprofit groups conduct research, and many groups support reasonable gun reforms, such as the American Public Health Association; check out their position on gun violence. There seems to be a myriad of organizations promoting reasonable gun laws. Here are a few:
The Giffords Foundation – founded by Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly. Here are their core issues: https://giffords.org/learn/issues/.
The Alliance for Gun Responsibility Foundation.
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Roundtable Discussion
2018-06-10 09:30 - 11:30
Our program this week will be a discussion of recent programs and current events. The possible topics will include our recent program on gun violence, the Supreme Court decision upholding the baker’s right not to bake a cake for a same sex wedding, humanist spirituality, and immigration. The discussion will be moderated by EHST member and program chair, John Holmgren.

Journey from Bangladesh
2018-06-17 09:30 - 11:30
Zerin Firoze will speak to us about her journey out of Bangladesh in 2016.
Zerin Firoze is an outspoken Ex-Muslim and Bengali atheist. She is an advocate for secularism in Bangladesh. She has fearlessly spoken out against extremism in spite of the threats against her life. Despite the deadly attacks against secularists in Bangladesh, Zerin has used her real name and photos on social media while continuing to fight against Islamic extremism. In 2015 alone, six prominent atheist and secular bloggers were killed by armed gangs. Since the outbreak of violence, the government has done little to protect outspoken atheists, including the 84 Bangladeshis who appeared on a “hit list” published by the group “Defenders of Islam.”
Zerin also had to struggle a lot for her education, and that is why she is a fierce advocate for women’s rights. In 2016, Zerin fled the violence and threats to her life in Bangladesh, and is currently living in the United States. She is an international student, majoring in nursing, as well as seeking asylum in the United States.

Is Your Water Safe to Drink?
2018-06-24 09:30 - 11:30
Many of us believe our water is safe to drink. Some rural residents drink well water. Urban residents drink municipal supplied water. Yet, as residents of Flint, Michigan found out, one can not assume that municipal water is safe to drink. Please check out the recent update on the problem there as featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Lisa Sorg of NC Policy Watch will be here to bring us up to date on water quality issues in North Carolina.

Community Day
2018-07-01 09:30 - 11:30
The Declaration of Independence expresses high ideals to throw off a despotic government and create a government dedicated to ensuring the safety and happiness of its people. Both before and since this declaration, people have been coming to America for many reasons: Religious freedom, escaping persecution, violence, or poverty, or for adventure, education, and other reasons, most importantly including those who were enslaved to serve the ends of the landowners whose prosperity was dependent on their labor.
Join us in small groups to share your family story – when and why did you or your ancestors come to America, what is the family lore on that journey and early adaptation, how has it shaped your feelings on America’s promise?
With the larger group, we will discuss today’s immigration situation, its benefits and problems. What can we do to improve the process?

Also, please remember that First Sunday is our IFC Food Pantry collection day. Summertime is a critical time for donations, as many organizations are not as active then but people still need to eat. Please go to http://www.ifcweb.org/needs#pantry to see the suggested list of items. You do not need to provide a variety of goods; a bag of one item is just as welcome. Thank you for your generosity.
