Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle

Nationalism as a Religion and Cultural Force in America and Europe
2017-01-22 08:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
UNC History Professor Lloyd Kramer will speak to us about how nationalism resembles a religion (to suggest its emotional power), but will link this theme to current developments in Europe and the US. He will offer some perspectives on issues such as Brexit and current transitions in American public life.
We are also lucky to have the Chatham Choristers join us for music to open our meeting. This informal group of music lovers will sing three songs we hope all will enjoy: Over the Rainbow, What a Wonderful World, and Try to Remember. Come on time, we have a full agenda!

Charter for Compassion (Ted Talk)
2017-01-15 08:30 - 10:30
EHST will show a TED talk by Karen Armstrong, and discuss her talk. Here’s info from her talk: “People want to be religious, says scholar Karen Armstrong; we should help make religion a force for harmony. She asks the TED community to help build a Charter for Compassion — to restore the Golden Rule as the central global religious doctrine. Religious thinker Karen Armstrong has written more than 20 books on faith and the major religions, studying what Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in common, and how our faiths shaped world history and drive current events.”
Note that Mr. Zimmerman has cancelled his talk which was scheduled for today.

Hip Hop Humanism and the Eradication of Racism - Cancelled due to Weather Conditions
2017-01-07 20:30 - 2017-01-08 10:30
Due to the road conditions, we have cancelled this program. EHST will NOT meet this Sunday. We will reschedule this program for a later date.

New Year's Resolutions, Expectations, & Plans
2016-12-31 20:30 - 2017-01-01 10:30
For those of you who have survived New Year’s Eve parties, we will have an informal discussion focusing on resolutions for the new year, expectations for the new year, and plans that folks have to make the year better for all people. We know one thing, that 2017 will be a year of perhaps radical change across the nation, and many people will be affected. What’s en ethical humanist to do? Come share your ideas!

Humanist Happy Hour in Pittsboro
2016-12-28 13:00 - 15:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular, monthly Humanist Happy Hour at the City Tap in Pittsboro. We meet here the fourth Wednesday evening each month. Parking is available on the street, and in nearby parking lots across from, and down the street from City Tap.

No Meeting This Sunday
2016-12-24 - 2016-12-25
EHST will not hold a meeting this Sunday. We are taking the Sunday off!

Winter Solstice Celebration
2016-12-18 08:30 - 10:30
EHST celebrates the ancient tradition of Winter Solstice with a humanist flavor. Members, and visitors will share reflections on the REASON for the season, such as how do humanists find meaning during this time of year, as well as sharing memories of seasons past. We are also fortunate to have singer and songwriter Bob Funck who will perform a couple of his songs, and help us sing a couple of solstice appropriate songs. We also plan to have other goodies for our members, friends and visitors!

Humanist Happy Hour in Chapel Hill
2016-12-14 13:00 - 15:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular, monthly Humanist Happy Hour at the Mellow Mushroom in Chapel Hill (2nd Wednesdays). Parking is available on Rosemary Street behind the Mellow Mushroom across from Breadmans Restaurant. The parking lot is marked as parking for Mellow Mushroom customers.

Damage to North Carolina from HB 2 - NC Policy Watch
2016-12-11 08:30 - 10:30
Chris Fitzsimon of NC Policy Watch will speak on the Damage to North Carolina from House Bill 2. NC Policy Watch has provided extensive coverage of House Bill 2 and its harmful effects upon North Carolina. Chris Fitzsimon is the Founder and Director of NC Policy Watch – a progressive public policy think tank that is a special project of the N.C. Justice Center. Fitzsimon writes the daily Fitzsimon File, delivers a daily radio commentary that is broadcast statewide on the North Carolina News Network, and hosts News and Views, a weekly radio news magazine that also airs on the network stations.

Brain Fuel Evolution: The Nutrients of Change
2016-12-04 08:30 - 10:30
Author Guy Beretich will speak on “Brain Fuel Evolution: The Nutrients of Change.” This is the title of his most recent book. Dr. Beretich’s book traces the rise and decline in civilizations to the rise and decline of brain fuels. With our knowledge of nutrients and their effect on the brain, we now know which nutrient deficiencies cause depression, and even which nutrients improve memory and intelligence. He calls these nutrients “brain fuels.” He has also written How Nutrients Changed Civilization: A New Theory of Evolution, Enlightenment and Renaissance in 2013, and A Unifying Hypothesis for Diabetes, Depression and Obesity also in 2013. Dr. Beretich has PhD in Immunology/Biotechnology from North Carolina State University.

America's Forgotten Working Class
2016-11-27 08:30 - 10:30
J.D. Vance is featured in this Ted Talk (pre-recorded) from September of this year. Given that the recent election may have swung based on these voters and their interests, his talk is right on the mark. We will listen to his talk, and discuss it. Note that Mr. Vance is also the author of Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and a Culture in Crisis which was published in June of this year.

Humanist Happy Hour in Pittsboro
2016-11-23 13:00 - 15:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular, monthly Humanist Happy Hour at the City Tap in Pittsboro. We meet here the fourth Wednesday evening each month.

Stone Soup 2016 Celebration
2016-11-20 08:30 - 10:30
EHST will celebrate its annual “Stone Soup” celebration. Chris Kaman, President, will tell us the story of Stone Soup, and then we will express what we can be thankful for in our lives. Note that being “thankful” does not require theism; nontheists can be thankful too! We will make our own soup using precooked chicken, turkey, or veggies. We will have both a veggie and meat based soup. Please do NOT bring raw ingredients; there is not enough time to cook them. Then we will sit down to enjoy our “stone” soup and fellowship.
Since this is a public event, alcoholic beverages are not permitted. You may bring bread, and juices to supplement the soup if you are unable to bring something for the soup.

Fall 2016 Membership Meeting
2016-11-13 08:30 - 10:30
Each fall EHST has a meeting of members, friends, and visitors to discuss what has transpired (good, bad, and ugly) for the society, and that looms ahead for us. Our programs, budget, and board activity and needs are reviewed. Questions and answers are encouraged to allow members to understand our “state of the union”.

Humanist Happy Hour in Chapel Hill
2016-11-09 13:00 - 15:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular, monthly Humanist Happy Hour at the Mellow Mushroom in Chapel Hill. Parking is available on Rosemary Street behind the Mellow Mushroom across from Breadmans restaurant. The parking lot is marked as parking for Mellow Mushroom customers.

Election 2016 Discussion
2016-11-06 08:30 - 10:30
Some say that this election is one of the most important in recent history; others don’t plan to vote at all. Many like neither Presidential candidate, and plan to vote for the Green or Libertarian candidate. There are many “down ballot” races that also matter such as Senator and House of Representative candidates, and then from governor on down to local county commissioner races. What is a thinking and caring person to do? Come join us for a lively discussion about the election!

How to Treat Others: From Our Children to Our Country
2016-10-30 09:30 - 11:30
Randy Best, Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society, will speak on the Ethical Humanist ideal of how to treat
others. Starting with the example of changing ideas about better ways to interact with our children, he will talk about inclusion, cooperation, and breaking the cycle of dehumanizing violence. Mr. Best will expand the principles for how to treat children to our larger society and the contesting ideas of the contemporary political contest.

Cooking and Serving at the Chapel Hill Community Kitchen
2016-10-27 12:00 - 15:00
We are cooking and serving at the Chapel Hill Community Kitchen. Cooks work from 4-6 pm, and servers work from 6-7 pm. If you would like to help, please email us. Our coordinator will be in touch. This is a great way to help those who need a good meal! EHST has been cooking and serving for at least 22 years, our longest running service program!

Humanist Happy Hour in Pittsboro
2016-10-26 14:00 - 16:00, 2016-09-28 14:00 - 16:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular Humanist Happy Hour at the City Tap in Pittsboro. We meet here the fourth Wednesday evening each month.

The Why and How of Effective Altruism (Ted Talk)
2016-10-23 09:30 - 11:30
We will show the Ted Talk by Peter Singer: The Why and How of Effective Altruism. Afterward we will share our reactions to his talk. In a world with so many problems and human needs, this talk may help you determine how you can be effective.
Note that our originally scheduled program for today was cancelled by the speaker. We apologize for any inconvenience!

A Better Justice System
2016-10-16 09:30 - 11:30
As a followup to the program last Sunday (10/9) we will show the TED talk video “A Prosecutor’s Vision For a Better Justice System” followed by a discussion of the talk, and points raised by last week’s program. Much news coverage of the excessive use of force by police departments has directed attention to that problem as it should. In the TED talk prosecutor Adam Foss discusses other problems focused around the role of the prosecutor.

Fall Buycott Sponsored by Orange County Living Wage
2016-10-15 12:00 - 14:00
Orange County Living Wage (OCLW) is sponsoring a “buycott” for Mystery Brewing Company in Hillsboro (230 S. Nash St). A “buycott” is the opposite of a “boycott”. Come reward Mystery Brewing for paying a living wage (as certified by OCLW). For more information, see Orange County Living Wage.

Humanist Happy Hour in Chapel Hill
2016-10-12 14:00 - 16:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular Humanist Happy Hour at the Mellow Mushroom in Chapel Hill. Parking is available on Rosemary Street behind the Mellow Mushroom across from Breadmans. The parking lot is marked as parking for Mellow Mushroom customers.

Prison, Family, and Reintegration
2016-10-09 09:30 - 11:30
Susan Simone, a long-time volunteer at Orange Correctional center, will bring a group current and former inmates to talk about their experience as inmates and as family members.

Why is family support so important?
How do you maintain relationships with parents, siblings and children from behind bars?
How does this play out when you are released?
What is it like to be in prison, to face re-entry without a family?

And how can we as members of a community receiving these men as they work to re-enter, to leave their prison experience behind, integrate, find connections, and become part of the larger social family?

The Support Circle Program and EHST
2016-10-02 09:30 - 11:30
The Support Circle Program is run by the Interfaith Council. EHST has partnered with two other congregations to provide support to one individual who is struggling to move out of homelessness. (The individual’s name is confidential.) Three of our members who are involved in the program will describe the program, and their experience of it thus far.

Chatham Arts Guild
2016-09-25 09:30 - 11:30
Shannon Bueker, President of the Chatham Arts Guild, will speak to us about the guild and what it does in Chatham County to encourage the arts. You may ask, “What does the arts have to do with Ethical Humanism?” One of the aims of Ethical Humanism is to bring out the best in others. Bringing the arts to more people not only gives them a chance to enjoy the arts, but to participate in them, and bring out their hidden talents.

Cooking and Serving at the Chapel Hill Community Kitchen
2016-09-22 00:00 - 15:00
We are cooking and serving at the Chapel Hill Community Kitchen on Thursday. Cooks work from 4-6 pm, and servers work from 6-7 pm. If you would like to help, please email us. Our coordinator will be in touch. This is a great way to help those who need a good meal! EHST has been cooking and serving for at least 22 years, our longest running service program!

Book Discussion - The Namesake
2016-09-17 23:30 - 2016-09-18 13:00
The EHST Book Group will discuss The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. Our meeting is free and open to the public. Please join us in Meeting Rm. D in the Chapel Hill Library from 3:30-5 pm to participate!

The Transhumanist Movement
2016-09-17 21:30 - 2016-09-18 11:30
James Croft will speak on “The Transhumanist Movement.” Wikipedia defines transhumanism as “an international and intellectual movement that aims to transform the human condition by developing and creating widely available sophisticated technologies to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities.” James also blogs at Patheos.
At the AEU assembly in St. Louis this year James Croft was certified as an Ethical Humanist Leader. He is working for the St. Louis Ethical Society as their outreach coordinator.
