Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle

The Great Monkey Trial: John Scopes and Clarence Darrow versus William Jennings Bryan and the State of Tennessee
2020-02-16 13:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
EHST member, Mike Conrad, will speak about this famous trial to help us remember and celebrate the work of Charles Darwin and how his work challenged our way of thinking. The fight to teach evolution is still not over! Check these links for more information:
https://futurism.com/battle-teach-evolution-public-schools-far-from-over
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_and_evolution_in_public_education_in_the_United_States

Voices In Our Heads: What Is Your Internal Narrative?
2020-02-09 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
We live our entire waking life immersed in our inner experiences (thoughts, feelings, sensations) – internal private phenomena for us, inaccessible to others. What is the nature of our inner experience – our internal narrative? Is my inner experience structured the same way as your inner experience? Just what are the voices and processes in our heads, anyway? How do our brains affect our thoughts, contributing to our perceptions of ourselves? Our differences in our internal narratives are another aspect of human diversity that should be understood, embraced, and celebrated. This platform will involve audience participation. Randy Best, Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society, is our speaker.

The Story of Love Wins and Community Service
2020-02-02 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Ms. Blu Honeycutt of Love Wins will speak on how and why the Love Wins organization came to be. She will provide information about the community services they provide, including food and shelter to the homeless in Raleigh. From the Love Wins Community Engagement Center website… “What We Believe: We believe that homelessness is, at its core, a relationship issue. People who have deep, intimate relationships and a broad spectrum of social contacts don’t end up chronically homeless. The opposite of homelessness isn’t being housed, it is community. We think relationships have the power to change a life, and ultimately, the world. If we want to change the world, we have to do it together.”

GENTLE REMINDER:
This will be the first Sunday of the month. Please bring canned goods and other non-perishable dry goods for the IFC Food Pantry. Please remember to bring your donations in PAPER grocery bags.

The New Voices of Black Freethinkers
2020-01-26 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Prof. Christopher Cameron, a history professor at UNC Charlotte, a member of Black Nonbelievers of Charlotte, and the author of the recently released book Black Freethinkers: A History of African American Secularism (Northwestern University Press), will speak about his book. Here is an excerpt from the writeup on Goodreads.com:
“Black Freethinkers argues that, contrary to historical and popular depictions of African Americans as naturally religious, freethought has been central to black political and intellectual life from the nineteenth century to the present. Freethought encompasses many different schools of thought, including atheism, agnosticism, and nontraditional orientations such as deism and paganism.”

Humanists Rise Against Hunger (Saturday event)
2020-01-25 13:00 - 15:00 | NC
The Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle has chosen to partner with Rise Against Hunger for a very unique service opportunity. Rise Against Hunger distributes food aid through global partners that administer school feeding programs, orphanages, health clinics, vocational training, and respond to crisis. Be sure to donate and register for this fun, educational, high-impact event. To register as a participant, or to simply make a donation for our $2,000 fundraising goal, use this link: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/ehst.

Annual Meeting of Members 2020
2020-01-19 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
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 2020. We will also seek suggestions from members for our priorities for 2020. Visitors and friends are welcome to attend, but they will not be eligible to vote. Members who cannot be present must submit proxies to the EHST secretary if they wish to have their interests/votes counted at the meeting. Submission of proxies by email is acceptable. See our bylaws section 6 for more information.
As usual, we will have refreshments following the meeting, and an opportunity to ask questions about membership for anyone who is considering joining.

Loss of Ethical and Secular Democratic Values in India Under BJP
2020-01-12 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Ever since the formation of a BJP government in India, since 2014 there has been a steady erosion of ethical behavior and secular democratic values in India. Following their success in the 2019 elections, the Modi-Shah government has adopted an avowed Hindu fundamentalist agenda. Disfranchisement of minorities and revoking citizenship rights of Muslims and Christians is but the latest effort to turn India into a single party Hindu state. EHST member Atish Sen will help us understand the situation in India.

Mr. Sen provided the slides to us, and they can viewed here.

Polyamory - the Case for Consensual Nonmonogamy (CNM)
2020-01-05 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
EHST friend Ken Haslam will speak about polyamory. The New York Times has covered polyamory several times, as well as The Guardian. Is it time to reconsider traditional relationship patterns? Dr. Haslam recommends listening to a podcast on polyamory that aired back in 2014 on “The Humanist Hour,” a production of the American Humanist Association. Here’s the link to it; the program segment on polyamory begins at about 6:00: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3fzgt1adGBVa6at3WAy8rA1a9jmRuM2/view?usp=sharing
Dr. Haslam has been an activist in this expanding community for some 20 years, and established and maintains an archive of CNM history at the Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. He has given dozens of lectures on the subject and followed the growth of this community until just recently, when he retired.

Year End Round Table Discussion
2019-12-29 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
EHST will facilitate a round table discussion focusing on issues that matter most to members and friends of EHST. Come share your thoughts about what matters for this final program of 2019, and equally important, hear what others are thinking.

Winter Solstice Celebration
2019-12-22 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
EHST celebrates the ancient tradition of Winter Solstice with a humanist flavor. Members, friends, and visitors will share their reflections on the season, such as how do humanists find meaning during this time of year, as well as sharing memories of seasons past. We will also have some music provided by the musicians from Sunday Assembly!

Human Trafficking in North Carolina, and What You Need to Know
2019-12-15 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Margaret Henderson, UNC School of Government, will speak to us about Human Trafficking in North Carolina.

This presentation will convey basic information about sex and labor trafficking: What it is and isn’t, who it involves, the forms it takes, and helping us learn more about what we can do to prevent, identify, or respond to the problem.

To better understand how you might not be recognizing the indicators of human trafficking, watch this two minute video from the Michigan State Police.

Margaret Henderson joined the School of Government in 1999. Her current responsibilities include teaching in the School’s MPA program, working with the school’s effort in Engaging Women in Public Service, and assisting NC communities to address human trafficking through Project No Rest, housed in the UNC School of Social Work.

Poetry for Humanists
2019-12-08 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
EHST Friend Hugh Giblin will provide his own poetry, as well as the writings of others, as we seek to enjoy poetry as an expression of our common humanity and of our own roots in Humanism. Guest poets are Michael Hansen, also a writer, and Pam Baggett, a well known local poet.

Right to Die Movement
2019-12-01 13:30 - 15:30 | NC
EHST member, Jay Niver, reviews recent developments in the contentious debate over Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD), including the Canadian model and the failed effort to bring an NC bill to the floor this past spring. Jay and his sister Gretchen produced an award-winning documentary film about the planned death of their father in 1998. The film will not be shown as a part of this presentation.

Our Book Club will meet immediately after the meeting, at our meeting room at Extraordinary Ventures, to discuss the current selection, “The Hare with Amber Eyes.“

GENTLE REMINDER:
This will be the first Sunday of the month. Please bring canned goods and other non-perishable dry goods for the IFC Food Pantry. Please remember to bring your donations in PAPER grocery bags.

Stone Soup Thanksgiving Celebration
2019-11-24 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
On November 24th, EHST will hold its annual “Stone Soup” celebration. We will tell the history of Stone Soup, and then we will each be given an opportunity to express what we can be thankful for in our lives. (Please note that being “thankful” does not require theism; nontheists can be thankful too!)
We will make our own soup using precooked ingredients. Please do NOT bring raw ingredients; there is not enough time to cook them. After heating the broth with the precooked or parboiled ingredients, we will all sit down to enjoy our “stone soup” and fellowship.
Since this is a public event, alcoholic beverages are not permitted. You may bring bread or rolls and/or juice to accompany the soup if you are unable to bring something to put into the soup. Desserts are also welcome!

A World We Want to Live In: Bett Padgett and Her Music
2019-11-17 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Bett Padgett uses music to express her thoughts about today’s social, political, and environmental climate. Her thoughtful and carefully crafted songs shine through with a vision of a world we want to live in. A multi-instrumentalist, she will accompany herself using innovative guitar techniques and banjo in styles that cross the borders of Celtic, Old-time, Folk and New Age. Ethical Humanist Society member Fred Breidt will join her on upright bass.
Bett was born and raised in Durham. You may find out more about her and listen to samples of her music at https://www.bettpadgett.com/.

Helping Children in the North Carolina Court System
2019-11-10 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Nicole Roman, Guardian ad Litem District Administrator in North Carolina, will speak to us about the program. Its mission is to provide trained independent advocates to represent and promote the best interests of abused, neglected, and dependent children in the state court system, and to work expediently toward a plan that ensures these children are placed in safe, permanent homes. The program exists in every county in North Carolina, and serves more than 15,000 children a year.

Environmental Issues in the Piedmont
2019-11-03 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Dr. Tom Hoban will speak to us about environmental issues and problems here in the Piedmont region. He is the Executive Director of the Haw River Assembly. Dr. Hoban has been a communication consultant and environmental social scientist for three decades. He is familiar with all aspects of social science research and theory, and he also has an in-depth understanding of all environmental challenges and concerns – particularly those related to food and water availability.

Extraordinary People
2019-10-27 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Gregg Ireland, founder of Extraordinary Ventures, Inc. (EV), will comment on and present a film about six adults across the autism spectrum, who, despite individual challenges, have found meaningful value and a deep sense of pride from their work at Extraordinary Ventures. The EHST holds its meetings in EV’s conference center, and we are delighted that our rent payments help to support such a worthwhile organization!

How Are We Doing?
2019-10-20 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Each fall, EHST has a meeting of members, friends, and visitors to discuss what has transpired (good, bad, and ugly) for the society, and what looms ahead for us. Our programs, budget, board activity, and needs are reviewed during the meeting. Questions are encouraged, which we will attempt to answer, to allow members and prospective members to understand our “state of the union.” We also will kick off our pledge campaign for 2020. Come get the real facts about our humanist congregation!

Habitat for Humanity and the Cost of Home
2019-10-13 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Alice Jacoby will speak to us about Habitat for Humanity. She is Associate Director for Engagement at Orange County Habitat for Humanity. Each local Habitat for Humanity partners with families to create better, healthier, and more financially stable lives. With their help, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better future for themselves and their families.
The national organization has begun a campaign to make housing affordable for all families. “Habitat knows the complexities that surround the cost of home. We also know the struggle, stress and pain of far too many families in our communities. And we know that those with the fewest resources are forced to make the hardest choices. We have to take a stand and declare our commitment: No family should have to pay more than half of their paycheck to cover the cost of home.”
“Over the next five years, we commit to mobilizing our local Habitat organizations, our partners, our volunteers and community members across the country to find the solutions and help create the policies that will allow 10 million individuals to meet their most basic needs.”

What Does the AEU Do for Us?
2019-10-06 13:30 - 15:30 | NC
EHST members Chris Kaman and Dorothy Dale will give a slide presentation and talk about what the American Ethical Union does for us and other member societies.

GENTLE REMINDER: This will be the first Sunday of the month. Please bring canned goods and other non-perishable dry goods for the IFC Food Pantry.
Please remember to bring your donations in PAPER grocery bags.

EHST: How is it viewed and what is its future?
2019-09-29 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
The Ethical Humanist Society is a community that values democratic principles. This week’s program is a Community Day designed to foster communication and elicit opinions on how we operate, what is valued, and how we can meet members’ expectations and needs.
Jan Broughton will guide the conversation which, together with the survey sent to members and friends, provides a forum to voice opinions and suggest ways to make our society more relevant in our lives.

Einstein's Religion and Ethical Humanism
2019-09-22 13:30 - 15:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Was Einstein religious? If so, how was he religious? And what does that have to do with Ethical Humanism, aka Ethical Culture? EHST will re-broadcast a talk by Joe Chuman, a widely respected leader in Ethical Humanism, in which he argues that not only is Ethical Humanism “religious,” it is a “religion.” Belief in a god, gods, or spiritual beings is not a requirement in Ethical Humanism, so how could it be considered a religion? You will want to listen to his talk, and participate in a discussion afterwards about his talk. (Mr. Chuman will not be present for this event.)

Science, the Scientific Method and Society: A Synthesis?
2019-09-15 09:30 - 11:30 | NC
With the complexity of modern science can the public really understand what is happening in the research world? Do researchers understand the needs and wants of public? Bridging the gap is critical if we are all going to survive in a rapidly changing world. Fred Breidt will briefly describe the history of science, the scientific method, and discuss interactions between science and society.

Can We Go Back? Reclaiming Our Norms in a Post-Trump World
2019-09-08 09:30 - 11:30 | NC
We are living through a time of unprecedented change in the norms of our national politics. How much of that change is an aberration, and how much is permanent, or at least enduring?

Dorothy Dale presents some food for thought and interactive discussion, reflecting her views as an observer, not an expert.

Facebook's Role in Brexit and the Threat to Democracy
2019-09-01 09:30 - 11:30 | NC
In an unmissable TED Talk, journalist Carole Cadwalladr digs into one of the most perplexing events in recent times: the UK’s super-close 2016 vote to leave the European Union. Tracking the result to a barrage of misleading Facebook ads targeted at vulnerable Brexit swing voters − and linking the same players and tactics to the 2016 US presidential election − Cadwalladr calls out the “gods of Silicon Valley” for being on the wrong side of history, and asks: Are free and fair elections a thing of the past?
We will show the video of Ms. Cadwalladr’s TED Talk, and then have a discussion about the problem and how we can respond to it.

GENTLE REMINDER: This will be the first Sunday of the month. Please bring canned goods and other non-perishable dry goods for the IFC Food Pantry.
Please remember to bring your donations in PAPER grocery bags.

Climate Change Activism (rescheduled from an earlier date)
2019-08-25 09:30 - 11:30 | NC
Elijah King, a member of the Youth Steering Committee with the Youth Justice Project of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, will present a program on the efforts of him and other students in the area of climate change. Are we up to the challenge of following their lead?

Elijah King is an inspiring and highly motivated young man who recently graduated from Riverside High School. He came to EHST with Peggy Nicholson several months ago and spoke to us about “Ensuring Fair Treatment of Youths Across All Institutions.” Today we are welcoming him back to tell us more about the Youth Justice Project.

Please note, this program was originally scheduled for June 30th, but had to be postponed.

Judith Lessler, "Department of Corruption"
2019-08-18 09:30 - 11:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Our guest speaker is Judith Lessler, who edited the book “Department of Corruption: Darren Rainey, the Untold Story” (Harold W.J. Hempstead, author).
You may think you know what happens to people who are incarcerated in our prison systems, but you need to know what happened to Darren Rainey, who was imprisoned by the State of Florida. Here’s an excerpt from the writeup on Amazon:
“In this historically factual book, Harold Hempstead chronicles: • Facts about the Darren Rainey case that have never been told to the public and about his work to expose the brutal and fatal scalding of Darren Rainey to the Miami Herald newspaper, • The murdering, starving, torturing, and abusing of Florida inmates by prison staff, • The poisoning of the food that inmates eat with pills, chemicals, feces, and urine by the Florida prison staff, • The extreme physically and sexually violent conditions in the Florida Department of Corrections, • The rise of gang membership and violence in Florida prisons, • Drugs, cellular phones, and other contraband smuggling activities, as well as, • Numerous facts about the culture of corruption and the unconstitutional conditions of the Florida Department of Corrections. Hempstead also describes his personal journey and how his Christian faith has sustained him throughout his nearly 20 years in prison.”
Also note that the new book, “Nickel Boys,” by Colson Whitehead, is a fictional piece but is based on actual facts behind a correctional facility for young offenders in Florida back in the 1950s and 1960s. Ms. Lessler will not speak about this book, but the book illustrates our problems in correctional facilities over time. We can’t fix them if we don’t know how badly they are broken.

Highlights of the AEU Assembly in Tampa
2019-08-11 09:30 - 11:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
The American Ethical Union (AEU) is the national organization of which EHST is a member. Each year the AEU holds a convention, called an “Assembly,” in which delegates from the other Ethical Humanist societies meet for three days of lectures, workshops, entertainment, and a business meeting. EHST President Dorothy Dale, and members Jan Broughton and Chris Kaman attended this year. They will give a presentation covering the highlights of the Assembly.

Teaching American Indian History
2019-08-04 09:30 - 11:30 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Do our public schools teach historically accurate depictions of American Indians? Ryan Dial-Stanley, a member of the Lumbee tribe, will discuss what education should depict. Leslie Locklear was originally scheduled to speak, but had to step aside. She recommended her colleague Mr. Dial-Stanley who is also quite knowledgeable about this issue, and works with her to inform the public of the problem. You can find out more about the problem via this recent article in the News and Observer: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article228639074.html.
