Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle

Bail Bonds: What You Need To Know and To Do
2018-08-05 09:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | NC
Sara Gillooly of the North Carolina branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will speak about the bail bonds system in the U.S. and why it needs reforming. According to Ms. Gillooly:
“Money shouldn’t determine anyone’s freedom. But in North Carolina, our shameful system of cash bail has created a two-tiered justice system that treats people differently not because of the crime they’ve committed but because of the color of their skin and the size of their bank account.
That’s why we are launching a statewide, multiyear effort to overhaul our broken criminal justice system. We are focusing on the unjust for-profit bail system that strips people of their rights, targets poor people and people of color, and hurts families and communities. And we need your help.”
If you want to take action to help them stop, come to our program and/or sign this petition: https://action.aclu.org/petition/nc-endcashbail

Me, The Mafia and Ethics
2018-07-29 09:30 - 11:30
Hugh Giblin, a longtime EHST supporter, will tell of his experience in a labor union controlled by the Chicago Mafia and his work as a whistle-blower with the government. He will also discuss the current legal status of whistle-blowers and ethical considerations. He believes we all can be whistle-blowers.

Memorial Service for James P. Coley, II
2018-07-22 09:30 - 11:30
EHST will host a memorial service for James P. Coley, II. James was a longtime member of the society (20+ years), had served as President, gave numerous lectures, and held many discussions with our members, friends and visitors. He was for several years host of the WCOM radio program Ethics Matters and more recently hosted Radio Free Association on that station.
James wrote many blog posts for EHST, and travelled to several Ethical Humanist Societies to give talks. In 2015 James wrote a summary of his philosophical views…
“I am a metaphysical naturalist, empiricist and scientific realist, with an epistemology that blends elements of foundationalism and coherentism. Circular chains of epistemic justification are allowed as long as they pass through a quasi-foundation of beliefs there is no good reason to doubt.
“My view on free will I call firm determinism. There are conflicting ordinary language concepts of free will; my Control Theory of Freedom offers autonomous control as a successor. There are variations of the concept, and most but not all of them are incompatible with determinism.
“In ethics, I have a prescriptivist view. There are no objective values, but that is no reason for me not to act on my Humanist value system. I believe in reason, but it is only instrumental with respect to a value system.
“I am an atheist. There is no purpose for human life ordained by the Universe, evolution or anything else. We give life significance and purpose through our values, and most importantly our actions. The way to find meaning in life is to find meaningful things to do — and then do them.”

All those who knew him will miss his wit, his incisive mind, and his dedication to logical argument and Ethical Humanism.
Donations can be made in his memory to either the CAN-DO Foundation, P.O. Box 6468, Malibu, CA 90264, or to the WCOM-FM radio station, 300-G E. Main St., Carrboro, NC 27510.

What Can You Believe If You Don't Believe in God?
2018-07-15 09:30 - 11:30
Our guest speaker on July 15 will be Michael Werner.
Many people criticize the “rise of the Nones” for its nihilism. “There is no God,” full stop, is not a useful replacement for the comfort and guidance traditional religion seeks to provide.
Michael Werner’s thoughtful new book, “What Can You Believe When You Don’t Believe in God?” confronts this criticism head-on.
Werner believes in plenty. He believes in the lifestance many call “humanism,” which he puts in compelling historical perspective. He believes in knowledge, and how humankind can attain it, without the benefit of supernatural revelation. He believes in shared human values, and in a thoughtful process for developing them. He believes in “meaning.” Not, as some traditional religionists would have it, meaning found in a happy or tortured afterlife, but meaning in the here and now: Making a difference because you have lived, and lived well.
Humanists who decline to be guided by invisible spirits must decide for themselves how to distinguish right from wrong – not always an easy task, as Werner points out. One of the most valuable facets of his approach is his guided tour through the minefield of ethical systems, and his ultimate settling on an ethical pluralism – “do what works.”
The pinnacle of Werner’s humanist belief system is civilization itself. Not just dry science – though all must start with that – but the full flowering of human emotion as expressed in art in all its exuberance.

A Dialog With UNC Professor Molly Worthen
2018-07-08 09:30 - 11:30
EHST is pleased to have UNC Professor of History, Molly Worthen, as our guest. She will speak briefly, but prefers to have dialog with us in a question-and-answer format. So, we will need to be prepared with good questions! We recommend that you read the following articles she has written:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/05/a-match-made-in-heaven/521409/
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/02/opinion/sunday/sex-gender-christian-campuses.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/18/opinion/sunday/where-in-the-world-can-we-find-hope.html

Of course, if you have read her recent book, Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelism, you will be well prepared to ask her questions, too!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.”

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
