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Hi folks,

Thanks to those who attended a good discussion on free will. Interestingly enough, some naturalists think that naturalism leads to nihilism - that a worldview based in science leaves no room for authentic human meaning or morality. This is a charge often made against naturalism by supernaturalists, who say we need God to be good and to find sufficient meaning in life. Are these pessimists about naturalism right?

This all gets discussed in an exchange between philosopher Alex Rosenberg and various commentators, including yours truly, see The Disenchanted Naturalist's Guide to Reality at On the Human.

I'll be reserving a table for us at Redline in the back room. NOTE: Parking is free at the garage adjacent to Redline (at the corner of JFK and Elliot streets) if you order food!

best,

Tom

twc at naturalism.org
617-480-8846

PS: if you have topics you'd like to discuss or other ideas for future meetups, or meeting spots you like, please suggest them.

PPS: If someone has a big living room where we could all gather to watch a film, it might be fun to see Knowing, which deals with predestination, free will, etc. Other suggestions for films related to our concerns most welcome.

General description of what we're about (this bit doesn't change from month to month):

Allies of Naturalism welcomes those interested in exploring and promoting a science-based, humanistic and progressive naturalism that can make a difference in our lives. To see what's involved in being a humanistic and progressive naturalist (more or less), check out Naturalism.Org, centerfornaturalism.org and the Guide to Naturalism at http://www.centerfornaturalism.org/descriptions.htm.

Essentially, naturalism shows our full connection to the world and others, leads to an ethics of compassion, and gives us far greater control over our circumstances. We don't need anything supernatural either above us or inside us to lead moral and meaningful lives: nature is enough. Naturalism is a viable alternative to faith-based worldviews such as traditional religions and new age philosophies, offering a set of ideas with positive personal and social consequences.

The meetings offer a chance to meet fellow naturalists in an informal, relaxed setting, but with at least some structure. That's to say that we'll try to have one or two topics suggested in advance for people to think about, and then discuss when we get together. Ultimately the focus and format of the meetings will be determined by participants, but will certainly include time for socializing and networking. Watch the discussion board for topic announcements and other details. Hope to see you there!