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Hi folks,

Thanks to those who attended a good discussion on meditation. We also touched on the issue of free will, which deserves more attention. Atheists and humanists for the most part haven't faced up to the questions about human agency raised by holding a naturalistic worldview. Given that science-based naturalism suggests we are fully physical beings, subject to cause and effect, what happens to free will? Do we still have it? And if we don't, what are the implications? Lots about this at Naturalism.Org, for instance at the free will and criminal justice pages.

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!

Hi folks,

Thanks to those who attended a good discussion about consciousness and how it might be naturalized - not so easy!

Perhaps equally difficult is naturalizing morality. Since naturalists believe there is nothing supernatural out there, morality has to be a natural phenomenon. But as theists often complain, how do naturalists justify the idea of objective moral standards, and the particular standards we think are right? Put another way, how can we be good, and know we're being good, without God to lay down the law for us?

Steve Pinker has a good article on the natural basis for morality here, and Naturalism.Org has materials on morality here.

Note that we're meeting at Redline this time, in the back room.

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!

Naturalists are committed, by definition, to relying on natural explanations of phenomena in the empirical world and to offering moral, political, and legal judgments that don't rely on claims for the existence of non-natural beings. Often naturalists describe themselves as "skeptical" -- for example, about the existence of God, miracles, etc. Let's devote this meeting to an exploration of what exactly, if anything, naturalists are skeptical about -- are they skeptical only about supernatural beings, or also about things other than supernatural beings? And what exactly does it mean to say that they are "skeptical"? Are there different types of skepticism, and if so, which are most appropriate, which least appropriate, for naturalism? As usual, no particular background is needed, so please come and help us explore this dimension of naturalist thinking!

Hi folks,

Thanks for a good discussion last time on belief in the supernatural, something we can take up on another meeting since there was obviously more to say about it. For May 12 I've suggested we talk about an issue raised by a recent comment by Richard Dawkins, in which he says

"Michael Shermer, Michael Ruse, Eugenie Scott and others are probably right that contemptuous ridicule is not an expedient way to change the minds of those who are deeply religious. But I think we should probably abandon the irremediably religious precisely because that is what they are – irremediable. I am more interested in the fence-sitters who haven’t really considered the question very long or very carefully. And I think that they are likely to be swayed by a display of naked contempt. Nobody likes to be laughed at. Nobody wants to be the butt of contempt."

Is Dawkins right about this? Is contempt an effective way to change minds, and more basically, do the religious, whether on the fence or not, deserve contempt?

We're set to meet at Redline at 7 pm May 12 most likely in the back room, but if necessary in the front.

I won't be able to make it since out of town so please carry on without me.

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.

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!

Sorry to say that since we only have 2 people RSVP yes I'm cancelling this meetup. If folks have ideas for topics, activities, please be in touch.

best,

Tom

Hi gang,

NOTE NEW DAY, LOCATION for our next meetup: Tuesday, March 10 at Tavern on the Square in Porter Square, 1815 Mass Ave. There's a parking lot immediately behind the building with validation. It's also one block away from the Porter Square Redline stop. I moved the day to Tuesday since Monday is trivia night both at this location and at Redline. What's up with that, one wonders?

Thanks to those who showed up to the Darwin Day bash, quite the crowd. No shortage of Darwinites in Cambridge obviously.

For March I thought we could apply our naturalistic perspective to Jonathan Haidt's assertion that Obama should include conservative aspects of morality in his agenda, see Obama's moral majority. Haidt says "President Obama has a unique opportunity to unite Americans behind him and redefine liberalism. But if he is to succeed, he must find a new political language—and broaden the moral register of the political left." Must he? We can also discuss the prospects for naturalism under the new administration, one which acknowledges the existence of "non-believers" (put positively: naturalists) and which supports science, most encouraging!

Hope to see you there.

Tom

twc at naturalism.org
617-480-8846
http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10583

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

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!