Susan Savage-Rumbaugh on Bonobos

Bonobos are colloquially known as pigmy chimps. They are cute. Most zoos don't keep them because their sexual behavior is so similar to human behavior that it makes us uncomfortable. They are also a highly egalitarian, matriarchal group and only one of the only species that voluntarily shares food. In short, these are little-known, fascinating animals. Bonobos have begun to gain a greater presence, thanks to primatologists like Frans DeWaal (recent author of "Empathy") and Susan Savage-Rumbaugh.
This Sunday we'll view and discuss a TED presentation by Susan. It's been rated as "jaw-dropping". Here's the link:
Susan Savage-Rumbaugh on apes Video on TED.com
Please be warmly invited to join us. We'll be happy to see you.
The best of childcare is provided.

Palestine is on the Other Side of the Wall

This coming sunday we are hosting a new-comer, Sandy Westin. She's going to share a perspective from Palestine. As an introduction to her presentation, she wrote:

"In June of this year I was privileged to be part of the annual meeting of the global staff and board of the URI organization, this year held in Amman, Jordan. At the end of that trip, I joined 20 others of the group in touring a few of the many holy sites of Jordan, Palestine and Jerusalem, lead by one of their board members who is a Palestinian peace activist. I came home from that experience with insights about the Middle East I would like to share.

Western media has shown us pictures of the barrier Israel has erected between what it considers to be their land and that of its neighbor and rival for that land, Palestine. A concrete wall some 30 feet high with barbed concertina wire running along the top, this line of demarcation appears stark and intimidating from the Israeli side. The incredible mixture of pain and beauty, hatred and peace that lies on the other side of that wall was a surprise to me, and may be to others as well. Sunday I will share with the class some of my observations, a few photos and true stories from “The Other Side of the Wall”. This different perspective can expand our understanding about the nature of a conflict we are only witness to some 6,500 miles away."

A bit about Sandy:

"I have a life-long commitment to building a more peaceful world has lead her to be part of producing and documenting two Soviet-American Citizen Diplomacy Summits in the 1980’s, serve as Managing Director of the Voices of the Earth eco-spirituality conference at the University of Colorado in 1995, and currently serve as North American Regional Coordinator of the global interfaith organization, United Religions Initiative. In the past two years, my work has taken her to India and the Middle East. My husband, Paul, and I recently moved to Johnson City where I am beginning work on a Masters in Storytelling at ETSU so I can move anecdotes of transformational moments in peacebuilding into stories that can be told and retold worldwide. "

For more background on the United Religions International, click the link: http://www.uri.org/

Please join us for what promises to be a fascinating presentation. We'll be very glad to see you and and remember, excellent childcare is provided.

More of Daniel Dennett and Loving Atheists

Last week we heard from, and talked about Daniel Dennett, the philosopher at Tufts. We heard some of his world view and specifically his kind and thoughtful rebuttal to parts of Rick Warren's book, A Purpose Driven Life. Not lost in this is Dennett's welcoming embrace of most of Warren had to say. It was sort of an atheist surprise. Here's the link: Click
This coming Sunday, we'll continue to hear more from Dennett in his BBC interview by Jonathan Miller, and his thoughts on dangerous memes. I'll continue to contend that much of what they, both Miller and Dennett have to say is laudable, and that there truly is a special place in God's heart for their disbelief.

Please be warmly invited to join us. We'll be glad to see you. And as always, kind and thoughtful childcare is provided.

There's a special place in God's heart for Atheists

I've often felt that atheists hold a special place in God's heart. I hope to be able to share with you what I mean. This coming Sunday we'll view and discuss a 20-minute video of Daniel Dennett, professor of philosophy at Tuft's University, and author of "Breaking the Spell."
Dennett has been named as one of the modern Four Horsemen of the Anti-Apocalypse, along with Sam Harris ("Letters to a Christian nation,"), Richard Dawkins ("The God Delusion") and Christopher Hitchens ("God is not great.") While Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris have often been labelled as provacateurs, Dennett is charming, sincere, clear-voiced, funny, lovable and brilliant. Though not an atheist, I find Dennett to be endearing. I think we share much of his disbelief.
Please join us Sunday morning for an (hopefully) enjoyable session. We'll be glad see you. And as usual, excellent childcare is provided.