Monday, January 23, 2012

Advocacy 101

This coming Sunday, Joe Rhymer will present "Advocacy 101." This presentation will provide citizen advocates with the tools and best practices for communicating with legislators to maximize the impact. Topics include legislative process, bill tracking as well as tips and tricks on how to get your message noticed. Joe promises to keep the session interesting with light conversation and examples from his experiences with local legislators. He will also provide a legislative update on LGBT issues at the conclusion of Advocacy 101.

About the speaker: Joe was born and raised in Bristol. He serves as the Tricities committee chair for the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP). The Tennessee Equality Project is a statewide organization dedicated to promote and sustain the equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons.

Please be warmly welcome to join us for an interesting and informative session. We'll be happy to see you. Generous, loving childcare is provided

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Atlantic Meets the Pacific: War of the Worldviews

Thanks to a tip from our astute member, Nancy Barrigar I watched the dialog entitled "The Atlantic Meets the Pacific: War of the Worldviews: Exploring Science vs. Spirituality with Deepak Chopra and Leonard Mlodinow." This is an excellent, thoughtful debate between two very well-spoken proponents of divergent perspectives. Each presents convincing arguments. Neither wins or loses in their always-respectful discussion. Preview the video, here: http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=22484
Please join us on Sunday morning as we view and discuss the video. We'll be happy to see you. Generously loving childcare is provided.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Jerry Coyne and the Lack of Comity between Science and Religion

Last Sunday we heard John Haught's presentation on the common ground between science and religion--it was his side of the debate at the Gaines Center at UKY. This coming Sunday we'll hear from the other side in the person of Jerry Coyne, professor of Biology at the U. Chicago. Coyne pulls no punches in what amounts to an aggressive and unbalanced attack on religion. My interest in Coyne's argument is that he is fairly representative of the positions taken by scientists against religion. Coyne say little that is not accurate, but his points are not particularly germane to the argument. This is a common theme, and one that we should be alert to.
Please join us for an interesting session. We'll be happy to see you. As ever, loving childcare is provided.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

John Haught and the Comity of Science and Religion

John F. Haught is professor of theology at Georgetown University and is considered the preeminent authority on the compatibility of science and religion. This past fall Haught was called on the debate his topic with University of Chicago biologist Jerry Coyne in the Bale-Boone seminar series at the U. of Kentucky. The debate sparked an interesting dialog that continued for several months. This Sunday we will view Haught's side of the debate, which, in my humble opinion amounted to a well-articulated, lofty and expansive view of Christianity and a warmingly loving God. We'll discuss the validity of Haught's argument of science's compatibility with religion. Please join us. We need your views.
As ever, superb childcare is provided.