Brene Brown Preaches

This Sunday, Februrary 11, we'll hear and discuss Dr. Brene Brown's recent sermon at the Washington National Cathedral. Regular Adult Forumer's will recall several previous times when Brene Brown has been our featured topic, especially her talks on empathy and vulnerability. She is a well-known and popular speaker who has been on NPR, PBS, CNN, The Washington Post and Psychology Today. From her webpage at Rice University: 

"Brené has spent the past ten years studying vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame. Brené spent the first five years of her decade-long study focusing on shame and empathy, and is now using that work to explore a concept that she calls Wholeheartedness. She poses the questions: How do we learn to embrace our vulnerabilities and imperfections so that we can engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness? How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to recognize that we are enough – that we are worthy of love, belonging, and joy?"

Please join us a 9:45. We'll be delighted to see you.

The sin of wealth inequality

This coming Sunday the Adult Forum will view Richard Wilkinson's TED Talk, "How income inequality harms societies." We watched this a few years ago, but it is worth another viewing. The data Wilkinson presents is based on his book, "The Spirit Level" which shows a multitude of correlations between income disparity within countries and the magnitude of those countries' social ills. It's an amazing set of data. Not too surprisingly, the United States has greater wealth inequality that any other nation, and the social ills to match. We'll speculate on how the recent tax bill will affect us.
Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you.

Origins and persistence of poverty

This coming Sunday, January 28th we'll view and discuss a TEDTalk on poverty, given by Dr. Gary Haugen, author of "The Locust Effect." From the website: "Collective compassion has meant an overall decrease in global poverty since the 1980s, says civil rights lawyer Gary Haugen. Yet for all the world's aid money, there's a pervasive hidden problem keeping poverty alive. Haugen reveals the dark underlying cause we must recognize and act on now." Here's the link: Click here. Bryan Wyatt will be using Haugen's book for his sermons during the next two Sundays.
On a related note, this column by Angus Deaton (2015 Nobel laureate in Economics) recently appeared in the NY Times. It addresses the recent UN findings on poverty in America. As others have noted, it's worse than we think.

Please join us Sunday morning at 9:45 in Martin Hall. All are welcome. 

Catching up with what we've done.

I'm posting just to keep a record of what we've done in the Adult Forum
During the second half of December and the first half of January we most listened to and discussed end-of-the-year episodes from "The Daily", a podcast produced by the NY Times. These included:
Derek Black's recanting of white nationalism
Vandalism and forgiveness related to anti-Muslim sentiments, and
The loss of steel-workers' jobs in Indiana, featuring Shannon Mulcahy.

Last week, Jan 21 we hosted a guest speaker, Skipper Darlington IV who is the founding CEO of Africa ASAP (Aerial Surveillance Against Poaching) in Tanzania. This was a powerful, compelling and heartfelt presentation about an important and dangerous initiative to reduce the rate of elephant and rhino extinction. Many thanks to Skipper and to Cathe Crosley for making this happen. Africa ASAP's website is worth a look. http://www.africaasap.org/ 

As always, all are welcome and encourage to attend.

Dr. Jim Pleasant on Infinity

Next Sunday, December 17th we'll hear a presentation from our own Dr. Jim Pleasant, retired faculty in the Department of Mathematics at ETSU. Jim has a talk on infinity and its multiple forms. We look forward to a fascinating and engaging presentation. Please join us at 9:45 in Martin Hall

Dec 10 Richard Rohr

On December 10th we listened to this recording of Fr. Richard Rohr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9_EHq3UO7I. It was worth it.
On December 3rd we heard member Jim Wilson give his story based on his manuscript "Survival of the Fittest: How God saw me Through." This presentation was thoroughly enjoyable, carried by Jim's naturally good nature and upbeat spirit. He is a man who regularly counts his blessings and feels a deep sense of gratitude and joy in his life.

Carrie Newcomer via On Being

On November 19 and 26 we listened to Carrie Newcomer interviewed by Krista Tippett, host of On Being. I thought was deep, and beautiful. Here's the link: https://onbeing.org/programs/carrie-newcomer-a-conversation-with-music/. See what you think.

Three Sundays

I'm posting to keep track of what we've done. Last week we watched the second half of Krista Tippet's interview of Jonathan Haidt. Today, Nov. 5th, we watched the first half of the indie film, "Living on One Dollar." Next Sunday we'll watch the rest of it. Good stuff.

Jonathan Haidt — The Psychology of Self-Righteousness

Krista Tippet interviews Jonathan Haidt. Preview here: https://soundcloud.com/onbeing/jonathan-haidt-the-psychology-of-self-righteousness-oct2017

Thich Nhat Hanh talks to children about a bell.

For Oct. 15, we'll hear Buddhist monk speak to children about a bell. What could be more interesting than that? Join us at 9:45ish. Preview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmoZMZJIxbU

One Last Thing Before I Go - My Uncle's Keeper

This Sunday, October 8, we'll listen to a story of reconciliation and redemption. It's an episode of This American Life. In the story, a nephew works to heal the rift between his father and uncle as they discovery how a minor misperception created a decades-long rift. It's an uplifting episode.  We might have listened to this last year. Doesn't matter, it's still good. Please join us. We'll be happy to see you. Preview here: Click

Can a divided America heal?

This Sunday, October 1st, we'll view and discuss an interview with psychologist Jonathan Haidt as he speaks on the origin and faintly possible resolution of a divided America. Haidt references Shakespeare, John Lennon, Robert Putnam ("Bowling Alone"), Jesus and Buddha.
Join us. This'll be good and we'll be happy to see you. 9:45, downstairs in Martin Hall.
Preview here: https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_can_a_divided_america_heal#t-1205418

Revising the Fault Line

This Sunday, July 23rd, we'll hear excerpts from an episode of Radiolab: Revising the Fault Line. Within the story we are confronted with one of the long-standing challenges of Neuroscientists, Mental Health providers and the legal system: where is the boundary of accountability, personal responsibility and free will? A careful look at our history reveals that as scientific knowledge advances, we repeatedly move the "fault line," more so than we may have imagined. But not moving the line is an affront to compassion. Please join us. It's a worthy a challenge.

Dr. Rebecca Nunley, Living for our resume, or for our euolgy

This coming Sunday, July 9th, the Adult Forum will be led by Rebecca Nunley, starting with a recent TED-Talk by David Brooks: "Should You Live for Your Resume...or Your Eulogy?" You can preview Brooks' presentation here: click me.
Please join us at 9:45 in Martin Hall. We'll be delighted to see you, and we're interesting and fun!

Dr. Allysha Martin: Latin American Womens' Narrative

"This coming Sunday, July 2, The Adult Forum will host Dr. Allysha Martin, Assistant Professor of Spanish and Humanities at Milligan College. Her presentation will be extracted from her dissertation on late twentieth-century Latin American womens' narrative with a focus on the role of consumption.

Allysha earned her B.A. at Union University, her M.A. at Middlebury College and Middlebury Sede Prim in Madrid, Spain, and her doctorate in modern languages at University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a specialization in Spanish, where she also received a graduate certificate of study in women’s and gender studies. 

Please join us in Martin Hall at 9:45. We'll be delighted to see you."

To Treat Me, You Have to Know Who I Am

Coming to the Adult Forum, Sunday, June 25th:

To Treat Me, You Have to Know Who I Am 

As part of FPCe’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ community, the Adult Forum will focus on the special issues faced by the LGBTQ individuals as they navigate the health care system. After viewing “To Treat Me, You Have to Know Who I Am,” a short 2011 video produced by New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation and comments by guest speaker Dr. Michael Kauzlarich, participants will share stories, air challenges, and brainstorm solutions. 

Please join us. Tell your friends. All are warmly welcome at 9:45 in Martin Hall.

Rev. Roger Ray -- Spirituality Beyond Theism

Many of you will be familiar with Rev. Roger Ray, pastor at Community Christian Church in Springfield, Mo. This Sunday we hear and discuss one of Rev. Ray's recent sermons on Spirituality Beyond Theism. If you'd like to preview, here's the video: Click me. As always, please feel that you'll be warmly welcome. Join us at 9:45 in Martin Hall.

More Rohr!

This coming Sunday, May 14 (Mother's Day) we will hear another bit by Fr. Richard Rohr. This one is an interview with Krista Tippett and On Being. Here's the link: https://onbeing.org/programs/richard-rohr-living-in-deep-time/
We'll listen to the second half.
9:45, Martin Hall.
Join us.
We're fun!

Fr. Richard Rohr

Richard Rohr's style is light and deep at the same time. He's not shy about taking on contemporary issues, and casting them in a light of familiarity. From the website: "Spirituality writer and commentator, Brandan Robertson sits down with Fr. Richard Rohr, one of the leading contemplative teachers in our modern world to discuss how to respond to Donald Trump and unjust leaders while maintaining a non-dualistic mindset."
Please be warmly welcome. Join us at 9:45 in Martin Hall.
Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnTC4NNIACk 

Carl Jung in Don Cupitt's "Sea of Faith" Redux

This coming Sunday, April 30 we'll have a second look at part of Don Cupitt's excellent series, "Sea of Faith" In this series Cupitt compares psychiatrists Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung to show their striking similarities and profound dissimilarities with respect to religion and spirituality. It's a good show. Join us 9:45.
Preview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcthKnvY2hE