Easter Break

We will not be hold the Adult Forum on Easter Sunday. But stay tuned for up-coming events!

Kip Elolia and the Boroko Water Project

This Sunday, March 29, Kip Elolia will speak on the work we support to bring water to the Boroko School in his home country of Kenya. The transformation of the performance of the school following the introduction of potable water has been remarkable. We can proud that our church has supported this worthy project. Read more about it here: http://www.fpcelizabethton.org/FPC_Elizabethton/Boroko_Village_Project.html
Please join us at 9:45

The Origins of Life, Order and the Second Law

This coming Sunday, March 15th, Professor Jeff G Wardeska will present “The Origins of Life, Order, and the Second Law."
Julie Wade, in her recent series on Darwinian Medicine, highlighted the amazing diversity of biological cells, such as our microbiome, as well as biological cells in more complex organisms.  These cells have an amazingly complex organization of the molecules that provide the necessary basis for functioning.  These molecules currently are made within the cells or are obtained from their food.  But, chemists ask; when the very first cells formed several billion years ago, where did they find these molecules, and is there a physical explanation for evolution’s apparent drive towards increasingly complex species?   We often hear that “nature loves order”, (flowers, six sided snowflakes, etc.) but the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that for any process which occurs spontaneously, there is an increase in the disorder of the universe.   In this two-part series, we will attempt to relate these concepts to the evolutionary process.

Editors comment: This talk promises to be profound and entertaining as it is based on a truly amazing hypothesis put forth by a young scientist at MIT. Please join us.

Evolution Sunday 2015! 4th Week! Darwinian Medicine with Dr. Julie Wade

This year the theme for Evolution Sunday is Darwinian Medicine which applies modern evolutionary theory to health and disease.  If we are perfectly and wondrously made, then why do we get sick and why do certain diseases persist in our species?  Why doesn’t natural selection eliminate them over time?

By looking at OUR evolutionary history, we can gain an understanding of why we have such modern maladies as diabetes, plantar fasciitis, obesity, wisdom teeth trouble, and other conditions that plague our species.  Come and learn about the history of YOUR body and how you can perhaps improve your health for a better future.

Join us!

Our Moral Roots -- Jonathan Haidt

Several times in recent weeks, the topic of the origin of morality has arisen. In a 2008 TEDTalk, Jonathan Haidt addressed the issue in an enlightening and entertain manner. I thought it would be worthwhile to hear from Dr. Haidt again. Here's the link if you'd like a preview: Click me.
Please join us for a stimulating discussion.

Dr. Vanessa Fitsanakis and “Whoa! These can’t be my bath salts.”

Dr. Vanessa Fitsanakis will speak to our Forum group this coming Sunday, February 1st. Her topic will address the recent up-welling of a new type of street drug, often sold legally under the misleading label of "Bath-Salts". The results are fascinating.
Vanessa is a brilliant speaker.  A native of our region, she received her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt, a MS from University of Edinburgh, and a BA from Milligan. She currently holds the Dr. Edward W. Burke, Jr. professorship in Natural Sciences and is Associate Professor and Chair of Biology at King University. Her research interests are in the field of neurotoxicology, especially the relationship between pesticides and diseases of the nervous system. Her works is supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science. She teaches courses in neuroscience, mammalian toxicology, biochemistry, and research methods for biologists.
Please join us.

Reason is the key to moral progress

H/T to Julia Rogers for this suggestion. We'll view and discuss this TEDTalk on Sunday morning.

Here's the blurb and the link:

"Here's a TED first: an animated Socratic dialog! In a time when irrationality seems to rule both politics and culture, has reasoned thinking finally lost its power? Watch as psychologist Steven Pinker is gradually, brilliantly persuaded by philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein that reason is actually the key driver of human moral progress, even if its effect sometimes takes generations to unfold. The dialog was recorded live at TED, and animated, in incredible, often hilarious, detail by Cognitive."

Join us at 9:45 on January 25th.