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About RET
Rationalists of East Tennessee is an organization created to benefit people by expanding understanding of the universe through the use of empirical and rational methods. Our purposes are as follows:
- To foster an environment suitable to free speech and exchange of ideas.
- To promote free inquiry into the nature of the universe and of human societies.
- To encourage critical thinking on all aspects of human life.
- To emphasize the importance of the scientific method.
- To explore ethical and intellectual alternatives to supernatural beliefs.
- To model humanistic ethics through service to the greater community.
- To provide a fellowship for people who share these purposes.
Visitors are Welcome
How Do I Join RET?
We welcome you to attend our meetings to find out more about us. Find out what we're doing next by browsing the calendar at left or by sending email to info@rationalists.org. Once you've decided we're a group you'd like to associate with, either download our brochure and fill out the blank or print the HTML application found here.
Reflections Meeting This Sunday
The Silence of the Atheists Jan. 29, 2012 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Topic: “The Silence of the Atheists”
For this Reflections meeting, we’ll all prepare by reading a short news article from the west coast: “Seattle Atheists’ Bus Ad Exaggerating Number of Nonbelievers?” [just copy & paste the link below into your browser]
http://www.christianpost.com/news/seattle-atheists-bus-ad-exaggerating-number-of-nonbelievers-64896/
Since RET has considered doing a similar “public awareness” campaign here in Knoxville, this article contains many points of interest for us.
We’ll examine and discuss the following issues:
• How are statistics regarding individuals’ religious beliefs gathered? Let’s compare sources of data.
• Is the American Religious Identification Survey 2008, led by Trinity College, a reliable source of data? If not, why?
• Why is there generally such a large discrepancy between those who identify as “non-believers or agnostics” versus those unafraid to use the “atheist” adjective?
• Can we join in solidarity with the Seattle Atheists who declare that “We are a silent group, and want to be silent no longer”?
• Does the fact that Seattle is considered one of the most unchurched areas in the country, whereas we’re probably among the most churched areas, increase our silence in our community, our work-places, our families?
There will be a pot-luck lunch before our discussion begins, so bring a dish, salad, fruit, finger-food, dessert, bottle or box to share… or JUST COME – there’s always too much food! (smiley face)
We hope you'll all join us at Schera & Ted’s home [9219 George Williams Road, near Cedar Bluff; call 690.8742 for directions].
Posted by schadwick
Jan. 23, 2012
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RET business meeting and presentation
Tomorrow, Sunday, January 22nd, the Rationalists of East Tennessee will hold their Annual Business Meeting and Election of Officers from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, at Pellissippi State Community College, Goins Bldg., in the Cafeteria Annex.
The past year will be reviewed. We will discuss how the RET program should proceed in 2012, and elect officers and board members for the coming months.
Please attend the meeting and bring your ideas to share! We need input from all our members for RET to remain a vital force in the community.
Following the business meeting, if time permits, we will view a DVD presentation by Dr. Andy Thomson on "How Religion Hijacks Evolved Adaptations". Dr. Thomson will be the speaker, on a different topic, for the our public meeting.
Posted by risler
Jan. 21, 2012
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Third Sunday Meeting
Don't miss our third Sunday meeting of the Rationalists of East Tennessee. RET member Joe Barnhart will bring his expertise in philosophy and religion to bear on the question of "How Might Karl Popper the Rationalist or John Dewey the Pragmatist Interpret the Visions of Paul?" The meeting will held in the Goins Cafeteria Annex on the Campus of Pellissippi State Community College from 10:30am to 12:30 pm. Come a little early for coffee, cookies, and socializing.
Posted by risler
Dec. 16, 2011
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Don't Miss Our Open Roundtable Discussion
Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 - 10:30 am - Goins Cafeteria Annex, PSCC ---
W(h)ither Democracy?
The gains of liberalism in America over the last century or so are being whittled away by the current electorate’s embrace of conservatism. Public union bargaining rights are being dismantled in several states, legislation aimed at disenfranchising liberal leaning voters has been passed in Tennessee, and laws that that would limit women’s access to birth control methods are under consideration in many places. One Republican presidential candidate would eliminate child labor laws and social security. Congress cowers before a 1% minority of wealthy oligarchs who control 44% of the country’s wealth.
Fascism arises only in failed democracies. Is democracy on the verge of withering away in America?
Bring your ideas and comments to a freewheeling open roundtable discussion.
Posted by risler
Dec. 03, 2011
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Come to Reflections This Sunday
Reflections Nov. 27, 2011 1:00 - 4:00 pm
How Do Non-Believers Celebrate “Holy-days”? [or Do They?]
How do free-thinkers celebrate the numerous religious holidays recognized by our federal government – exactly what, when, how and why do they celebrate? Most of us are overly familiar with Christian holidays and traditions, many of which have morphed into almost totally secular/commercialized, corrupted versions of their original purposes. Do we as non-believers just “go along to get along” and passively accept these religious remnants still being forced down society’s throat? Or do we rebel, and refuse to be co-opted by others insincere observations? How do we spend this work-free time? Have we created traditions for our own families? Or do we take the time to travel abroad or visit relatives? We’ll spend this meeting discussing the upcoming holy-day season: and how we chose to modify our participation or otherwise occupy ourselves at this busy time of year.
Join us for pot-luck lunch at Schera & Ted's home BEGINNING AT 1:00 pm. Bring a bottle, dish, bag or box to share with us before our discussion begins.
Address: 9219 George Williams Road, 37922; phone: 865.690.8742 for directions.
Posted by schadwick
Nov. 22, 2011
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Don't Miss Third Sunday Meeting on Nov. 20
Sunday, November 20, presentation
Topic: “It ain’t necessarily so”
Speaker: The Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, describe the epic history of the Israelites and constitute much of the foundation on which Judaism and Christianity are based. But they are a mixture of fact, legend, and mythology, which are not easily distinguishable for the average reader. RET President Ralph Isler will address the questions of who wrote the Torah, why many stories are duplicated with different emphasis or even contradictions, and what modern archaeology reveals about the historicity of such events as the Exodus and the military conquest of Canaan.
Time and location: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, Pellissippi State Community College, Goins Bldg., Cafeteria Annex
Posted by schadwick
Nov. 18, 2011
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