Rationalists of East Tennessee Newsletter

March 2009

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Round Table Discussion

Time: March 1, 2009, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, come early for coffee and fellowship!

Location: Pellissippi State, Goins Administration Bldg., Cafeteria Annex

Speaker: Dr. Neil Greenberg, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary

Biology, University of Tennessee

Topic: The War between Truth and Reality

 

In this presentation Dr. Greenberg explores the idea of “truth” as

something humans can posses. It involves the outcome of two vital

biological processes, which impart more-or-less confidence in our

belief about reality. In the course of the talk he outlines the

neurobiological events that lead to these attributions, the forces

that affect their integrated functions, and what happens when they

become dysfunctional.

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Skeptic Book Club

Time: March 8, 2009 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Location: Skeptic Book Club; Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 8029 Kingston Pike

"The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism," by Andrew Bacevich

Discussion Leader: Margaret Klein

 

This promises to be an extremely compelling read. One of the major

themes of the book is a call for rational thinking! It’s meant to

cause the reader to search for honest answers and identify ultimate

culpability for what happens in our government and our country. Check

out the reviews online at Amazon, but go there by going to

rationalists.org first and clicking on the book through our website!

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Third Sunday Meeting

Time: March 15, 2009, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, come early for coffee and

fellowship!

Location: Pellissippi State, Goins Administration Bldg., Cafeteria Annex

Speaker: Homer Wilkins

Topic: Homer will present a talk and stimulate a discussion on how we

deal with the fact of our own morality.

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RET Discuss Online

 

Want more discussion with RET members? Join RET Discuss online. It’s

a very simple e-mail listserve for RET members only. Any member can

send an e-mail to start a discussion on any topic. All those signed up

will get the e-mail. Then you can reply with your two cents or sit

back and enjoy the opinions of others. If you paid your 2009 dues and

want to be on RET Discuss, e-mail us at info@rationalists.org and

request to be set up.

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Seeking campers and volunteers!

 

After last year’s very successful Camp Quest in the Smoky Mountains,

we anticipate and even better one in 2009. CQ will be held July 26 -

August 2 and applications for campers and applications for staff are

available at rationalists.org/cq/index.php. Please pass this

information along to any parents of kids ages 8 to 13. We’re also

looking for counselors in training (kids ages 14-15) or junior

counselors (ages 16-17). $525/camper.

 

If you believe in providing a secular choice for kids going to summer

camp, we could really use your support. You can help by making a

donation to help reduce campership fees. And, we’d love some more

adult volunteers. We need some of you to teach a craft or skill or any

short workshop for a few hours and wouldn’t mind one or two more full

or part-time counselors. For more information on Camp Quest 2009,

contact Jonas Holdeman at (865)966-6478. Also, keep checking their

website throughout the year as we add more information about the

upcoming activities for next year's camp.

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Potluck Brunch - Sunday, April 5th

 

Prior to Massimo’s talk, Phil and Sharron King will host a potluck

brunch around 10:00am. More details later.