Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
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Thursday, February 16, 6:30PM BOOK CLUB - "Sing You Home" by Jodi Picoult Marie Callender's, 6950 Alvarado Road, San Diego (Private Room)
After years of infertility, it looks as if Zoe and Max Baxter are finally going to have the baby they've longed for. But when their hopes are dashed by a miscarriage and their marriage collapses, Max escapes, first into alcoholism then into religion, while Zoe concentrates on her career as a music therapist. While working with a troubled teen at a local high school, Zoe begins a friendship with Vanessa, the school guidance counselor, which unexpectedly blossoms into love. Zoe again begins thinking of starting a family, specifically with the three embryos she and Max have in cold storage at the fertility clinic.
Never one to shy away from controversial issues, this time popular author Jodi Picoult tackles gay rights, reproductive science and the Christian Right in her new novel Sing You Home. She forces us to consider both sides of these hot topics with her trademark impeccable research, family dynamics, and courtroom drama. Much of the infuriating dialogue in Sing You Home is based on real life conversations and experiences that Picoult had with members of Focus on the Family.
Jodi Picoult grew up in Nesconset, New York. Picoult wrote her first story at age 5, entitled The Lobster Which Misunderstood. She studied writing at Princeton University, and graduated in 1987 with a degree in creative writing. She published two short stories in Seventeen magazine while still in college. Immediately after graduation, she landed a variety of jobs, ranging from editing textbooks to teaching eighth-grade English. She earned a master's degree in education from Harvard University.
Monday, February 20, 6:00 PM THERE AND BACK AGAIN: One Man's Journey Into, and Out Of, the Mormon Church Filippi's Pizza Grotto, 5353 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego, CA
Mormonism has been in the news lately because Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is a devout Mormon and because of the Mormon church's controversial practice of baptizing the dead. Mormons are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--the largest religious denomination founded on American soil.
Would you like to learn more about Mormonism from the perspective of a Freethinker and former Mormon? Are you curious as to why millions of people around the world follow a religion founded by a conman with a 4th grade education? Do you ever contemplate why some Mormons refer to blacks as "mud people" and why the Church didn't allow its black members to fully participate as anything but second class members until 1978? Why did the Mormon Church pour so much money into backing Proposition 8? Do you wonder why top Mormon leaders would pay millions of dollars for forged documents created by a conman? And what is the connection between Angel Moroni and a white salamander?
If these questions interest you, then please join Bill Campbell and fellow Freethinkers at Filippi's Clairemont Mesa on Presidents' Day for an informative presentation--as well as fellowship and delicious Italian food! Bill will gladly answer any and all questions audience members may have about the Mormon faith.
William "Bill" Campbell is an information technology manager who lives in Newton, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a former U.S. Marine Corps officer. Bill joined the Mormon Church at the age of 19 and served in a variety of leadership roles in the Church over the course of 24 years, including positions in the secretive Mormon Temples, before he resigned because he no longer believed. He is now a committed skeptic, atheist and humanist. Bill and his wife Barbara were married last August. He has five adult children and two teen stepchildren. In his spare time, Bill enjoys making documentary and dramatic films.
Bill is originally from Washington state. He resided in San Diego until a few years ago. While living in San Diego, Bill was active in several Freethought/humanist groups, including San Diego Secular Humanist Outreach (SD-SHOUT).
In his presentation, Bill hopes to help others understand how even smart people can get involved in cults.
Good Without God
Sunday, February 26, 11:00 AM Introduction to Humanism - with Professor Roy Whitaker of SDSU HFSD Annual Meeting: Address by President Debbie Allen SeekTech, 3855 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA
The Humanist Fellowship of San Diego is hosting a series about Humanism.
We will enjoy light refreshments, followed by a short lecture about Humanism from SDSU Professor Roy Whitaker. As always, the lecture will be followed by Q & A and a short discussion!
SInce this is also the annual meeting of the Humanist Fellowship, there will be an election of officers by the membership, and then an address by President Debbie Allen about HFSD'S accomplishment during 2011 and our plans for 2012. All dues-paying members are invited to vote. Everyone is invited to attend and meet the leaders and organizers of the club.
You are welcome to join us for any and all sessions of this series on Humanism. Please RSVP for planning purposes.
Free. Donations always appreciated.
The following sessions in this series will be announced on February 26th, but will be every two to three weeks.
March 24 — 10 AM to 4 PM THE REASON RALLY The National Mall, Washington D.C.
The Reason Rally is an event sponsored by many of the country’s largest and most influential secular organizations. It will be free to attend. There will be music, comedy, speakers, and so much more. We hope you can join those of us coming from San Diego! Please visit the official website for more information.
There are three main goals for the rally:
To encourage attendees (and those who can’t make it) to come out of the closet as an atheist, or at least a supporter of secular values.
To dispel stereotypes – there is no one “True Atheist” no matter what your pastor or parent may tell you. We will have non-theists from all political persuasions, ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds. We will show that there are atheists in every American demographic.
Legislative equality. We want to show the country that atheists can run for office and adequately represent theists, just as theists in office can represent atheists proudly and openly. We deserve a seat at the table just like theists, and we hope this rally can put our values in the radar of American voters, who may one day elect an atheist to public office.
There is a party at the American Humanist Association the night before the rally. To RSVP, click here
Stay up to date with event details, including additional speakers, at www.reasonrally.org.
Saturday, March 31 — Noon to 8 PM ROCK BEYOND BELIEF Fort Bragg Parade Field, North Carolina
from the official website: Rock Beyond Belief is an ambitious project that will be putting on a free festival consisting of secular speakers and musicians, both big name and small. We are a small grass-roots outfit, but we have the backing of many major secular and military foundations. Currently we are focusing on a large-scale event that will be on the main post parade field on Fort Bragg. Eventually Rock Beyond Belief wants to spread the message to many other military installations.
We are not interested in just being a counter-event to the offensive Rock the Fort concert. We are also not interested in putting on an anti-christian, anti-religious, or anti-anything event. Rock Beyond Belief is A Day of Fun and Entertainment for the Rest of Us.
In the spirit of Richard Dawkins’ Out Campaign, we are embracing the fact that just by coming out and saying “we are non-theists, and also we are your firefighters, your military members, and your neighbors and friends” that we help to shed the negative connotations and debunk the myths associated with being a non-believer.
Saturday, April 7, 10:00 AM Hiking Blue Sky Ecological Reserve 16275 Espola Road, Poway, CA
Would you like to get some fresh air and exercise while experiencing the beauty, peacefulness and tranquility of nature? Would you like to socialize with fellow Freethinkers while doing so? If your answer to these two questions is "yes," then please join Wilfredo on a fun hike of the beautiful Blue Sky Ecological Reserve in Poway!
March is the best time for this hike. The wildflowers should be in full bloom at this time of year. Expect to see a plethora of yellow and purple wildflowers, plus some red and white ones. And there is always the chance to see wildlife, such as raptors, song birds, butterflies, deer and reptiles and amphibians. There are beautiful views of Lake Poway on this hike.
This is a five-mile hike of moderate difficulty and climbing hills is involved, so participants should be in reasonably good shape. We will do this hike at a leisurely pace and will wait for everyone. Expect the hike to take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours to complete.
What to bring: PLENTY OF WATER, a good hat with a wide brim, sunglasses, sunblock, a camera and a positive attitude.
Please meet in the Blue Sky Reserve parking lot at 10:00 a.m. sharp. Here are the directions to the reserve and a map: http://www.blueskyreserve.org/maps.html
Optional Lunch
There will be an optional lunch at Luc's Bistro in Poway after the hike. The address of this restaurant is 12642 Poway Rd. (between Ridgedale Dr. and Silver Lake Dr.) Poway, CA 92064.
http://www.lucsbistro.com/
Blue Sky Reserve
Sunday, April 22, 10 AM to 5 PM EARTH FAIR 2012 Balboa Park
San Diego hosts the largest Earth Fair in the world. The Humanist Fellowship will be there, hoping to advance our mission to promote of critical thinking, community service, personal acts of compassion, and the pursuit of justice.
Come by to say hello, or better eat, help staff our booth. Hang out with humanist friends, and share humanist philosophy with passersby.
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