A selection of humanist and freethought events for June, 2008
NYC ATHEISTS’ LIFESTYLE DISCUSSION GROUP
Monday, June 2; Time TBA
Dr. Nando Pelusi; Clinical Psychologist
Join Dr. Pelusi in discussions on how to live a more fulfilling Atheist / Secular life, handling uncomfortable situations, declaring your Atheism, etc.
You must be a NYC Atheists Member to participate.
Location: Call Ken Bronstein 212-535-7425 or email him at firebell1@aol.com
Wednesday, June 4; 6:30 PM EST
Dr Oakley will be discussing her new book.
Dr. Oakley explores human evil from a human and a scientific perspective, including details of recent advances in brain imaging and genetics that have profound implications for traditional views of evil.
As yes, her sister really did steal her mother’s boyfriend.
Secular Humanist Society of NYC Shetler Studio Annex
939 8th Avenue (between 55th & 56th Sts)
2nd floor (handicap accessible)
Contact: (212) 308-2165
Bergen Grassroots w/ WVNJ’s Sam Greenfield
Wednesday, June 4; 7:15 PM EST
Special guest speaker will be Sam Greenfield, host of “The Morning Show” on WVNJ 1160AM. This event is open to members and friends of the Ethical Culture Society.
Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County 687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck, NJ 07666 Contact: 201-836-5187
Tuesday, June 10; 7:00 PM EST
Thus Spoke The Spectacle; Performed by Eric Goodman and Mike Stevens
The performance, based on Guy Debord’s landmark Situationist work “The Society of the Spectacle,” combines original music with bit and pieces of the media barrage reassembled to draw out their hidden meanings. The Spectacle, according to Debord is “the world of illusion where all attention and consciousness converge,” constituting a unified thought-world constructed daily through communication technology. The Spectacle is dominated by images of commercialized community: happy, well-adjusted people connected to each other, and a multitude of products, in meaningful and satisfying ways. The reality is a never-ending psychic invasion causing alienation: separation from the self, from others, and from a genuine experience of life. Music by Eric Goodman, lyrics by Guy Debord, live performance by Eric Goodman and Mike Stevens. The performers will talk with the audience after the show.
The Living Theatre
21 Clinton Street
Manhattan, NY (just south of Houston St) (212-792-8050).
Contact: The LBC /Anarchist Forum, 212-475-7180 or e-mail: roberterler@erols.com
Truth Uncorked: Wine & Dinner with author/film producer and director Matthew Chapman
Thursday, June 12; 6:00 PM EST
CFI-NYC’s Truth Uncorked series continues on Thursday, June 12 with Matthew Chapman, the acclaimed author, Hollywood screenwriter, director, and producer, and the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin. Join us for an intimate evening of fine dining, exquisite wine, and intelligent conversation.
Matthew is the author of 40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContin, and Other Oddities On Trial in Pennsylvania, an account of the 2005 Intelligent Design trial in Dover, PA, and Trials of the Monkey: An Accidental Memoir, a personal memoir centered on a trip to Dayton, TN to witness a reenactment of the Scopes trial and see how — or if — attitudes towards evolution have changed. Matthew’s produced screenplays include Runaway Jury (starring Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, and John Cusack) and Color of Night (starring Bruce Willis). He has written and directed multiple films, including Slow Burn (starring Johnny Depp, Eric Roberts, and Beverly D’Angelo) and Hussy (starring Helen Mirren). He is currently writing and directing a philosophical thriller, The Ledge, co-produced by Mark Damon, Michael Mailer, and Matthias Visser.
Gascogne (http://www.gascognenyc.com)
158 8th Avenue (at 18th Street)
SPACE IS LIMITED. RSVP REQUIRED. $80 admission includes dinner and wine tasting. For reservations or more information, contact nyc [at] centerforinquiry [dot] net, or call (212) 504-2935.
Sunday, June 15; 11:00 AM EST
A talk by Rev. Tony Johnson: “My brand of humanism derives from struggles for personal and social liberation. Rock music is one medium of the struggle. This address draws on a lifetime of experience and three outstanding songs.”
The Rev. Tony Johnson is a Unitarian Universalist minister affiliated with the Community Church of New York. He was previously parish minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Essex County and Unitarian congregations in East Brunswick, New Jersey and Burbank, California and has served in leadership positions in numerous professional and social justice organizations. He has taught at Bloomfield College, Meadville Lombard Theological School, Monmouth University and the New School and published articles on religion, society and philanthropy.
Ethical Culture Society of Essex County
516 Prospect Street
Maplewood, New Jersey 07040
(Corner of Parker and Prospect)
Contact: 973-763-1905
Cocooned No More, Arab and Muslim Americans Unveiled
Sunday, June 15; 11:00 AM EST
The public is invited to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on June 15th at 11am for the intriguingly titled Sunday morning program, “Cocooned No More, Arab and Muslim Americans Unveiled.” Society Leader, Dr. Joseph Chuman, will interview Dr. Aref Assaf, the president and founder of American Arab Forum (AAF) a non partisan think-tank specializing in advocating positive image of the American Arab community.
This program is particularly important because of all the animosity and misunderstanding that has been centered on people of Arab ethnicity since the events of 9/11. These problems have grown over time, according to Dr. Assaf, at least in part because most Americans have not had much exposure to Arab culture. This is natural since the largest wave of Arab immigrants did not come to the U.S. until the late sixties.
Because members of the Ethical Culture Society believe very deeply in the dignity of all people and, as a result, in the inherent obligation to protect everyone’s civil rights, the Society is very pleased to provide this opportunity for the fostering of understanding with the local Arab community.
Dr. Aref Assaf (PhD, Political Science and International Law) writes frequently in several New Jersey papers about contemporary Arab American issues and perspectives. He has appeared on many television programs, such as CBS’ Sunday Morning, as well as on CNN and metro TV stations.
Dr. Assaf was a founding member of the NJ Chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and served as its media chair for five years before serving as its president in 2004. He also served for one year as a Board Member of the Palestinian American Congress. Dr. Assaf is currently in his second three-year term as a member of the New Jersey Governor’s Ethnic Advisory Council. His selection was the first of its kind for an Arab American. In 1994, Dr .Assaf was elected president of the Denville Rotary Club and named “Paul Harris Fellow,” Rotary’s highest honor.
Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County
687 Larch Avenue , Teaneck, NJ
Contact: Barbara Griffen, 201 836-5187 or visit www.EthicalFocus.org.
The Ethics of Global Warming w/ Massimo Pigliucci
Tuesday, June 17; 7:00 PM EST
The last in Professor (and SHSNY Honorary Member) Pigliucci’s Philosophy Now series of four MeetUps on Ethics and How We Live Our Lives. Co-Sponsered by the Secular Humanist Society of New York City.
New York Society for Ethical Culture
2 West 64 St.; New York, NY