The Society for Ethical Culture calls itself a "humanist religious community." Some in the freethought/secular humanist/atheist/skeptic movement argue we ought to keep the word "religion" around for practical use; that is, society will more easily accept secular humanism, fronted as a religious belief system, than atheism, which is a lack of religious beliefs and harder for the religious to comprehend. Others argue that humanism and its traditions and ceremonies (the NYSEC/BSEC have Sunday platforms and so on) dedicated to certain ideals by definition make it a religion.

But does not the word "religion" denote a belief system including supernatural claims? How far can we stretch the definition of "religion"? Is "religion" merely a word to describe our beliefs about the nature of the cosmos? Can we have religion without God or dogma? Can secular humanism plus traditions and ceremonies equal religion? Is their argument reasonable? Is it practical?

CFI-Brooklyn's Philosophy and Fries is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The Park Plaza Restaurant is a Brooklyn Heights-located diner with lots of space, fairly priced food, and beer, wine and cocktails.

Admission to this dinner discussion is free but limited; please RSVP here to attend.

Directions:

A or C to High Street
2 or 3 to Clark Street
4, 5, M or R to Court Street, Borough Hall

Join CFI-NYC to hear from former White House science advisor Dr. Jeff Schweitzer, co-author of the recent book Beyond Cosmic Dice: Moral Life in a Random World.

Morality is our biological destiny, and we each have within us the awesome power to create our own meaning in life, our own sense of purpose, our own destiny. We can move beyond the random hand of birth to pave our own road to a better life.  Whereas religion claims that happiness and fulfillment are found from submission to a higher power, Schweitzer defines these terms quite differently.  He does not appeal to religion or god.  Happiness and fulfillment are derived from the freedom to discover within ourselves our inherent good, and then to act on that better instinct, not because of any mandate from above or in obedience to the Bible, but because we can.

Dr. Jeff Schweitzer is a scientist who has written extensively on topics of morality, religion, politics and science –- how they relate to each other and their importance in today’s polarized social environment. He is a former White House science advisor under the Clinton administration, providing policy advice and analysis for the President of the United States, Vice President Al Gore and the Director of the OSTP. Schweitzer says that from that perch, he realized "that one critical element was missing from global efforts to bring science, conservation and development together; there was no appropriate ethical foundation providing a compelling mandate.” 

Admission is free and open to the public.

Join us for another installment of the jointly-sponsored CFI-NYC/Secular Humanist Society of New York monthly Movie Night. This month's movie: "The Gods Must Be Crazy."

There is no room-rental charge at Stone Creek Lounge, but management expects us each to spend the equivalent of a "one drink minimum." Check out the menu and prices at http://www.stonecreeknyc.com. For more information, contact John Rafferty: john [at] rafferty [dot] net.

The Jolly Thirteen Club is a modern translation of the famous 1880s regular gathering of minds to discuss how to free society from superstition, irrationality and fear of the supernatural. 

In the spirit of Robert Ingersoll, the Jolly Thirteen Club will meet without fear on the 13th of each month at a bar/restaurant in Manhattan. Join the welcoming group of skeptics, secular humanists, atheists and other likeminded people for an evening of food, drinks and discussion!

Questions? E-mail danny at badomens dot org

The jointly sponsored CFI/SHSNY monthly brunch will take place once again at Wild Ginger restaurant, located at 226 East 51st Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues. Everyone interested in getting together with like-minded humanists and rationalists for good food, lively talk and camaraderie is welcome.

Wild Ginger is midtown-located, inexpensive and has good Asian fusion food. Order off the menu; individual checks.

Directions: Wild Ginger is just 1-1/2 blocks east of the 51st Street stop on the 6 train, and 2-1/2 blocks south of the E train stop at 53rd Street and Third; and by bus, the M15 downtown goes by on 2nd Ave; M101, 102, 103 uptown go by on Third Ave., and the M50 crosstown linking up with the West Side is just a block away on 50th Street.

How does order emerge naturally -- possibly even neccesarily -- out of chaos? This "highly recommended" book offers fascinating insights into the complexity we see in nature. 

Says Amazon.com: "A major scientific revolution has begun, a new paradigm that rivals Darwin's theory in importance. At its heart is the discovery of the order that lies deep within the most complex of systems, from the origin of life, to the workings of giant corporations, to the rise and fall of great civilizations. And more than anyone else, this revolution is the work of one man, Stuart Kauffman, a MacArthur Fellow and visionary pioneer of the new science of complexity. Now, in At Home in the Universe, Kauffman brilliantly weaves together the excitement of intellectual discovery and a fertile mix of insights to give the general reader a fascinating look at this new science -- and at the forces for order that lie at the edge of chaos"

The discussion -- followed by Thai food at Pongsri for the hungry and/or conversational -- will be led by SHSNY Book Club Editor Elaine Lynn, who says "It's a book that will be fascinating to both material reductionists and people who feel 'spiritual'"

Join us even if you haven't finished reading. The CFI/SHSNY Book Club is open to all ... and free! Every CFI/SHSNY Book Club meeting is a book swap, too. Bring the books gathering dust on your shelves and take your pick of other readers' castaways. The leftovers? Donated to the Muhlenberg.

Directions to the Muhlenberg Library, 209 West 23rd Street (at 7th Ave.): 1 train to 23rd St. & 7th Ave., F or V to 23rd & 6th, C or E to 23rd & 8th; #23 or #20 bus to 23rd & 7th. Parking garages at 170 and 101 West 23rd. The library has an elevator to the 3rd floor Community Room.

Details to come.

Drinking Skeptically, organized by the New York City Skeptics, is an informal event designed to promote fellowship and networking among skeptics, critical-thinkers, and other like-minded individuals. Drinking Skeptically provides an opportunity for skeptics to talk, share ideas (and yes, drink) in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. We discuss the issues of the day and whatever else is on our minds. But most of all, we have fun while promoting skepticism, science, and rationality.

For more information, click here.

Forty-four percent of Americans believe ghosts exist according to a recent poll. Why? Is there good evidence for the existence of ghosts? What of all the photographs, video and claimed personal evidence? Is science powerless on this issue?

Do you believe ghosts exist? Do you believe there's a good chance they do? Or are ghosts just another human superstition?

CFI-Brooklyn's Philosophy and Fries is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The Park Plaza Restaurant is a Brooklyn Heights-located diner with lots of space, fairly priced food, and beer, wine and cocktails.

Admission to this dinner discussion is free but limited; please RSVP here to attend.

Directions:

A or C to High Street
2 or 3 to Clark Street
4, 5, M or R to Court Street, Borough Hall

Join us for another installment of the jointly-sponsored CFI-NYC/Secular Humanist Society of New York monthly Movie Night. This month's movie: "Inherit the Wind," a 1960 drama about the 1925 Scopes trial in which a Tennessee teacher was tried for teaching evolution in the schoolroom.

There is no room-rental charge at Stone Creek Lounge, but management expects us each to spend the equivalent of a "one drink minimum." Check out the menu and prices at http://www.stonecreeknyc.com. For more information, contact John Rafferty: john [at] rafferty [dot] net.