Joint SBS-Interfaith Conversation Cafe Meetup II

SBS has caught the attention of the St. Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN) -- and we're talking!

Joint

Secular Bible Study-

Interfaith Conversation Cafe

Meetup II

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/1/4/event_194580532.jpeg

Time & Place:

Monday, February 18

6:45-8:30 PM

St. Paul Area Council of Churches HQ

1671 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105

St. Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN) is again inviting the atheists, UUers, and theists of Secular Bible Study to have a joint meetup with their "interfaith dialogue" group -- SPIN's "Interfaith Conversation Cafe" (ICC), which is co-hosted by none other than our own long-time SBS member, Steve Miller.

Last month, on Martin Luther King (and Obama's Presidential Inauguration) Day, we voted to discuss "What would MLK have thought about our progress in racial and economic equality?" out of four topics we nominated: "What bothers/pleases you about (another religious group)?", "MLK," "Gun Control," & "Young Earth Creationism"). This month, what will be the topic that we nominate and vote to discuss? Attend and choose!

Also, at this Feb 18 joint Meetup we'll also try nominating discussion topics for next month's March 18 joint meetup, and will post those nominations for SBSers to see in advance, on our next SBS Meetup announcement.

What is ICC and this joint ICC-SBS Meetup all about?

According to their website (www.conversationcafe.org (http://www.interfaithconversationcafe.org)), ICC is "an interfaith dialogue focused on questions of faith as they affect our world. Open, facilitated conversations address topics of faith and society - by listening and questioning with curiosity, discovery and sincerity."

Why should SBS jointly meetup with ICC? One of our original purposes according to our co-founders, Chester Barber & Grant Steves, and our sponsors, the Methodist church and Minnesota Atheists, was to encourage local "interfaith groups" to become more inclusive in inviting atheists and secular humanists into their dialogue -- so this is our chance!

This joint ICC-SBS Meetup will be a little different than SBS's usual style: Rather than have a lecture followed by discussion, we'll follow ICC's "Socrates Cafe"-style of choosing a popular topic for discussion that same evening. Also, we'll pass a "talking stick" (or related object) and sit in a circle, to facilitate dialogue (and minimize yelling!). But with folks like Steve Miller hosting, we should have no dearth of informed, thoughtful conversation about our topic of majority interest.

There will also be a snack available, as well as coffee/tea (but bring your own mug) -- an expenses-defraying donation jar will be out, but Frank Burton will be putting in some cash for us SBS attendees.

This joint Meetup will NOT be held at First Universalist Church, but at St. Paul Area Council of Churches (SPACC)'s St. Paul meeting room facility on Summit Ave, 2 blocks west of Snelling or 10 blocks east of the Mississippi River, on the north side of Summit Ave., opposite Macalester College (see map link). Conversation begins promptly at 7:00 pm; doors are open at 6:30 pm.

So come on over to Summit Ave. and see what the "new interfaith dialogue" is all about, joining us for SPIN's first "outreach" to the secular community to dialogue on issues of religion in society!

Don't miss this Joint ICC-SBS Meetup! RSVP "YES" today, and make your thoughts known -- to all!