Tree of Knowledge 2013

Come help decorate the Tree of Knowledge in the lobby of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia at 1906 Rittenhouse Square around noon on December 8th! We join our friends from the Freethought Society for this celebration of openness, freedom of conscience, and knowledge. Everyone is welcome.

What is the Tree of Knowledge? From 2007-2009, Margaret Downey and the Freethought Society worked to assure that the Chester County Courthouse’s holiday display was as inclusive as possible. They shared a “Tree of Knowledge” - decorated with freethought, humanist and skeptic books - to go along side Christian, Jewish and Santa installations. Despite appeals for openness and tolerance, the Chester County Commissioners have since shut out the tree so we invite it in to cheer up our lobby!

In past years the books included: those written by Ethical Culturists Felix Adler, Arthur Dobrin, W. E.B. Du Bois and Ed Ericson; classic works by Charles Darwin, Robert Ingersoll, Thomas Paine, Bertrand Russell, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton; classic books of multiple authors such as the Bible and the Koran; and contemporary writings of Karen Armstrong, Daniel Dennett, Judith Hayes, Susan Jacoby, Barry Lynn, Dale McGowan, Salman Rushdie, Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan!

The Tree of Knowledge decorating party will follow a talk by Hugh Taft-Morales Leader of the Ethical Society. The program begins at 11AM.