SBS & Interbelief Conversation Cafe 19: Is Reason Compatible With Religion?
Details
Secular Bible Study has caught the attention of the St. Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN) -- and we're talking!
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/1/4/event_194580532.jpeg
FOR OUR "JOINT INTER-BELIEF CONVERSATION CAFE & SBS MEETUP #19 ON THE 3RD MONDAY IN AUGUST 2014 WE WILL DISCUSS:
"IS REASON COMPATIBLE WITH RELIGION?"
http://prophecynewsdaily.com/uploads/images/image/ChristianWomen_image024.jpg
Time & Place: Monday, August 18, 7:00-8:45 PM (doors open at 6:30PM), St. Paul Area Council of Churches HQ, 1671 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105
St. Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN) is again inviting the theists, atheists, liberals and conservatives of Secular Bible Study to have a joint meetup with SPIN's newly renamed "Inter-Belief Conversation Cafe" (ICC), which is co-hosted by none other than our own long-time SBS member, Steve Miller.
In our last meetup, we discussed the topic of whether religious laws must be rigid, or can just be guidelines. THIS MONTH, we'll be discussing whether we, as theists or atheists, believe that reason and religion can (or should) indeed coexist in the same cranium!
Steve Miller says, about our dialogue topic:
"Some argue that a reasoning person cannot be religious; and that a religious person cannot -- or must not -- reason. Others say that science, philosophy, and the secular world have abandoned the divine for a materialist wasteland. Is it possible to possess reason and religion? Or must we choose one or the other? Are they at war, different realities, or are dialogue and even mutual enrichment possible?
"Long ago the early Christian writer Tertullian asked if 'Jerusalem [religion] and Athens [philosophy] had anything to do with each other.' But Origen claimed that 'Philosophy enhances and helps explicate religion.'"
http://www.bahairesources.com/images/detailed/1/bk-1037.jpg
http://31.media.tumblr.com/d6358fd90b9befc0b7e4059e7570f4d0/tumblr_mprwc9GVTS1rqpa8po1_500.jpg
"Similar debates have occurred in Judaism, Islam, and other faiths: In Zen Buddhism there is criticism of the 'philosopher's disease' or the need to explain everything in rational terms. Perhaps some things are just experienced?"
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/9444704675_773f9df542_z.jpg
http://gardenvarietyneurosisredux.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/my-simple-religion.jpg
"Self-proclaimed rationalists like Karl Marx and Jesse Ventura have respectively stated that religion is the 'Opium of the masses' and a 'Sham and crutch for weak-minded people.' Scientists and philosophers like Robert Dawkins, Bertrand Russell, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens have written influential books denouncing faith. Yet America still clings to religion and remains one of the most religious countries in the world." (With "atheists" still our country's most disliked group.)
http://www.orble.com/im/007/04/russell31.jpg
http://zerobs.net/media/religion-vs-rationalism.png
http://rsr.org/files/images/atheism-poster-rsr-org.jpg
http://diagorasofmelos.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/fuehrer_vs_atheism_en_800.jpg
http://images.sodahead.com/profiles/0/0/3/0/2/1/1/7/9/atheist-are-stupid-people-135108232754.jpeg
"Inter-belief Conversation Café will attempt to reasonably discuss this issue on Monday, August 18 from 7-8:45 PM at the St. Paul Area Council of Churches, 1671 Summit Avenue (corner of Summit & Pierce), St. Paul. Our secular and religious principles will be acceptance, discovery, open-mindedness, curiosity, sincerity, and brevity. Treats will be provided -- to the reasonable and unreasonable alike. Hopefully, more light than heat will be shed!"
Don't miss our Joint ICC-SBS Meetup No. 19, to discuss the issue of whether it's legit for religious people to call themselves reasoning; and whether it's legit for non-religious people to claim reasoning only for themselves!
RSVP "YES!" today, for "Is Reason Compatible with Religion?"
http://fallibleblogma.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/faith-and-reason.jpg
_________
SBS-ICC FAQ:
Q: What is the joint ICC-SBS Meetup all about?
A: ICC is an open, facilitated interbelief dialogue between those with different religious beliefs or non-religious ethics beliefs, addressing questions of religion and ethics as they affect our society and our world -- by listening and questioning with curiosity, discovery and sincerity. In response to holding joint meetups with the atheists+theists of SBS, ICC in 2014 became the first "interfaith" group in the U.S. to expand into an "interbelief" group, codifying its welcoming both those with religious beliefs, and atheists & humanists with no religious faith but with ethics beliefs.
Q: Why should SBS jointly meetup with ICC?
A: One of our original purposes according to our co-founders Chester Barber & Grant Steves, and our co-sponsors, the Methodist church, Minnesota Atheists, and The Circle of Reason, is to encourage local "interfaith groups" to become more inclusive in inviting atheists and secular humanists into their dialogue -- this joint ICC-SBS Meetup is how we did it, and how we seek to further expand religious-secular dialogue!
Q: How does this joint Meetup work?
A: This joint ICC-SBS Meetup will be a little different than SBS's usual style: Rather than have a lecture followed by discussion, the joint SBS-ICC meetup is all dialogue, around a topic pre-chosen at the end of the prior Meetup. Also, in the first round we pass a "talking object" and timer, and sit in a circle, to facilitate a "Respectful Conversations"-format dialogue (no yelling!), with SBS-like, back-and-forth dialogue held in the third go-round. With folks like Steve Miller hosting, we've had no dearth of informed, thoughtful conversation about our topic of majority interest.
Q: Uh, is there any FOOD?
A: There will also be snacks 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.
Q: Where do we meetup?
A: 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. This month we'll start staying an extra 15 minutes, until 8:45pm, to allow more discussion, and if enough folks show up (14+) we may vote to break into two groups to allow us to speak longer.
Q: Why should I attend?
A: To change the world, of course! "Interfaith" groups for too long have been a club to which atheists or humanists weren't welcome. No more! So come on over to Summit Ave. to see what ICC's "new interbelief outreach" is all about! Join us for SPIN's and SBS's first "mutual outreach" between the religious & secular communities, to dialogue on issues of religious or ethical beliefs and society!
SBS & Interbelief Conversation Cafe 19: Is Reason Compatible With Religion?