Apologética

"We will meet online, using Zoom. Please RSVP. Then Zoom link will become visible to you. Although probably most of us don't want to admit it, despite our almost infinite language capability and our amazingly powerful science and technology based upon rationality (consistency with the rules of logic and the rules of evidence), ethically we are still mostly chimp-like, using mostly the authoritarian ethics that comes with our basic animal (hominid) nature, ethics that is based upon obedience to the most powerful (parent, leader, culture, deity). Consequently, we are talking, hi-tech "chimps," doing what chimps do but in our highly-sophisticated ways such that it is no longer so evident what is going on. (The best example, perhaps, is our tendency to fight, at all levels of relationship, from interpersonal to international, and with all levels of sophistication from murder and genocide to innuendo and cyberwarfare.) The problem is that this way of living brings about much pain, suffering, disability, and early death (PSDED). Indeed, we are our most feared predator, and even what we do to ourselves (lifestyle) is pretty awful. And our whole species is at severe risk because of our widespread lack of, and denial of, the knowledge that our science and technology are making available to us. Yet, because of our enormous language and hi-tech (rational) capabilities, we are indeed beginning to manifest a new kind of ethics, not authoritarian ethics, but instead rational ethics that is also consistent with an (not yet generally verbalized) ultimate ethical principle--something like: "We should do that which will promote, not only the survival of our species, but also as much joy, contentment, and appreciation as possible and as little pain, suffering, disability, and early death (PSDED) as possible, for everyone, now and in the future." This specific ultimate ethical principle, arbitrarily chosen by some of us for whatever reasons, now has the label "Humanian Ultimate Ethical Principle (HUEP)," and is what a Humanian, by definition, wants his or her ethical beliefs to be in sync with on a rational basis. How far along are we in the development of this new kind of ethics? The news media and our own knowledge based upon our own personal experience can easily lead us to recognize that we are still just a toddler, with a long, long way to go. But those of us that are striving to go in that direction can have a much more satisfying life, as we increasingly train ourselves to behave consistently with the HUEP, and advocate for doing so. In a Humanian organization, like Charlotte Humanianity, we work together on the never-ending task of becoming more ethical in our decision-making. We do this by challenging each other with regard to our ethical beliefs (about what we should and should not do) and by reviewing ethical presentations (in the media) that challenge our thinking. The challenging is necessary to help us grow, instead of remaining in denial while making life worse for ourselves and each other. A major set of tools for studying is at humanianity.com (https://humanianity.com/humanianity/humhome.php). BTW, Bill Van Fleet did not consider himself the "founder" of Humanianity. Humanianity is a phenomenon that has been emerging in many ways for quite some time; it is simply given it a label so that we can talk about it more specifically and help its emergence to occur a little more rapidly. This is an organization in which, as one way of studying, we include challenging each other's opinions in our pursuit of ever-increasing ethical wisdom, in order to have a more satisfying life and to do our parts to make the world a better place for everyone." - WVF

Join Rebecca Lynne as she leads a two hour generative writing workshop, featuring prompts, inspiration and feedback drawn from the Gateless method. In the mythology salons, a character from mythology will be chosen prior and will be briefly described so there is no need to prepare prior. Then a related poetic prompt will be shared followed by writing and sharing time with feedback following the Gateless method. ALL GENRES ARE WELCOME! Rebecca Lynne is a certified Gateless facilitator. Beginning with presentation of a unique communication or expression, she will lead the group to a prompt and then time to write. She will invite the group to share what each has created, with feedback following the Gateless method. Let Rebecca help to inspire you, create community, and help to unearth the writing that’s inside. This workshop is $15 per session or 11 sessions for $150. It is offered complimentary for your first session so you can see if it is something you would like to invest in. I am able to accept PayPal.me/RebeccaLynne and Venmo @Rebecca-Smolen or cash.

Lectio simply means “read” or “text”. It is a prayerful reading of a text multiple times (Scripture), interspersed with silence. The “Lectio at Lunch” practice is provided to offer you an additional avenue of spiritual practice during a time of physical distance. It will be offered weekly on Tuesdays from 12:15-12:45 via Zoom. **If you would like to participate, please send a message via Meet-Up with your email address; we will then send you the Zoom link.**

The practice group is facilitated by Hema and Mandakini Pokharna. For more information about Hema and Mandakini, please visit http://www.journeysoflife.org/trainer.htm Please call Hema at 773 368 1656 to RSVP to make sure that there are more than 3 people for the class to be practicing.​ Join us on this link https://zoom.us/j/95315698146

Join us for some respite from the turbulent times we are facing. We will be gathering virtually each week to uplift each other with prayer and words of inspiration. Victor Luna will be leading these 30-minute prayer services on Monday nights; tune in from wherever you are for a time to pause and reflect. **Please RSVP by emailing (fcc@fccpomona.org), calling the Church Office (909-622-1144), or sending us a message with your email address through Meetup.**

The UUS:E Buddhist Group meets at 7 PM on the first Tuesday of each month for meditation and discussion. Meetings focus on a Buddhist perspective on the ministry theme for the month. All are welcome; no experience or background required. Meetings are currently held on Zoom. Please contact the church office at 860-646-5151 or [uuseoffice@uuse.org](mailto:uuseoffice@uuse.org) for more information.

We are just a group of friendly people who enjoy reading and studying the Bible. We are continuing to use Zoom for MeetUp since the COVID-19 restrictions. You can join at https://gloo.zoom.us/j/633741490, or dialing from a mobile phone 312-626-6799. The meeting ID is 633 741 490. Thanks! Join Zoom Meeting [https://gloo.zoom.us/j/633741490](https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgloo.zoom.us%2Fj%2F633741490&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw3N9k-8OZK-aoWB6EamPI67) Meeting ID: 633 741 490

You can either join us in person at: 2721 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh NC, 27604 Room 753 - (Enter at the thrift store entrance at the North Side of the Church Campus) OR RSVP for Zoom Virtual link to join online Christian Apologetics Toastmasters of Raleigh is a chartered club of Toastmasters International. We follow the Toastmasters path of self-improvement while improving our speaking and soft skills, yet this club focuses on discussing theology and apologetics. Please visit our website for more information about the meeting format and what to expect as a guest. Important Note: We meet at Crossroads Fellowship (this church was generous in supporting us by allowing meeting space. The group is not affiliated though some members attend our club).

This event is closed to new participants and the class is full. Thank you, though, for your interest. Prerequisite: \~One year of college level Ancient Greek.\~ As of Spring 2021, only Agnes Scott, Emory University, and the University of Georgia offer Ancient Greek classes in Georgia. Our Ancient Greek class is the only free, adult Ancient Greek class in Georgia. We have reached our maximum attendance. We will favor advanced students who can teach the rest of us something! Our class starts promptly at 8 p.m. and ends promptly at 9:15 p.m. We are at the end of our first year college Ancient Greek text books and we will be reading unaltered Ancient Greek henceforth.

こちらはZoomを使ったオンライン・セミナーです。事前にZoomアプリをPCかスマートフォンにダウンロードして下さい。 This seminar is held by Zoom. Please download Zoom app on your PC or smart phone beforehand. 『English Conversation about LIFE』 このMeetUpは、楽しく英会話やディスカッションをしながら、英語を上達させる場所です。 English Conversation about LIFE is a space for you to improve your English, and talk about important issues about our life! 好むと好まざるに関わらず、私達の人生観はいくつかの世界観によって形成されます。多くの場合、私達は気づかないものですが、それを知り、人生を考えてみる事はとても大切です。 Like or not we have been shaped by one or several World Views. Many times we are not aware of it. Knowing about it and how it shapes how we see life, is very important. 【参加方法Join Zoom Meeting】 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/121017569 Meeting ID: 121 017 569

We will meet via the internet, using Zoom. To receive an invitation to all Wednesday evening meetings (starting 7 pm) and all Saturday meeting (starting 3 pm), send a message on Meetup to organizer. Say, "Send me an internet invitation, and which session youre interested in attending.” We will add you to our mailing list and send you a link to Zoom. You can then join any meeting anytime free of charge.

Let's try something new. For the next dozen weeks or so, starting 4/17/2022, we are going to live-read and discuss Aristotle's \~*Nicomachean Ethics*\~. What is new and different about this project is that the translation, by Adam Beresford (2020), happens to be rendered in standard 'Murican English. . From the translator's "Note" on the text: . "This translation is conservative in interpretation and traditional in aim. It aims to translate the text as accurately as possible. . "I translated every page from scratch, from a clean Greek text, rather than revising an existing translation. ... I wanted to avoid the scholars’ dialect that is traditionally used for translating Aristotle. ... "I reject the approach of Arthur Adkins, Elizabeth Anscombe, and others who followed Nietzsche in supposing that the main elements of modern thinking about right and wrong were unknown to the Greeks, or known to them only in some radically different form. My view of humanity and of our shared moral instincts is shaped by a newer paradigm. This is a post-Darwinian translation. (It is also more in line with the older, both Aristotelian and Christian view of human character.) . "Having said that, I have no interest at all in modernizing Aristotle’s ideas. All the attitudes of this treatise remain fully Greek, very patriarchal, somewhat aristocratic, and firmly embedded in the fourth century BC. My choice of dialect (standard English) has no bearing on that whatsoever. (It is perfectly possible to express distinctively Greek and ancient attitudes in standard English.) ... I have also not simplified the text in any way. I have translated every iota, particle, preposition, noun, verb, adjective, phrase, clause, and sentence of the original. Every premise and every argument therefore remains – unfortunately – exactly as complex and annoyingly difficult as in any other version in whatever dialect. ... "Some scholars and students unwarily assume that the traditional dialect has a special connection with Greek and that using it brings readers closer to the original text; and that it makes the translation more accurate. In reality, it has no special tie to the Greek language, either in its main philosophical glossary or in its dozens of minor (and pointless) deviations from normal English. And in my view it certainly makes any translation much less accurate. . "I will occasionally refer to the scholars’ dialect (‘Gringlish’) and its traditional glossary in the Notes." . . Here is our plan: 1\. Read Intro excerpts or a summary to gain the big picture\. 2\. Read a segment of the translated text\. 3\. Discuss it analytically and interpretively\. 4\. Repeat again at \#2 for several more times\. 5\. Discuss the segments evaluatively\. . . Zoom is the project's current meeting platform, but that can change. The project's cloud drive is [here](https://mega.nz/folder/vqJCXIQJ#muxiUXMHhfljvxKnWaOxZA), at which you'll find the reading texts, notes, and slideshows.

Let's try something new. For the next dozen weeks or so, starting 4/17/2022, we are going to live-read and discuss Aristotle's \~*Nicomachean Ethics*\~. What is new and different about this project is that the translation, by Adam Beresford (2020), happens to be rendered in standard 'Murican English. . From the translator's "Note" on the text: . "This translation is conservative in interpretation and traditional in aim. It aims to translate the text as accurately as possible. . "I translated every page from scratch, from a clean Greek text, rather than revising an existing translation. ... I wanted to avoid the scholars’ dialect that is traditionally used for translating Aristotle. ... "I reject the approach of Arthur Adkins, Elizabeth Anscombe, and others who followed Nietzsche in supposing that the main elements of modern thinking about right and wrong were unknown to the Greeks, or known to them only in some radically different form. My view of humanity and of our shared moral instincts is shaped by a newer paradigm. This is a post-Darwinian translation. (It is also more in line with the older, both Aristotelian and Christian view of human character.) . "Having said that, I have no interest at all in modernizing Aristotle’s ideas. All the attitudes of this treatise remain fully Greek, very patriarchal, somewhat aristocratic, and firmly embedded in the fourth century BC. My choice of dialect (standard English) has no bearing on that whatsoever. (It is perfectly possible to express distinctively Greek and ancient attitudes in standard English.) ... I have also not simplified the text in any way. I have translated every iota, particle, preposition, noun, verb, adjective, phrase, clause, and sentence of the original. Every premise and every argument therefore remains – unfortunately – exactly as complex and annoyingly difficult as in any other version in whatever dialect. ... "Some scholars and students unwarily assume that the traditional dialect has a special connection with Greek and that using it brings readers closer to the original text; and that it makes the translation more accurate. In reality, it has no special tie to the Greek language, either in its main philosophical glossary or in its dozens of minor (and pointless) deviations from normal English. And in my view it certainly makes any translation much less accurate. . "I will occasionally refer to the scholars’ dialect (‘Gringlish’) and its traditional glossary in the Notes." . . Here is our plan: 1\. Read Intro excerpts or a summary to gain the big picture\. 2\. Read a segment of the translated text\. 3\. Discuss it analytically and interpretively\. 4\. Repeat again at \#2 for several more times\. 5\. Discuss the segments evaluatively\. . . Zoom is the project's current meeting platform, but that can change. The project's cloud drive is [here](https://mega.nz/folder/vqJCXIQJ#muxiUXMHhfljvxKnWaOxZA), at which you'll find the reading texts, notes, and slideshows.

"We will meet online, using Zoom. Please RSVP. Then Zoom link will become visible to you. Although probably most of us don't want to admit it, despite our almost infinite language capability and our amazingly powerful science and technology based upon rationality (consistency with the rules of logic and the rules of evidence), ethically we are still mostly chimp-like, using mostly the authoritarian ethics that comes with our basic animal (hominid) nature, ethics that is based upon obedience to the most powerful (parent, leader, culture, deity). Consequently, we are talking, hi-tech "chimps," doing what chimps do but in our highly-sophisticated ways such that it is no longer so evident what is going on. (The best example, perhaps, is our tendency to fight, at all levels of relationship, from interpersonal to international, and with all levels of sophistication from murder and genocide to innuendo and cyberwarfare.) The problem is that this way of living brings about much pain, suffering, disability, and early death (PSDED). Indeed, we are our most feared predator, and even what we do to ourselves (lifestyle) is pretty awful. And our whole species is at severe risk because of our widespread lack of, and denial of, the knowledge that our science and technology are making available to us. Yet, because of our enormous language and hi-tech (rational) capabilities, we are indeed beginning to manifest a new kind of ethics, not authoritarian ethics, but instead rational ethics that is also consistent with an (not yet generally verbalized) ultimate ethical principle--something like: "We should do that which will promote, not only the survival of our species, but also as much joy, contentment, and appreciation as possible and as little pain, suffering, disability, and early death (PSDED) as possible, for everyone, now and in the future." This specific ultimate ethical principle, arbitrarily chosen by some of us for whatever reasons, now has the label "Humanian Ultimate Ethical Principle (HUEP)," and is what a Humanian, by definition, wants his or her ethical beliefs to be in sync with on a rational basis. How far along are we in the development of this new kind of ethics? The news media and our own knowledge based upon our own personal experience can easily lead us to recognize that we are still just a toddler, with a long, long way to go. But those of us that are striving to go in that direction can have a much more satisfying life, as we increasingly train ourselves to behave consistently with the HUEP, and advocate for doing so. In a Humanian organization, like Charlotte Humanianity, we work together on the never-ending task of becoming more ethical in our decision-making. We do this by challenging each other with regard to our ethical beliefs (about what we should and should not do) and by reviewing ethical presentations (in the media) that challenge our thinking. The challenging is necessary to help us grow, instead of remaining in denial while making life worse for ourselves and each other. A major set of tools for studying is at humanianity.com (https://humanianity.com/humanianity/humhome.php). BTW, Bill Van Fleet did not consider himself the "founder" of Humanianity. Humanianity is a phenomenon that has been emerging in many ways for quite some time; it is simply given it a label so that we can talk about it more specifically and help its emergence to occur a little more rapidly. This is an organization in which, as one way of studying, we include challenging each other's opinions in our pursuit of ever-increasing ethical wisdom, in order to have a more satisfying life and to do our parts to make the world a better place for everyone." - WVF

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. We will be hearing from Becca Powell, Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Unchained At Last, an organization whose mission is dedication to ending forced and child marriage in the United States through direct services and systems change. Unchained At Last's mission clearly meshes and addresses several of our Humanist Ten Commitments. Becca will educate us about an issue many of us may not be familiar with--but should be. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

This is an in-person meeting. At this meeting you will get answers to depression and anxiety. Find out the source of them and how to get rid of them. Did you know that unwanted emotions like anxiety, depression, unhappiness, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, fear, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not due to a chemical imbalance in your brain from some nebulous chemical reaction "by chance". Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio and Church of Scientology of Central Ohio.

No person who seeks *true* justice can do so for long without recognizing the necessity of regular, close looks in the mirror. It has been said that the sins we hate most strongly in others are often ones with which we ourselves struggle. If one is not careful, our zeal to see wrongs righted can cause blind spots in our own lives. David knew this intimately. While literally on the run for his life from his enemies, he did not hesitate to call out the sins and wrongdoings of those evildoers, asking God to vindicate him, and to judge the wicked; and yet on multiple occasions, most famously in the adultery against and murder of one of his own friends, David had to reckon with the fact that he, himself, was the one who did evil, sinning against God and man. The only hope for David and the only hope for every human is the perfect justice, mercy, and grace that are found in the Lord, the One, as David later would write, "Who forgives your sins, Who heals your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit..." \~Psalm 103. We will continue our study in Psalms, looking at [chapters 5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%205&version=NIV) and [6](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%206&version=NIV), **6:30 pm,** **Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at True Food Kitchen, Easton Town Center**. We would love to have you join us! Get your tickets on [EventBrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/columbus-a-study-in-psalms-psalm-5-and-6-tickets-1983924798478)! Connect with us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/events/1198570342056669)!

The topic for April is "Water" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!