Texas Secular Network

Donate to Camp Quest Texas

2010-03-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

Camp Quest Texas Meetup in San Antonio

2010-01-31T14:12:00.000-08:00

March 21 @ 3pm Helotes, TX (just outside of San Antonio)

Thinking about sending your child to Camp Quest Texas? This is a great opportunity to meet other CQ TX parents and allow your children to socialize with other kids they may see at camp.

See Camp Quest Texas' meetup site for more details to RSVP: http://www.meetup.com/CampQuestTexas/calendar/12442934/

Camp Quest Texas Updates and Fundraiser

2009-11-17T11:19:00.001-08:00

We are very excited about the upcoming Camp Quest Texas Fundraiser which will be held at Al-Amir on December 10 in Addison, Texas and hope to see everyone there. In addition to supporting Camp Quest Texas you will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction (including Cowboys v Chargers tickets and a book autographed by Penn Jillette!) and ‘balloon raffle’ for other great services/events while enjoying authentic Mediterranean cuisine and being entertained by a belly dancer. Al-Amir will donate ten percent of all food and beverage sales from our benefit to Camp Quest Texas, so show your support the way a Freethinker would-with your heart and soul stomach! Tickets are only $25 adults/ $15 kids and include a very generously portioned family style dinner prepared by Al-Amir’s chef. Seating is limited, please purchase your ticket today and be a part of the historic creation of Camp Quest Texas. http://campquesttexas.org/register

Fundraising efforts for Camp Quest Texas help cover the fees of volunteer counselors, allow for enhanced activity options, and covers deposit on future camp locations. Camp Quest Texas needs your support to become a reality! If you are unable to attend the fundraiser, please consider donating to Camp Quest Texas: http://campquesttexas.org/donate

Also, registration for Camp Quest Texas 2010 is open! The camp will run from August 1 to August 7, 2010 at the Texas 4-H Conference Center in Brownwood, Texas. Registration is $480 per child or you can put down a $100 deposit to reserve your child’s spot. Kids ages 8-18 are invited to sign up. Older kids, ages 16-18 have the opportunity to be Junior Counselors. Camp Quest Texas Registration makes a great Holiday/Solstice/Christmas/Hanukah/Festivus (or whatever you may celebrate) gift! So, register today: http://campquesttexas.org/register

Camp Quest Texas Fundraiser

2009-11-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

What: Camp Quest Texas Fundraiser Dinner, Raffle, and Silent Auction

When: December 10, 2009 6pm to 9pm

Where: Al-Amir in Addison, TX

Cost (includes dinner): $25 adults; $15 (kids 12 and under)

Attendees can register at:

http://campquesttexas.org/register

Camp Quest Texas is a residential summer camp for the children of Freethinkers. We are dedicated to the promotion of critical thinking, the scientific method, ethics derived from human experience and the separation of church and state as protected by the US Constitution, in our children. Camp Quest Texas will provide our children with a place where they will feel welcome, safe and secure. Camp Quest Texas will reinforce the vales we all hold as dear. Camp Quest Texas needs your support to become a reality! Please RSVP today and be a part of the historic creation of Camp Quest Texas.

In addition to supporting Camp Quest Texas you will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction (including Cowboys v Chargers tickets and a book autographed by Penn Jillette!) and ‘balloon raffle’ for other great services/events while enjoying authentic Mediterranean cuisine and being entertained by a belly dancer. A generous family style dinner prepared by Al-Amir’s chef is included in the cost of the event. Al-Amir will donate ten percent of all food and beverage sales from our benefit to Camp Quest Texas, so show your support the way a Freethinker would-with your heart and ~~soul~~ stomach!

Questions? Please contact campquest@churchoffreethought.org

Camp Quest Texas T-shirt Design Contest 2010

2009-10-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

The Camp Quest Texas T-shirt Design Contest 2010 gives contestants the opportunity to express their creativity while helping to further free thought and promote Camp Quest Texas. For additional information and entry form, see the Official Rules (PDF).

Prizes:One (1) first place entry will receive recognition as the winning t-shirt designer as well as one free t-shirt imprinted with their design. All top five (5) entries will receive recognition on the CQ TX website.

Enter from October 1, 2009 till Midnight October 31, 2009

Full rules and entry form located at: http://campquesttexas.org/donate

Camp Quest Texas

2009-07-14T11:55:00.001-07:00

Texas Secular Network-

The North Texas Church of Freethought is proud to be sponsoring Camp Quest Texas! For those of you that haven't yet heard of it, Camp Quest is a secular summer camp for the children of atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers. Founded 15 years ago in Ohio, Camp Quest provides a much-needed rational alternative to the many camps that seek to promote a faith-based and superstitious agenda.

Camp Quest Texas will kick-off with a Day Camp event to be held Sunday, August 30th at Kevin and Cathy Smith's farm in Princeton, Texas. The Camp will take place from 9AM until 5PM, and children from ages 5 to 13 are welcome to participate. We'll be learning about different animals, making pottery, and having lots of great fun!

Please contact Camp Director ! Amie Parsons today to reserve a spot for your child in this inaugural Day Camp event! You don't want them to miss out on this chance to become a part of Texas history!

Email: camp@churchoffreethought.org

Phone: (Amie Parsons) 214-503-7384

Deadline: August 15th

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E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

July Service

2009-06-28T20:26:00.001-07:00

Texas Secular Network-

I hope to see you at the July service of the North Texas Church of Freethought, which will take place on Sunday, July 5th at the Wyndham DFW Airport North. The service starts at 10:30 AM, but be sure to arrive at 10:00 AM to fellowship with the other freethinkers and atheists who are proud to call us home. As always, we'll be adjourning immediately after the service to Jason's Deli for lunch and stimulating conversation- please join us there!

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Erin Taylor and Zachary Moore will be presenting a review (in two parts) of Ayaan Hirsi Ali's memoir, Infidel at the July service. If you haven't read it yet, you'll be sure to want your very own copy after you hear her amazing story of triumph and tragedy, fighting religious oppression in Africa, the Middle East, and even Western Europe.

Ayaan's struggle to establish her own religious and personal liberty is a keen reminder of our country's struggle as we commemorate Independence Day this weekend. Dr. Tim Gorski will take us on a tour of America's founding and the rights that were established, often after great disagreement, by the individuals who served at the dawn of our country's history.

Of course, no service would be complete without a healthy measure of music; Jay Purrington and Erin wi! ll stir our sentiments for the 4th of July weekend, touching o! n the in spiration of soldiers returning home, as well as the somber reflection of someone wishing for an end to all war.

Special Announcements

This is not a service you're going to want to miss- we're going to have two special presentations: one by Amie Parsons, who's been spearheading the effort to set up a kids' camp for this children of freethinkers, and another by Paul Mitchell, who is organizing the 2009 Texas Freethought Convention which will be later this year in San Antonio.

As always, be sure to check our website calendar and Meetup.com page for all the detailed information on the activitie! s this month- there's lots more going on!

See you on Sunday!

Zachary Moore, PhD
Executive Director
North Texas Church of Freethought

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

June Food Critics Info

2009-06-11T10:36:00.001-07:00

Here is the NTCOF Food Critics' Info. for June:

Iron Cactus
1520 Main Street
Dallas, 75201
Phone: 214-749-4766

Date: Saturday, June 20th

Time: 7:30 PM

Food: Mexican

Dress: nice casual

website: http://www.ironcactus.com/dallas.asp

RSVP: Please let us know your intent to attend by midnight, June 16th. Please RSVP to woodelves116@yahoo.com

You will get an acknowledgement of your RSVP. If you don't get one in a reasonable amount of time, please follow up.

Other Important Information: Please consider bringing cash of several denominations. It sometimes makes paying the bill easier in a large-ish group setting.

This restaurant is in and overlooks Pegasus Plaza in downtown Dallas. All the neon lights make it a rather nice setting to dine in.

You might consider calling them to check on t! he parking situation.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you there!

Brad & Ginger Watson
(upstanding freethinkers in a wacky world)

P.S. If you should need to contact Brad on the day of the event, his cell phone number is 817-917-8034.

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

June Service

2009-06-04T22:10:00.000-07:00

Texas Secular Network-

I hope to see you at the June service of the North Texas Church of Freethought, which will take place on Sunday, June 7th at the Wyndham DFW Airport North. The service starts at 10:30 AM, but be sure to arrive at 10:00 AM to fellowship with the other freethinkers and atheists who are proud to call us home. As always, we'll be adjourning immediately after the service to Jason's Deli for lunch and stimulating conversation.

Freethought Essay Contest

The United Coalition of Reason, the national group which provides leadership and support to local CoRs like our own DFWCoR, has announced an exciting new essay contest! The first prize winner will be awared $1000- check out this page for more details!

Also, be sure to check our website calendar and Meetup.com page for all the detailed information on the activities this month- there's lots more going on!

See you on Sunday!

Zachary Moore, PhD
Executive Director
North Texas Church of Freethought

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

May Food Critics Info

2009-05-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Fellow NTCOFers!

Here is the NTCOF Food Critics' Info. for May:

Lavendou
19009 Preston Road, Suite 200
Dallas, 75252
Phone: 972-248-1911

Date: Saturday, May 23rd

Time: 7:30 PM

Food: French

Dress: nice (jeans would be inappropriate here; shorts would be very wrong)

website: http://www.lavendou.com/

RSVP: YES!!!! It is absolutely essential to RSVP this month -- no exceptions!!! The hard deadline is midnight, Tuesday the 12th. If you do not RSVP this month, you will not be allowed to sit with the group. At certain restaurants we have to be tough about this, and this is one of those restaurants.

Please RSVP to woodelves116@yahoo.com

This restaurant offers wonderful souffles for dessert! But you must remember to order them at the time you order your main course.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you there!

Brad and Ginger Watson
(upstanding freethinkers in a wacky world)

P.S. If you should need to contact Brad on the day of the event, his cell phone number is 817-917-8034.

P.P.S. Have you signed up for the 2009 Member Directory? It's easy to do, and you can find it here.

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

May Service

2009-04-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

Texas Secular Network-

I hope to see you at the May service of the North Texas Church of Freethought, which will take place on Sunday, May 3rd at the Wyndham DFW Airport North. The service starts at 10:30 AM, but be sure to arrive at 10:00 AM to fellowship with the other freethinkers and atheists who are proud to call us home. As always, we'll be adjourning immediately after the service to Jason's Deli for lunch and stimulating conversation.

The month of May has been recognized from antiquity to present day as a month to celebrate fertility, and in America most of us observe the second Sunday of this month as "Mother's Day." In the NTCOF, we've regularly celebrated the efforts of mothers (and fathers) who take a freethinking approach to parenting, and encourage critical thinking skills and a natural curiosity within their own children.

But it should also be noted that a rational approach to fertility includes many reasons why individuals would want to restrict it; to this end, we'll be examining the many psychological and social implications in one's choice to be either a parent or child-free. We'll also be joined by a representative of Planned Parenthood of North Texas who will review recent legislation that directly affects the choices of those who seek to promote a rational approach to fertility.

Blood Drive: Please help us provide this critical service to our fellow North Texans by signing up here on the web to donate blood immediately after our May service. All donors receive T-shirt, a mini-physical including blood pressure and iron level check at the time of donation and cholesterol results following their donation. Please have a meal prior to donating.

Also, be sure to check our website calendar and Meetup.com page for all the detailed information on the activities this month- there's lots more going on!

See you on Sunday!

Zachary Moore, PhD
Executive Director
North Texas Church of Freethought

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Dr. Robert Price @ International Christian Evidence Conference (Houston)

2009-04-22T19:09:00.001-07:00

Dr. Robert Price, who was featured in the movie The God Who Wasn't There, will be debating at the International Christian Evidence Conference in Houston on June 13, 2009. If you have plans to be in the area or would like to make plans to attend, please see below. I'll also be adding a note to the Meetup calendars.

-Whitney

Organizer: Free-Thinkers of Dallas

Asst. Organizer: Free-Thinkers of Fort Worth

Debate Between Dr. Robert Price & Dr. Douglas Jacoby

WHAT: Dr. Robert M. Price versus Dr. Douglas Jacoby

WHEN: Saturday, June 13 2009 @ 7 p.m.

WHERE: Houston Baptist University, Durham Theater, 7502 Fondren Road, Houston, TX 77074.

INFO: The Apologetics Research Society is hosting an International Christian Evidence Conference in Houston from June 12-14. The highlight of the conference will be a debate between Dr. Robert M. Price and Dr. Douglas Jacoby on the historicity of Jesus. The debate will be held on Saturday, June 13 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Houston Baptist University (Durham Theater). The debate will be entitled, "Jesus: Man, Myth, or Messiah?" Tickets are $12/person.

If you are in the Houston area or within driving distance, please go and support Dr. Robert M. Price.

ON THE NET:
Dr. Robert Price: http://robertmprice.mindvendor.com
Apologetics Research Society: http://evidenceforchristianity.org
Dr. Douglas Jacoby: http://douglasjacoby.com

April Food Critics Reminder

2009-04-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

Greetings Freethinkers!

This is just a quick reminder that the RSVP deadline for the next Food Critics' Meeting is this Wednesday at midnight.

Thanks!

Brad Watson

NTCOF Social Director

P.S. Please RSVP to woodelves116@yahoo.com.

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Sam Singleton Comes To Dallas

2009-04-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

Sam Singleton Atheist Evangelist is coming to town, for ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Date: Saturday, April 11th

Time: Doors open at 9:00 PM, Show starts at 9:30 PM

Place: Sons of Hermann Hall, at the corner of Elm and Exposition in Dallas

Tickets: $20 at the door, $15 in advance

Language Advisory: this show contains profanity and irreverence towards religious figures

Metroplex Atheists Chairman Terry McDonald has arranged to have a limited number of tickets for Brother Sam's show available in advance- this is the only way to get advance tickets now.

See Terry at the Metroplex Atheists meetup tonight (Wed the 8th) at J. Gilligan's in Arlington, or drop him a note to reserve some tickets for the show.

In this clip, you can see an example of Brother Sam's approach to atheist evangelism:

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

The God Dialogues - Thursday, April 9th - 8:00pm

2009-04-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, April 9th at 8:00pm in the Red River/Cocho Rooms of the University Center, two atheists and two theists discuss the "god question" relating their beliefs and disbeliefs to real-life issues like reality, the meaning of life, and man's origins.

Audience Q&A to follow.

--
Becky Robinson
Graduate Psychology Student - University of Texas at Arlington
President - Freethinkers of UTA
http://www.freethinkersofuta.org/
Secretary, Board of Directors - Secular Student Alliance
http://www.secularstudents.org/

April Food Critics Info

2009-04-06T07:18:00.000-07:00

Announcing a new Meetup for North Texas Church of Freethought!

What: Food Critics' Meeting

When: April 18, 2009 5:30 PM

Where: Click the link below to find out!

Meetup Description: Agave Azul restaurant is located in historic downtown Carrollton at I-35 and Beltline Rd.

Food: Mex-mex and Tex-mex

Dress: smart casual

RSVP? : Yes. This month it is necessary. Deadline: Wednesday the 15th at midnight

Please RSVP to woodelves116@yahoo.com

You will get an acknowledgement of your RSVP. If you don't get one in a reasonable amount of time, please follow up.

Other Important Information: This restaurant has a fully-stocked tequila bar and their margaritas, which come in many different flavors, are wonderful! We had a blast the last time our group visited this restaurant, and we're sure the margaritas had nothing to do with it.

Parking: To park right in front of the restaurant on Saturday evening can sometimes be a challenge. But drive around a bit within the historic area and you should be able to find something within easy walking distance.

Thanks and we hope to see you there!

Brad and Ginger Watson
(upstanding freethinkers in a wacky world)

Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/church-of-freethought/calendar/10124383/

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

2009 Scarborough Renaissance Festival Meetup

2009-04-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Join us on May 2, 2009 for a multigroup meetup at the 2009 Scarborough Renaissance Festival.

For more information please visit: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Thinkers-of-Dallas/calendar/7920137/

Carpool signup for the North Dallas area: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Thinkers-of-Dallas/calendar/9501617/

Everyone is invited to join us there.

Rummage Sale Info

2009-04-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

Info for those participating in the Rummage Sale tomorrow (you can call the NTCOF hotline for more information, 972-395-5343):

We have 2 spaces 10x20 each in the blue expo. The expo is in the north (very back) of the market and is a large structure with a blue metal roof. See attached images for space numbers and locations.

Cody Evans

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

DFW Coalition of Reason

2009-04-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

The United Coalition of Reason is supporting a local collaboration of secular groups in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The nascent DFW Coalition of Reason can be found at:

DFWCOR.ORG

Upcoming Activities

2009-03-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

Texas Secular Network-

Stay up to date on all the activities at the NTCOF by checking out our website, calendar, and Meetup site! There's tons of stuff to do, and we need all freethinkers to pitch in for the greater good!

Rummage Sale – Keep collecting items that can be sold at the Traders' Village on April 4th! Contact Cody Evans to volunteer, and check this page for more details!

The God Dialogues - On Thursday, April 9th at 8PM, Executive Director Zachary Moore will be participating in an atheist/theist panel with Kip Lewis, John Ferrer, and Michael Craven at the University of Texas at Arlington to talk about the existence of God.

Highway Cleanup – Saturday, April 11th, meeting at the Dillard's parking lot at North Park mall at 9:00 AM. This had been previously scheduled for tomorrow morning, BUT IT HAS BEEN MOVED!

Also, check out the latest posts on the NTCOF website!

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Upcoming Activities

2009-03-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Texas Secular Network-

Stay up to date on all the activities at the NTCOF by checking out our website, calendar, and Meetup site! There's tons of stuff to do, and we need all freethinkers to pitch in for the greater good!

Rummage Sale – Keep collecting items that can be sold at the Traders' Village on April 4th! Contact Cody Evans for more info!

Christopher Hitchens Debate – Saturday, March 21st, at the Christian Book Expo in the Dallas Convention Center, as well as a special film screening tonight!

Food Critics – Meeting at Thai Chili in Southlake on the 21st at 5:00PM.

The God Dialogues - On Monday, March 23rd at 7PM, Executive Director Zachary Moore will be participating in an atheist/theist panel with Derek Sansone, John Ferrer, and Michael Craven at the University of Texas at Dallas to talk about the existence of God.

Also, check out the latest posts on the NTCOF website!

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Upcoming Activities

2009-03-13T19:06:00.000-07:00

Texas Secular Network-

Stay up to date on all the activities at the NTCOF by checking out our website, calendar, and Meetup site! There's tons of stuff to do, and we need all freethinkers to pitch in for the greater good!

Rummage Sale – Keep collecting items that can be sold at the Traders' Village on April 4th! Contact Cody Evans for more info!

Science Museum – CANCELED due to insufficient vounteers.

Cookie Party – This coming Sunday, March 15th - Nothing's more fun than making cookies, and especially when you get to share the time with other freethinkers, and the cookies with police officers who serve us all. Bring either pre-baked cookies or dough to bake at Zach's house, and get ready to sample everyone's recipes!

Food Critics – Meeting at Thai Chili in Southlake on the 21st at 5:00PM.

Also, check out the latest posts on the NTCOF website! Richard Dawkins spoke recently at OU and NTCOF members were there to see it! Also, the latest verison of the American Religious Identification Survey has been released- see what it says!

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

SECULAR Center - Please Join Today!

2009-03-10T02:46:00.000-07:00

Do you want to make a difference in your community? Tired of the misconception that atheists are amoral? Don't want to sort through which charities are secular and which aren't? The SECULAR Center can help! We are a non-theistic non-profit organization dedicated to secular volunteer opportunities for atheists, agnostics, humanists, and other godless groups. Our goal is to educate the community about non-theist morals and rational thought systems through secular service and volunteer opportunities.

Please check out our website at www.secularcenterusa.org and sign up for our free quarterly newsletter! The newsletter is both informative and entertaining and includes secular volunteer opportunities, book/author reviews, and more! We are also looking for volunteers to organize in Texas communities other than Houston. Contact us at secularcenterusa@gmail.com if you are interested, or if you have any questions.

Please strongly consider showing your support for secular outreach to the community by joining the SECULAR Center today! Help us meet our goal of 200 members by June 1st. Let's show our community that the godless are good people too!

Sincerely,
Noelle Dildine, President
SECULAR Center USA
http://www.secularcenterusa.org/
"Godless for Good"

March Food Critics Social Dinner

2009-03-08T05:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Fellow NTCOFers!

Here is the NTCOF Food Critics' Info. for March:

Thai Chili
215 Grand Ave.
Southlake, 76092 (within the shops of the Southlake Town Square)
Phone: 817-251-6674

Date: Saturday, March 21st (a vernal equinox celebration!)

Time: 5:00 PM

Food: Thai

Dress: casual to smart casual

websites: http://www.southlaketownsquare.com/shop_details.php?id=136

http://www.thai-chili.com/

Please note that the meeting time on March 21st is 5:00 PM!!!!!

A Meetup message that was in error got out saying the meeting time is 7:00 PM. That is absolutely wrong. If you show up at 7:00 we'll likely be long gone.

Please RSVP to woodelves116@yahoo.com

You will get an acknowledgement of your RSVP. If you don't get one in a reasonable amount of time, please follow up.

Other Important Information:  Please consider bringing cash of several denominations. It sometimes makes paying the bill easier in a large-ish group setting.

Parking:  It's sometimes possible to find street parking, but the sure bet is to head straight to one of the two parking garages.

Thanks and we hope to see you there!

Brad and Ginger Watson
(upstanding freethinkers in a wacky world)

P.S. If you should need to contact Brad on the day of the event, his cell phone number is 817-917-8034.


P.S. For April we are thinking strongly about returning to Agave Azul in Carrollton. We had a blast there before and we're quite sure the top-notch margaritas had nothing to do with it.

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

National Journal article

2009-03-06T19:52:00.001-08:00

Greetings, Fellow Freethinkers:

Paul Starobin wrote an article for the National Journal about the secular/atheist movement in the U.S. He made a trip to the Metroplex to interview a few of us living in the Bible Belt.

The link for the article (http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20090307_9763.php) seems to be working for some, but not all, so the pasted article is below. There is also a video that goes with the article, which mention the Freethinkers of UTA prominently: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/nw_20090306_6835.php

Enjoy!

--
Becky Robinson
Graduate Psychology Student - University of Texas at Arlington
President - Freethinkers of UTA
http://www.freethinkersofuta.org/
Secretary, Board of Directors - Secular Student Alliance
http://www.secularstudents.org/

Upcoming Activities

2009-03-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

Texas Secular Network-

Stay up to date on all the activities at the NTCOF by checking out our website, calendar, and Meetup site! There's tons of stuff to do, and we need all freethinkers to pitch in for the greater good!

Rummage Sale – Keep collecting items that can be sold at the Traders' Village on April 4th! Contact Cody Evans for more info!

Science Museum – March 14th - if you care about childhood science education, here's your chance to DO SOMETHING about it! Contact Susette Geissler ASAP to volunteer.

Cookie Party – March 15th - Nothing's more fun than making cookies, and especially when you get to share the time with other freethinkers, and the cookies with police officers who serve us all.

Food Critics – Meeting at Thai Chili in Southlake on the 21st!

Also, check out the latest posts on the NTCOF website! We've been mentioned in the cover feature of National Journal Magazine, and the Metroplex Atheists are sponsoring a secular billboard campaign!

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Reminder: Highway Cleanup Saturday!

2009-02-27T16:34:00.000-08:00

Adopt-a-Road cleanup is here again! We'll be meeting at 8:30 AM outside the Dillard's in North Park Mall, and then we'll be cleaning the two-mile stretch of Northwest Highway between North Central Expressway and Preston Road. If you can walk along a road, you can help out, and it's incredibly important to show our commitment to this community by participating! Please RSVP to Keith at (keith.geissler@gmail.com) to let him know that you'll be helping out!

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

March Service

2009-02-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

Texas Secular Network-

I hope to see you at the March service of the North Texas Church of Freethought, which will take place on Sunday, March 1st at the Wyndham DFW Airport North. The service starts at 10:30 AM, but be sure to arrive at 10:00 AM to fellowship with the other freethinkers and atheists who are proud to call us home. As always, we'll be adjourning immediately after the service at Jason's Deli for lunch and stimulating conversation.

Cash Foley, Susan Eshelman, and Erin Taylor will be giving us their perspectives on the book A Brief History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, which is a fascinating exploration of the history of science, all the way from the origins of the Cosmos until present day. Written like a novel in which each of the historical persons are integral characters to the overall plot, this book is a favorite of many, and you'll love learning how it's impacted your fellow freethinkers.

Also, it's almost time for our Rummage/Garage Sale Extravaganza (April 4th at Traders' Village) and we need your stuff. Please bring your stuff to the March service or to the drop off point nearest you (see below) between now and March 31st.

Types of Items needed:

Clothing
Tools
Trinkets
Books (to be sold on Amazon)
Kitchen stuff
Anything you think might sell

Things not needed:

FOOD/Beverage*
Large furniture (transport issues)**
Anything illegal/obscene

If you're not able to make it to the March service, you may contact one of the following people to arrange to drop off your old belongings between now and March 31st.

Euless
   Cody & Alexandra Evans
   1200 fuller wiser rd
   cje1301@hotmail.com
   817-437-6328

North Richland Hills
   Brad & Ginger Watson
   woodelves116@yahoo.com
   7324 cross keys dr
   817-281-8583

Rockwall
   Keith and Suzette Geissler
    kgeissler@gmail.com
    7318 Birchmont Drive

Irving
Zach and Andrea Moore
    zach@drzach.net
    304 Moss Hill Road
    214-557-5916

*Food and drink can be brought for consumption but not for sale per traders village lease agreement. This includes alcoholic beverages.

**If you have large furniture that you can arrange to have transported to Traders' Village, then you may do so.

Also, be sure to check our website calendar and Meetup.com page for all the detailed information on the activities this month- there's lots more going on!

See you on Sunday!

Zachary Moore, PhD
Executive Director
North Texas Church of Freethought

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Upcoming Charitable Events

2009-02-05T05:58:00.000-08:00

Highway Cleanup - Sat February 28th, 9:00 AM

Come help fellow NTCOFers take care of our adopted highway. The highway we care for is Northwest Highway between US-75 and Preston Road. We meet at the Dillard's parking lot at the Northpark mall. We provide the trash bags and reflective vests.

Things to bring: Gloves, Comfortable Shoes, Water

Science Museum - Sat March 14th, 1:00 PM

Mark your calendar for March 14! We are getting together a group to volunteer at The Museum of Nature and Science on Saturday, March 14 from 1:00 to 5:00 to help with the hands-on activities for the children, demonstrations and exhibits. The theme for this event is "Discovery Construction," an exploration of green buildings. This daylong program offers a new twist to learning about science. For more information, see their website.

Please let Susette Geissler know by email if you can make it BY MARCH 6. It is important that she have an accurate count to let them know how many will be coming.

The Museum of Nature and Science
(formerly The Dallas Museum of Natural History,
The Science Place, and The Dallas Children's Museum)
In Fair Park, 1318 Second Avenue
Dallas, TX 75210

Cookie Party - Sun March 15th, 11:00 AM

Join us for a Cookie Party on Sunday, March 15. Let's get together and bake cookies to be delivered to area police and fire stations. Let's show our appreciation for all they do in our communities. And what a great opportunity to socialize with your fellow freethinkers!

Location: 304 Moss Hill Road, Irving TX, 75063

Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

E-mail Susette Geissler for more details and to RSVP by Sunday, March 8.

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

February Food Critics Social Dinner

2009-02-04T06:54:00.000-08:00

Hello Fellow NTCOFers! Here is the NTCOF Food Critics' Info. for February and a teaser for March and April:

Palomino
The Crescent Atrium (inside the Crescent Court Hotel complex of shops)
500 Crescent Court, Suite 165
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone:(214) 999-1222

Date: Saturday, February 21st

Time: 5:30 PM

Food: European-inspired regional American cusine

Dress: smart casual

RSVP? : Yes. This month it is necessary. Deadline: Saturday the 14th at midnight

Please RSVP to woodelves116@yahoo.com

You will get an acknowledgement of your RSVP. If you don't get one in a reasonable amount of time, please follow up.

Other Important Information: We're meeting at 5:30 so that those who want to participate in what Palomino calls "First Seating" -- a 3 course meal for $25 -- may do so.

Parking: Park in the hotel garage and bring your ticket with you to the restaurant. They'll validate it so that your parking will be free for a less than 3 hour stay.

Thanks and we hope to see you there!

Brad and Ginger Watson
(upstanding freethinkers in a wacky world)

P.S. If you should need to contact Brad on the day of the event, his cell phone number is 817-917-8034.

P.S.S. For March we'll very likely be meeting for Thai food in the Southlake Town Square at a restaurant called Thai Chili.

For April we are thinking strongly about returning to Agave Azul in Carrollton. We had a blast there before and we're quite sure the top-notch margaritas had nothing to do with it.

P.S.S. NTCOF member Nilgun (from Turkey) suggested that the Food Critics get Turkish food sometime and recommended a restaurant called Kabob. Ginger and I couldn't find it online so if anyone knows more about this place, please let us know.

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

February Service

2009-01-30T11:39:00.000-08:00

Texas Secular Network-

I hope to see you at the February service of the North Texas Church of Freethought, which will take place on Sunday, February 1st at the Wyndham DFW Airport North. The service starts at 10:30 AM, but be sure to arrive at 10:00 AM to fellowship with the other freethinkers and atheists who are proud to call us home. This will be our 15th anniversary service, and we hope that you'll come help us make it a great one. Ginger Watson will be preparing a special anniversary cake for us, so you won't want to miss it! As always, we'll be adjourning immediately after the service at Jason's Deli for lunch, stimulating conversation, and participation in this month's Blood Drive! You can sign up here to save your spot in the bus, and save some lives with your freethinking atheist blood!

New member Erin Taylor will be reviewing the book Escape by Carolyn Jessop, which is the autobiographical account of a woman who grew up in, and later left, with much difficulty, the Fundamentalist church of Latter Day Saints (known as the FLDS for short, or sometimes the Fundamentalist Mormon church). You won't believe what Carolyn had to go through to save her children from her cult, but it's a fascinating if disturbing glance into a world built exclusively on slavish adherence to superstition and tradition, and in which the education (particularly of women) is seen as unnecessary and at times immoral.

In addition to being our anniversary month, February is also associated with love, which means as much to we freethinkers as it does to anyone else. The band will be back with a set of love songs to mark this occasion, including "Morning Song," "Easy to Please," and the Irish traditional song, "The Lark in the Clear Air."

February is indeed an important month for love and freethought, but it's also widely designated as Black History Month. Take some time to study the many African-American freethinkers currently and throughout history, including Frederick Douglass, Norm Allen Jr, Alice Walker, and even notable Africans like Ayaan Hirsi Ali. To combine all three of these subjects, here's a poem by the freethinker Langston Hughes, one of the leading lights of the Harlem Renaissance.

Love Song for Lucinda

Love
Is a ripe plum
Growing on a purple tree.
Taste it once
And the spell of its enchantment
Will never let you be.

Love
Is a bright star
Glowing in far Southern skies.
Look too hard
And its burning flame
Will always hurt your eyes.

Love
Is a high mountain
Stark in a windy sky.
If you
Would never lose your breath
Do not climb too high.

...and speaking of prominent African-American freethinkers, be sure to come out to the University of Texas at Arlington on Tuesday, February 17th, from 8:00 PM until 10:00 PM at the Texas Hall on 701 Nedderman Drive in Arlington. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson will be leading a conversation on "The Cosmic Perspective: how the astrophysicist views life, the universe and everything," at the University of Texas at Arlington as part of their Maverick Speaker Series- Be sure to reserve your (free) tickets as soon as possible through the UTA website!

Also, be sure to check our website calendar and Meetup.com page for all the detailed information on the activities this month- there's lots more going on!

See you on Sunday!

Zachary Moore, PhD
Executive Director
North Texas Church of Freethought

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

David Burgess Surgery Successful

2009-01-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

Texas Secular Network-

NTCOF Member (and one of our freethinking Santas) David Burgess has just had a successful triple cardiac bypass surgery, and is now resting comfortably at the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. If you'd like to send him your well wishes, you can do so by email, or by phone (Cara's mobile: 214-535-7051), or even by visiting him personally over the next week (Roberts Hospital, room 1323). David still has a lot of work ahead of him as he rehabilitates his body from this serious ordeal, but I'm very glad that he's handled the surgery so well, and grateful to the highly-trained surgeons and nurses who carried out such a top-notch surgery!

Brief Event Notices:

as always, check our calendar or Meetup page for the details!

Board Games: Tonight at the IHOP on Stemmons in Dallas

Homebrew Club: Tomorrow afternoon at Zach's house

Video Games: Tomorrow night at Keith and Susette's house

Secular Singles Brunch: Sunday noon at the Vineyard Restaurant

Best regards,

-Z

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

NTCOF at Main Event Grapevine

2009-01-15T15:49:00.000-08:00

Greetings Fellow NTCOFers!

Your Social Director here to announce an area-wide freethought event hosted by Whitney Propps from Freethinkers of Dallas.

Where: Main Event
City: Grapevine
When: Saturday, February 7th at 7:30 PM
Dress: Casual
Cost: Attendees must pay for whatever activities they participate in. But with pool and bowling, for example, the costs would naturally be spread among all players.

What is Main Event?: Main Event is a 60,000 square foot family entertainment center with bowling, pool tables, arcade games, laser tag, a bar and a cafe.

http://www.maineventusa.net/

Whitney's post on the Texas Secular Network website can be found here:
http://texassecularnetwork.blogspot.com/2009/01/multi-group-meetup-main-event.html

Other info: If you like playing pool, it will help Whitney know how many pool tables to reserve if you will RSVP and let her know you'll be there. Her e-mail address is: whitney.propps@gmail.com.

Whitney has recently been attending NTCOF services and functions. Unless you are otherwise busy, why not turn out and support her efforts?...and meet other freethinkers from around the Metroplex.

Mens sana,

Brad Watson

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Multi-Group Meetup @ Main Event

2009-01-11T10:10:00.001-08:00

:
http://www.meetup.com/Free-Thinkers-of-Dallas/calendar/9498631/

When: February 7, 2009 7:30 PM

Where: Main Event
407 W State Highway 114
Grapevine, TX 76051
817-416-1111

Groups involved: Freethinkers of Fort Worth, Freethinkers of Dallas and I'm inviting others.

"Main Event billiard tables and shuffleboard are located in Shots Bar. Our regulation size billiard tables are brushed daily and kept in excellent condition. Guests may call ahead of time to reserve tables. No need for a sitter! While you play billiards in our smoke-free environment, the kids can play in the arcade! (Smoking lounge available)"

Let me know if you will be interested in playing pool. I will need to collect a small fee from everyone who plays to pay for the table rental. The amount will depend on how many people play.

There is a lot of other stuff to do if you don't want to play pool. Here's the Main Event website: http://www.maineventu...

You can always get in touch with me through the "Contact Organizer" link on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Thinkers-of-Dallas/suggestion/

Happy (late) 1 Year Anniversary to Freethinkers of Dallas

2009-01-10T16:45:00.001-08:00

Free thinkers of Dallas was founded on December 17th, 2007. Over the past year Freethinkers of Dallas (FToD) has grown to a membership of 117 freethinkers. Started as a sister group of Freethinkers of Fort Worth, FToD has had 17 meetups at various restaurants, bars, parks, and other events around the DFW metroplex.

With the anniversary of the group and the beginning of the new year, we would like to expand the FToD event offerings. If anyone has suggestions, please post them on the group's message boards. Volunteers willing to help organize new events are always welcome. If you would like to volunteer or would prefer your suggestions not be public use this link: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Thinkers-of-Dallas/suggestion/

Thank you. We look forward to a great year ahead.

http://www.meetup.com/Free-Thinkers-of-Dallas/

Activity Update: January

2009-01-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

Texas Secular Network-

Don't forget, there's lots of fun stuff to do this month with your fellow freethinkers! As always, you can stay up to date by visiting our website calendar, or by joining our Meetup site.

Board Game Night: Weekly at 7:30 PM on Fridays at the IHOP on 2310 Stemmons Trail in Dallas, playing Risk, Axis and Allies, Rummikub, and Chess!

Business Meeting: Sunday, January 11th from 1-3 PM at the Spring Creek BBQ at 3414 W. Airport Parkway in Irving. Come help organize the nuts and bolts of this unique church!

Food Critics Brunch: Sunday, January 18th from 11-1 PM at St. Martin's Wine Bistro at 3020 Greenville Ave. in Dallas. RSVP by Tuesday the 13th, and come enjoy live music, champagne, and mimosas!

Charitable Activities Group: Monday, January 19th from 7-9 PM at Keith and Susette Geissler's house at 7318 Birchmont Drive in Rowlett. Come help us develop ways to increase our positive impact on our community!

Homebrew Club: Saturday, January 24th from 12-4 PM at Zach Moore's house at 304 Moss Hill Drive in Irving. Come renew or improve your skills at the fine art of beercraft!

Video Game Night: Saturday, January 24th from 6-10 PM at Keith and Susette Geissler's house at 7318 Birchmont Drive in Rowlett. Nurture your inner rock hero or play some virtual bowling!

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

January Food Critics Dinner

2009-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Fellow Freethinkers!

Here is the NTCOF Food Critics' Info. for January:

St. Martin's Wine Bistro
3020 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, 75206
Phone: 214-826-0940
Website: http://www.stmartinswinebistro.com/welcome.htm

Date: Sunday, January 18

Time: 11:00 AM (We're meeting for brunch this month.)

Food: French-American

Dress: smart casual

RSVP? : Yes. This month it is necessary. Deadline: Tuesday the 13th at midnight

Please RSVP to woodelves116@yahoo.com

You will get an acknowledgement of your RSVP. If you don't get one in a reasonable amount of time, please follow up.

Other Important Information: The restaurant offers live piano music. Champagne or mimosas are complementary. There is a set price of $15.95 per person -- a bargin if you look at their wonderful brunch menu! They don't offer separate checks for large groups.

Thanks and we hope to see you there!

Brad and Ginger Watson
(upstanding freethinkers in a wacky world)

P.S. If you should need to contact Brad on the day of the event, his cell phone number is 817-917-8034.

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

REMINDER: January Service

2009-01-03T15:28:00.000-08:00

This is just a brief reminder that our first monthly service of 2009 will take place tomorrow morning at the Wyndham DFW Airport North. Although we'll spend some time looking back over the past year, we'll also be coming together to remember Robert and Katherine Scroggs' son Nicholas, who tragically passed away this month. We'll also examine the ways in which freethinkers deal with death and grief, especially in a culture that overwhelmingly associates such things with superstition and supernaturalism.

As usual, we encourage you to arrive at 10:00 AM to enjoy refreshments and fellowship, followed by our regular service starting at 10:30. Immediately following the service, we'll be meeting at Jason's Deli at the intersection of I-635 and MacArthur Boulevard, for lunch and continued discussion.

I hope to see you there!

Zachary Moore, PhD

Executive Director

North Texas Church of Freethought

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Happy Solstice and New Year!

2008-12-21T21:17:00.000-08:00

Texas Secular Network-

Happy Solstice! I trust that you have endured the shortest day of 2008, and look forward to our return journey towards the other side of the sun. As the days lengthen, I hope that you'll not forget that our first monthly service of the new year will be on Sunday, January 4th at the Wyndham DFW Airport North. We'll be taking the opportunity to remember Robert and Katherine Scroggs' son Nicholas, who tragically passed away this month. We'll also examine the ways in which freethinkers deal with death and grief, especially in a culture that overwhelmingly associates such things with superstition and supernaturalism.

Foxhole Atheists

Thanks to all who donated items to Operation: Foxhole Atheists at our December service! Susette Geissler has sent them along to atheist and freethinking military personnel currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, through the North Alabama Freethought Association. We're very proud to show American foxhole atheists that we care about them, and want them to be as comfortable as possible until they can come home!

Solstice Party

A great time was had by all who attending the 2008 NTCOF Solstice Party- a couple pictures are posted here, and more can be found here. If you didn't make it this year, be sure to mark your calendar for 2009!

Be safe as you go about your holiday travels, and I look forward to seeing you at our January service, or at any of our other social events!

Best regards,

Zachary Moore, PhD
Executive Director

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

RIP: Nicholas Scroggs

2008-12-15T06:39:00.000-08:00

Texas Secular Network-

Those of you who know the Scroggs, know them to be wonderful people for whom this is the very definition of tragedy. My heartfelt condolences go out to Robert and Barbara and their family and friends during this time of grief, as I'm sure yours does as well.

-Z

Celebration Services for Nicholas Alexander Scroggs (14) of Grand Prairie, TX, will be 2:00p.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at the Ruthe Jackson Center in Grand Praire. Nicholas died December 11, 2008 in Grand Prairie.

He was born to Robert and Barbara Dent Scroggs August 18, 1994 in Denton and was attending Grand Prairie High School. Nick was taking a full slate of Gifted & Talented classes at Grand Prairie High School where he was also a member of the swim team and a friend to everyone. He had a passion for reading, drawing, and playing all types of musical instruments, especially the drums. He was always gung- ho about trying new experiences and his smile and energy were contagious to everyone.

Left behind to cherish his memory are parents Robert Scroggs and his wife Katherine of Grand Prairie, Barbara Brumbaugh and her husband Don of NRH, brother Houston Chapman, sister Madalyn Brumbaugh, grandparents Jack and Charlotte Scroggs of Denton and Charles and Lee Dent of Poncha Springs, CO, great grandmothers Genevieve Scroggs of Denton and Ethel Dill of Fort Collins, CO, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins who also loved him dearly.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Nicholas Scroggs Memorial Fund. www.homesteadfuneralhomes.com

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

December Update

2008-12-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

Texas Secular Network-

Happy December! This is going to be a busy month for just about everyone, but don't forget that our December monthly service will be on Sunday, December 7th at the Wyndham DFW Airport North. We'll be joined by our very own freethinking Santa Claus, learn a little more about all the holidays that take place around the Winter Solstice, and sing a few freethinking carols! As usual, we encourage you to arrive at 10:00 AM to enjoy refreshments and fellowship, followed by our regular service starting at 10:30. Immediately following the service, we'll be meeting at Jason's Deli at the intersection of I-635 and MacArthur Boulevard, for lunch and continued discussion.

NTCOF Winter Solstice Party

Social Director Brad Watson and his wife Ginger are organizing our annual Winter Solstice/Mythmas party, and you're not going to want to miss it! Mark your calendars with the following:

Date: Saturday, December 13th
Time: 6 PM-9 PM
Location: Bent Creek Clubhouse
Address: 1240 Bent Creek Drive, Southlake, 76092
RSVP: woodelves116@yahoo.com
Phone: 817-917-8034
Dinner: Pizza!

What To Bring:
* $5.00 per person (for the pizza)
* Appetizer or desert (optional)
* Mulled cider will be provided. If you want something else to eat or drink, please bring it. (Alcohol permitted)
* One gift-wrapped book, CD or DVD per person (for "Chinese" gift exchange)

Video Game Night

For those of you that want to indulge your affinity for blowing up aliens, illegal street racing, or portly Italian plumbers, the Video Game Night is for you! This month, we're meeting at Keith and Susette Geissler's house on Saturday, December 20th, at 6:00PM. Send an RSVP to kgeissler@gmail.com if you're planning to attend.

Meetup.com

In addition to the website calendar, all NTCOF activities are also cross-posted on our Meetup.com website. Check it out!

Best regards,
Zachary Moore, PhD
Executive Director

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

HOH 2008 Solstice Party

2008-11-28T15:31:00.001-08:00

This is to announce that the Solstice Party this year will be Saturday, December 13 at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church. The address is 1900 Bering Drive.

We will be meeting in Westwood Hall on the North side of the buildings from 12:30 until 3:30.

Please RSVP to Rsvpsolstice2008@live dot com and let us know how many people will be attending.

If your last name begins with A through M, please bring your best side dish or salad.

Those with last names beginning with L through Z, please bring your most yummy dessert.

Turkey and ham will be provided.

One special request: when you RSVP please provide a little-known fact about yourself that you don't mind being made public. We are going to use the information to play a fun game…maybe you'll win the door prize!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T10:54:00.000-08:00

Texas Secular Network-

I'd like to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving, with as much food, friends, and family as you can handle. As freethinkers, you and I know that it doesn't make much sense to "give thanks" to some invisible deity in the sky, since it's by the sweat of our own brows that we're able to put food on the table for this and other special days. Of course, it does make a lot of sense to give thanks to all of the people who help us get through our lives and bring joy and meaning to our existence.

In that spirit, I'd like to extend my personal thanks to all the members of the North Texas Church of Freethought who have made my experience in it over the past three years so rewarding. I'd especially like to recognize those of you who have donated so generously of your time and money, and also my fellow Directors who continue to inspire me with their leadership.

Also, while you're going about your shopping errands this week, please keep in mind our care package drive for Operation: Foxhole Atheists. Atheists and freethinkers in the military are already serving under stressful conditions, but the overwhelming and dominating superstition in our armed forces makes their task especially difficult. I think it would make a strong statement to remind these foxhole atheists that we in the NTCOF are keeping them in our thoughts, especially during this solstice season. Bring what you can to our December service, and Susette Geissler will forward the shipment in time for the winter solstice!

Again, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Zachary Moore, PhD
Executive Director
North Texas Church of Freethought

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Food Critics Reminder

2008-11-20T19:37:00.000-08:00

Fellow Freethinkers,

This is just a courtesy reminder that midnight on Saturday the 22nd is the RSVP deadline for the next Food Critics' Meeting on the 29th.

If you haven't RSVP'd already and you'd like to come, please e-mail your wish to attend to woodelves116@yahoo.com. You have two days left to do so. Check the website calendar for more details.

Thanks!

Brad Watson

Social Director

P.S. I'm officially calling off Obnoxious Ball until early May. People are about to start getting quite busy and the weather is starting to become more unpredictable.

E-mail: moorezw.txsecularnet@blogger.com

Freethinkers of UTA: Upcoming Service Projects

2008-11-20T19:21:00.001-08:00

Greetings, Fellow Freethinkers!

This Tuesday, November 25th, is our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. We will be meeting at 5:00pm in the University Center and dispersing in groups from there to go door-to-door to collect canned goods to deliver to the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Bring comfy shoes and the willingness to do good for goodness sake. :-)

Immediately prior to the food drive, at 4:00pm, we will be meeting in "our" park, Doug Russell Park, to decide our approach to cleaning and improving the park. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=doug+russell+park+TX&ie=UTF8&z=16

--
Becky Robinson
Graduate Psychology Student - University of Texas at Arlington
President - Freethinkers of UTA
http://www.freethinkersofuta.org/
Secretary, Board of Directors - Secular Student Alliance
http://www.secularstudents.org/

Local Atheist Billboard

2008-11-20T19:20:00.001-08:00

Metroplex Atheists and the Dallas-Plano Atheist Meetup Group are combining with the national group Coalition of Reason to bring their billboard campaign to D/FW. The campaign will start in January 2009. The following link will show what it looked like in Philadelphia: http://willdo.pwblogs.com/2008/05/05/philly-coalition-of-reason-billboard/.

This billboard message challenges the accepted social status quo without coming across as deliberately offensive. It has a message of inclusiveness ("You are not alone.") vs. the divisiveness of religion.

We need to raise $1,750 to purchase a one-month placement in a high-traffic area, such as I-35 (Stemmons Freeway) or US75 (Central Expressway) in Dallas. This is one-half the cost of the ad purchase. The other half, plus the cost of producing the vinyl billboard, is being paid for by Coalition of Reason. Any excess funds raised will be used to fund additional ad placements, the next one possibly in Fort Worth.

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE contributions can be made via PayPal or a credit card by visiting the Metroplex Atheists web site at http://www.MetroplexAtheists.org. Just scroll to the bottom of any page, click on "Donate", and then select the billboard campaign. Metroplex Atheists is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

There are many reasons for this campaign, not the least of which is to let others know that there are atheist organizations all over the D/FW Metroplex and to point people who inquire to the organization which most appeals to them.

Many thanks go to our members Stephen and Dee, who started this project, and to Terry McDonald, President of Metroplex Atheists, who will be the public contact for it.

Linda.
Group Organizer
The Dallas-Plano Atheists Meetup Group

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Freethinking Musician Performs Friday at UTA

2008-11-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

George Hrab is an unabashedly atheist and freethinking musician who has performed for President Clinton at the White House, entertained at the Super Bowl, played gigs at The Kennedy Center, and even shared the stage with Elton John at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center. His hugely popular "Geologic Podcast" combines his love of scientific skepticism, musical talents, and comedic instincts.

Mr. Hrab will be performing from 8:00 PM until 10:00 PM in the auditorium of the Geologic Science Building at the University of Texas at Arlington on Friday, November 21st. You're not going to want to miss this, so be sure to come and bring along any friends or family who like skepticism, music, or both!

2008-11-14T21:25:00.001-08:00

HUMANISTS OF HOUSTON
Serving the Humanist, atheist, agnostic, and freethought community since 1978.
www.HumanistsOfHouston.org

Hello, this is a reminder that our City-Wide Monthly Gathering will be this Saturday. Everyone is welcome!

CITY-WIDE MONTHLY GATHERING!
Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 1:00pm
Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston 77074
[MAP]

*Note to Parents*
Child care IS available in the adjacent room so bring the kids! (please RSVP each time and mention you're bringing children so we know to inform our sitter).

*Please Remember Those In Need*
As an ongoing program, we ask that you buy just one extra canned good when you do your grocery shopping, and remember to bring them to the Gathering, where we will collect and donate them to the End Hunger Network.

OUR PROGRAM THIS MONTH

There will be a business meeting to elect officers.

Then Dr Louis Daily will put on a presentation of E.O. Wilson's "Consilience". He has written up summaries of the chapters of the book and plans to read the first one himself. He is planning to get various members to read his summaries of the latter chapters. There will be a discussion moderated by Roxie Deaton.

NTCOF Activity Update: 11/5 - 11/12

2008-11-13T07:19:00.001-08:00

Just a quick reminder of some of the events coming up over the next week:

Friday, November 7th: Board Game Night, Intelligent Design Debate

Saturday, November 8th: Road Clean-Up, Video Game Night

Sunday, November 9th: Business Meeting, Obnoxious Ball

Tuesday, November 11th: Barbara Forrest at SMU

More details at our website and calendar.

Best regards,

Zachary Moore, PhD
Executive Director
North Texas Church of Freethought

NTCOF August Service

2008-08-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

Happy August! I'm looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at the North Texas Church of Freethought's August service. We'll be meeting, as usual, at the Wyndham DFW Airport North, with coffee and refreshments available at 10:00 AM. Every month, we bring together the largest regular gathering of freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, humanists, secular individuals and families in the state of Texas, and quite possibly the country. Our usual service consists of a mixture of philosophy, history, science, and aesthetics designed to spark your interest and enrich your life. Throughout the month, we provide opportunities to gather socially and make a positive impact in our community. As rewarding this organization is to those who volunteer and support it, the fact that the NTCOF is an organization that requires leadership and logistical considerations is one that we must recognize and, hopefully, use the methods of freethought to address.

Although today's service will include a few items that are normally carried over from our typical services, we'll be taking some time to recognize some of the leaders who have stepped in to fill desperately-needed roles in the NTCOF during our recent leadership transition. I'll also give a short 'state of the church' presentation to share information about the items that fall under my management.

With assistance from Operations Director Don Lewellyn, we'll also be taking a substantial amount of time to go through some feedback sessions that have been specially tailored to include YOU in the possible directions that the NTCOF will take in the future, and give YOU an opportunity to make your opinions, concerns, and suggestions known to the NTCOF's leadership. Please take a few minutes to think about these questions before we engage in discussion, as we feel that getting honest feedback from our NTCOF family members (and visitors!) is the best way to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of freethinkers and other secular individuals and families in the years to come.

What do you think a 'church' is? Why were you initially interested in the NTCOF? What helped/would help convince you to come back?

We'll be grateful for your feedback, and are looking forward to making use of your suggestions and comments to further enhance the NTCOF for you as well as future freethinkers such as yourself who will be happy to find an organization dedicated to advancing freethinking values and providing a home for freethinkers in North Texas.

AUGUST BLOOD DRIVE

Outreach Director Cash Foley has organized another crucial blood drive in collaboration with the great people at Carter BloodCare. They'll be meeting us at Jason's Deli immediately after the service, so be sure to make time and come on over to have a sandwich, meet some friends, and save a few strangers' lives. We take great pride in being the (per capita) highest-donating church group partnering with Carter, so please help us keep up that tradition. And you may not know this, but even if you can't donate, we'll still get credit if you try, so visit the Carter BloodCare bus even if all you can do is sit and chat with the friendly phlebotomists.

NTCOF CLEANS UP DALLAS

On July 26th at 8:30 AM, Keith Geissler organized the second clean-up session for our adopted section of Northwest Highway between Preston Road and North Central Expressway. This is an important community outreach effort in which we are fortunate to be able to take part. Not only are we raising our profile as an organization, but we're taking a proactive approach to help clean up a highly-trafficked public highway. Thanks to Keith and all who were able to participate, and keep in mind that we'll need more committed volunteers for our third session later this fall.

AUGUST FOOD CRITICS

Place: Yao Fuzi
Cuisine: Shanghainese (many quite authentic dishes available)
Address: 4757 W. Park Blvd., Plano, TX 75093
Restaurant Phone: 214-473-9267
Restaurant Website: http://www.yaofuzi.com
Restaurant Review: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/334191/restaurant/Yao-Fuzi-Cuisine-Plano

Date: Saturday, August 23rd
Time: 6:00 PM

This restaurant is more formal than last month's location (Fireside Pies in Grapevine). Please RSVP by midnight, Sunday August 17th, to Social Director Brad Watson at woodelves116@yahoo.com or by phone at 817-281-8583. Invited guests, as long as they are freethinkers, are welcome, but please RSVP for them as well. All RSVPs by email should prompt an acknowledgement of receipt. If you do not receive one within a reasonable amount of time, please follow up! Also, be sure to bring small bill cash, and smart-casual dress is recommended. If you're running late, give Brad a call on his cell phone at 817-917-8034.

NTCOF: June Service

2008-05-31T08:58:00.001-07:00

The North Texas Church of Freethought June Service will be held on Sunday, June 1st, at 10:30 AM at the Wyndham Hotel DFW North in Irving, located at the corner of Hwy. 114 (John Carpenter Freeway) at Esters Blvd.

Our June Service will feature a discussion on how human failings so often lead to war, and whether this necessarily has to be the case. After the service, all are welcome to join the NTCOF at Jason's Deli at the corner of MacArthur Boulevard and I-635 for food and fellowship.

CFI DFW

2008-05-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

Here is the most recent mailer about a CFI in DFW. For anyone interested, the door is still open to jump in on this important meeting.

My email address is rodrigoneely@gmail.com

Here it goes:

Hey Everyone,

I just spoke with DJ Grothe, and he has asked for us to give him a couple of weekends in September to discuss the Future of CFI in DFW. He is the director of outreach at CFI, and so far who will speak for CFI at the meeting. If we don't get him, DJ will decide who to send.

The first weekend of September is bad for Scott Hurst, so thats one we can't chose. Which of the other three are good for the rest of us. Any are good for me, this is really important.

I cannot speak for CFI, but I will remind us all that we live in the birthplace of the Church with a Mall in it, that we are the new home of creationist group, The Creation Institute, which tried to get certification for advanced degrees in Creation Science.

CFI is a powerful secular humanist organization, and could give Dallas secular humanists an effective foothold.

Please let me know what weekends are good for everyone?

-Rodrigo Neely

Skeptics in the Pub

2008-05-20T05:34:00.000-07:00

Why Did I Change my Name

I changed my name on Myspace to Skeptics Pub at the Absinthe Lounge on June 17th, so that you will come to the Absinthe Lounge on June 17th if you live driving distance from Dallas.

What the hell is all that?

Well, for all my ranting and raving about being an atheist, really what I am is a skeptic. But I don't want to cut anyone any slack by trying to use a softer word than atheist when speaking about religion, the fact is when you think of the word atheist, you think of someone like me.

But atheism is only a small piece of a system of thinking and lifestyle committed to having a default position of doubt.

So if you say something that is contrary to norms of reality I will expect you to be able to prove it, and long elaborate explanations about subjective experience as proof will not count.

So I am not really acting this way because I don't believe in God, its because I don't believe in anything that we cannot see without proof.

I believe that doubt, itself, is a virtue.

I believe that belief should be reserved for that for which there can be little doubt because of the accessibility of those things to the 5 senses.

I believe that the simplest and least miraculous explanation for an event is the one which is usually true.

I also want you to believe this way.

Why do I want you to believe this way?

Well, first and foremost because if you live in a democratic country you vote, so I want you to vote for people who support the most skeptical world view.

This affects the quality of the world I live in.

In essence I believe that democracy makes it foolish for me not to care what you think. Sorry, I would prefer a world in which I was an absolute autocrat, and then I would not care what you think so long as you follow my orders, but we're stuck with this democracy crap!

If you are already a skeptic, I am hoping that you will help me to persuade others to join us in the critical thinking lifestyle.

I am hoping to lure droves of you with a movie, a talk, and lots of wonderful ethanol solvents to drink if you purchase them from our wonderful hosts, the Absinthe Lounge.

So please, June 17th, the Absinthe Lounge.

And if you are a female, please feel extra, super-duper, with a cherry on top be encouraged to come.

Most skeptics seem to be male, and this makes people think women don't like critical thinking. I need your help to prove them wrong.

Thanks.

Skeptics at the Pub

2008-05-20T05:31:00.001-07:00

DFW CFI? by: Rodrigo Neely, President of Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists at UT Dallas

2008-05-18T17:05:00.001-07:00

The question mark up there is the important part.

I am trying to organize a meeting between interested parties, such as myself, and a representative of the Center for Inquiry, to have a discussion about the possibility of a CFI community or Center in the area.

I am not a CFI representative, and am thus not qualified to make any promises on behalf of CFI.

However, this meeting is going to happen and anyone who would want to be a part of it and is serious about the possibility of a CFI presence in the area is welcome.

This is initially going to happen by email, and then progress to a real meeting.

This meeting will not be a public talk from a CFI representative but an actual dialogue between local activists, supporters, and other interested parties with a CFI representative. This meeting will be more akin to a business meeting.

If anyone wants to be a part of this exciting opportunity they should contact me at

rodrigoneely@gmail.com

Oh, one last thing.

This is not the time to procrastinate. Tomorrow, on Monday the 19th, I will try to recruit a couple of my professors, and then I will start the process.

The first emails will start this week, and I don't think it will be long after that before the meeting is scheduled.

So if you are interested, emailing me should be done ASAP.

All you have to write is "I am interested in the CFI meeting" and I will respond with the first email in the process of planning the actual meeting.

NTCOF: May Food Critics Info

2008-05-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

Here's this month's Food Critics' mail-out info. for May:

Greetings Noble Freethinkers!

Place: Babe's Chicken Dinner House

Location: 1006 West Main, Carrollton, 75006
(This is in the same shopping square we met at last month.)

Date: Saturday, May 24th

Time: 6:00 PM (Allow time to find parking at this busy time.)

*** You can BYOB any alcoholic beverages to this restaurant. ***

*** Please note: Babe's does not accept reservations so there is no deadline for letting Brad and Ginger know you will be there. However, please do so! It will help let us know when everyone has arrived. *** This is important because they will not seat us until the entire group has arrived. So, please be punctual. E-mail your intent to be there to woodelves116@yahoo.com or phone 817-281-8583.

*** Note: Brad will always confim an RSVP sent by e-mail. If you do not receive a reply to your e-mail saying that your RSVP request was received, please follow up!

*** Many restaurants will not split the check for large groups. Keep this in mind and think about bringing a decent amount of cash in bill denominations smaller than $20.

Check out this link for information about the restaurant and for driving directions:

http://www.babeschicken.com/Babes-Chicken-Dinner-House-Carrollton.html

All Freethinkers are welcome to attend this once a month sampling of the area's many restaurants. As long as they're Freethinkers, you're welcome to invite guests. Please RSVP for your guests.

Future Food Critics' meetings will be at other restaurants throughout the Metroplex. The meeting location will, sooner or later, come to a neighborhood near you.

Sincerely,

Ginger and Brad Watson
(upstanding Freethinkers in a wacky world)

NTCOF: May Service

2008-05-04T04:40:00.000-07:00

The North Texas Church of Freethought May Service will be held on Sunday, May 4th, at 10:30 AM at the Wyndham Hotel DFW North in Irving, located at the corner of Hwy. 114 (John Carpenter Freeway) at Esters Blvd.

Dale McGowan, editor and co-author of "Parenting Beyond Belief," will be a featured guest. He will also be conducting a parenting seminar from 2:00 until 5:30 PM at the University of Texas at Arlington, co-sponsored by the Freethinkers of UTA.

Freethought Fellowship will continue after the service at Jason's Deli at the corner of MacArthur Blvd and I-635 (LBJ) beginning at noon for all interested.

I'm New

2008-04-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

Zachary from NTCOF invited me to participate on this blog. I am not really all that familiar with how to do it exactly, but I'd like to learn.

I am one of the original founders of the Houston Church of Freethought, which began in March of 2000. We are affiliated witht he North Texas Church of Freethought folks (NTCOF) in terms of utilizing some of their material and logos, plus permission to use the "Church of Freethought" designation.

Who all is on this blog and what are the major areas of concern? My biggest concern recently is the current race for the Democratic nomination as well as looking forward to the general election debates.

NTCOF: Media Coverage

2008-04-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

The North Texas Church of Freethought has just been included in a special feature article published in New York Magazine, entitled "If God is Dead, Who Gets His House?"

Dr. Tim Gorski, Pastoral Director of the NTCOF was interviewed for this article, which examines the growing number of atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, and secular humanists who seek to congregate in a way that replaces the role traditional superstition-based churches have played in society.

A shorter version of this article (but with more NTCOF quotes) was also featured by the Barre Montpelier Times Argus, entitled "Some Atheists Go to Church Too, But Not to Worship."

NTCOF: Highway Cleanup

2008-04-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

The NTCOF Adopt-a-Highway sign is now up between Preston and US-75 on Northwest Highway- that means that we now have to take responsibility for it and keep it clean!

The first trash pick-up day will be Saturday, April 26th, from 9AM until 11AM. The more people show up, the faster it'll be. And I'm sure nobody wants to pass up the opportunity to have their picture taken picking up trash in front of some of Dallas' finest megachurches!

Please RSVP to Keith Geissler (keith.geissler@gmail.com) by this Saturday, April 22nd, to let him know that you'll be pitching in. Plan to meet at the Northpark Shopping Center in front of Dillard's at 9AM sharp!

Texas Atheist Convention.

2008-04-10T17:14:00.001-07:00

Hi, I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Alicia, I am the organizer of Corpus Christi Atheists. I have worked hard over the last year to get our group going here in the Body of Christ and have had positive results.

While trolling the web today a thought occurred to me; We have over 30 independent and student groups signed up with Texas Secular Network. I think it would do a great deal for the atheist community here in Texas if we were to set up a state wide convention. This would give us the opportunity to make personal contacts and friendships with like minded people all over our great state. I don't know about you, but I can't afford nor do I have the free time to traipse all across the nation to go to the American Atheist Conference, but within the state would be feasible.

Obviously, it is nothing we can put together in a week or month, however if we work together I am certain that it can be done reasonably and fairly quickly maybe in just over a year, we would need to give people time to make plans etc. In all of our respective groups we would need to gauge interest, get a general idea of numbers that might attend, etc. From there the planning could begin.

So, I've had my say...what do you think?

UTA Shorthorn: The Difference Between Good and Evil

2008-04-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

The Shorthorn, student newspaper of the University of Texas at Arlington, has featured the upcoming debate between John Ferrer and Zachary Moore:

Moore and Ferrer discussed many different topics before choosing the one to be debated.

“It taps into a specific philosophical question,” Moore said. “If there is a god who is all good and can do anything, why does evil exist?”

He wanted to debate this topic because it’s not necessarily an argument for atheism.

“It’s also good because it allows us to bring up the subject of what is good, what is evil, and how do we even determine these things,” he said.

Ferrer, who is arguing the “pro” side, wants to debate because he feels the religious side doesn’t always give strong representation backed by intelligent argument that can go past repeating what a pastor said in a sermon.

“I’m going to be arguing that while evil in the world is tough to deal with, it is not evidence enough to disband religion,” he said.

Click here to read the whole story.

Dallas Philosopher's Forum: Expelled Panel

2008-04-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

On April 29, 2008 the Dallas Philosopher's Forum will be having a special event at the Angelika Mockingbird theater in Dallas.

Has Intelligent Design been "Expelled?" An academic panel discussion on the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

This new and controversial movie claims that academics and scientists who explore or suggest that there is intelligent design in nature are "Expelled" from the classroom and their jobs. The film has garned controvery not only because it explores the evolution vs. creation controversy, but because some prominent scientists, including Richard Dawkins, claim they were tricked into appearing in the film. This event lets us explore issues of science and religion, philosophy of science, academic freedom, and other related topics. Join us as our three scholar
panelists discuss and debate the film and take your questions.

The film opens April 18, 2008. We will have updates on the Philosophers Forum website. The official website for the movie is http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

Panelists:

Frank Sherwin, Science Editor, Institute for Creation Research will be in favor of the premise.
Stephen Levene, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas will be opposed.
Rick Worland, Chair, Division of Cinema-Television, Meadows School of the Arts,Southern Methodist University will be our film expert.

Event date: Tuesday, April 29th. Location: Angelika Mockingbird, Dallas

Precise time, location, and pricing information will be posted on the Dallas Philosopher's Forum website in the coming week: www.philosophersforum.org

NTCOF and FoUTA: Debate

2008-04-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

The North Texas Church of Freethought and the Freethinkers of UTA are co-sponsoring a debate NTCOF Executive Director Zachary Moore will be debating local Christian apologist John Ferrer next Thursday, April 10th at 7PM at the University of Texas at Arlington, in room 124 of the Life Sciences Building. The question at issue: "Is God Good?" John will be taking the affirmative, and Zach will be taking the negative position. You may think you know all there is to know about God and morality, but this debate will bring up some crucial issues that you don't want to miss out on.

Date: April 10th, 2008

Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Room 124, Life Science Building, University of Texas at Arlington

501 S. Nedderman Drive

Kevin Harris: Moderator

A thirty-year broadcasting veteran, Kevin Harris is Morning Magazine Host and Creative Services Director at THE WORD radio station (www.thewordfm.com) in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Kevin has been involved in youth ministry his entire adult life, speaking to youth, college and church groups all over the country. Currently, Kevin is co-host of the “Evidence and Answers” podcast with Patrick Zukeran, as well as the “Reasonable Faith” podcast with Dr. William Lane Craig.

John Ferrer: Pro

John Ferrer is a philosophy professor at Tarrant County College Southeast Campus and is a former associate pastor and collegiate missionary from South Carolina. John holds a Master of Divinity in Apologetics, is completing a Master of Theology in Philosophy of Religion, and will be shortly pursuing a PhD in the latter subject. John has written dozens of articles and has lectured internationally. In this debate, John will be arguing for the view that God is good despite the fact of evil in the world.

Zachary Moore: Con

Zachary Moore is the Executive Director of the North Texas Church of Freethought, which has been carrying out its educational and social mission for over 14 years in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. In addition, Zachary is the founder and host of the Evolution 101 and Apologia podcasts, both of which can be found on his website (www.drzach.net). In this debate, Zachary will be arguing that the existence of observable evil in the world is reason enough to contradict the omnibenevolent Christian conception of God.

NTCOF: April Service

2008-04-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

The North Texas Church of Freethought April Service will be held on Sunday, December 2nd, at 10:30 AM at the Wyndham Hotel DFW North in Irving, located at the corner of Hwy. 114 (John Carpenter Freeway) at Esters Blvd.

Our April Service will feature the first-ever performance of the NTCOF's own "Rock Band," the Lightning Bolts! You're not going to want to miss it. Also, immediately following the service at our regular Jason's Deli lunch, Carter BloodCare will have a donation van on site to take blood donations. Make sure you have a good breakfast on Sunday, and even if you're not able to donate, the NTCOF STILL GETS CREDIT if you try! So come out and visit the van- you'll get a free T-shirt out of it!

Sam Houston Atheist Alliance: Debate

2008-04-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

The Sam Houston Atheist Alliance and the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship participated in a debate last night, covering the origins of man, the social effects of religious belief, and the legitimacy of the Bible.

Details can be found here.

Humanists of Houston: April Events

2008-04-02T14:50:00.001-07:00

You can also see the HOH calendar at: calendar.yahoo.com/humanistsofhouston

Sun, Apr 6th, 10:30am, Freethought Coffee Social, Borders Books, 570 Meyerland Plaza, 77096
Sun, Apr 6th, 12:30pm, HOH Brunch Randall's, 11041 Westheimer, 77042
Sat, Apr 12th, 10:30am, HOH Women's Club, Ziggy's Healthy Grill, 2202 W. Alabama, 77098
Sat, Apr 19th, 1:00pm, HOH MAIN CITY-WIDE GATHERING*, Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet St, 77074
Sun, Apr 20th, 10:30am, Freethought Coffee Social, Borders Books, 570 Meyerland Plaza, 77096
Thu, Apr 24th, 7:00pm, HOH Humanist Contemplatives Club, Cullen Sculpture Garden, 1000 Bissonnet St, 77005
Sat, Apr 26th, 10:30am, HOH Religion Club, Daily Home, 1506 North Blvd, 77006
Sun, Apr 27th, 10:30am, HOH Ideas Club, Daily Home, 1506 North Blvd, 77006

*Don't forget to bring canned goods to the Main Gathering for donation to the needy!
Also, CHILD CARE IS AVAILABLE at our Main Monthly Gathering - Parents please RSVP each time and mention you're bringing children so we know to inform our sitter to be there.

Humanists of Houston: Contemplative Club Date Change

2008-03-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

Please Note:

While the Contemplative Club typically meets on the 4th Thursday of each month, the March session has been moved to the previous day, Wednesday, March 26th.

The time will be 7:00 PM, and will take place at the Cullen Sculpture Garden.

More details can be found here.

Humanists of Houston: Special Gathering

2008-03-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

SPECIAL WELCOME GATHERING!
Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 1:00pm
Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston 77074
[MAP]

ALL NEWCOMERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY MADE CONTACT WITH HOH ARE WELCOME TO COME AND MEET WITH LONGTIME MEMBERS AT THIS SPECIAL 'WELCOME' GATHERING!

Why this Gathering is Special, and why YOU shouldn't miss it:

1) New Location:
We will be holding our first City-Wide Gathering in our new location at Bayland Community Center.

2) New Format:
This Gathering will be a celebration party! We won't have a strict format or program, but instead will have a more loose get together with snacks, music, and socializing. We want to get to know you and for you to get to know us!

3) Newcomers:
For those new to the group, those who have only attended a few times, or those who haven't attended at all - this Gathering will not only be a welcoming party for you, but we'll say a few words and answer a few questions about Humanism and its history here in Houston. We also want to hear from you what it is you're looking for in a group!

4) Longtimers:
For our longtime members, it is also important that you come because YOU are the ones who we need there to welcome the new people. We want to hear from you about your past with HOH and messages for the new folks.

So please come out to see the things happening at HOH! Everyone is welcome :)

Nica Lalli Talk and Book Signing

2008-03-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

Nica Lalli, author of “Nothing, Something to Believe In,” will be appearing at Follett's Intellectual Property bookstore in Austin, Texas, on March 15th from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. Nica Lalli is an art educator working with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She also writes a weekly column in the Brooklyn Paper.

Her book, "Nothing: Something to Believe in" is her personal account of atheism, and was published in 2007. According to Wikipedia, it "chronicles her journey of acceptance as she came of age in a family that refused to embrace organized religious belief." According to Publishers Weekly, "This memoir is well-written and often acerbically funny, an edgy quest for meaning outside the boundaries of organized religion." The Toledo Blade: "Ms. Lalli's book is a memoir that reflects an arduous coming to terms with atheism and gaining a sense of comfort despite living in a country where 90 percent of the people profess a belief in God."

Richard Dawkins Lectures at UT

2008-03-09T16:21:00.000-07:00

Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Time: 07:00 PM
Location: Hogg Memorial Auditorium, University of Texas, Austin
510 East 23rd Street
Austin, TX USA 78712-1023

Richard Dawkins will be lecturing on "The God Delusion" at Hogg Memorial Auditorium, University of Texas, Austin.

This lecture will take place on March 19, 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Dawkins is being hosted by the Atheist Longhorns and the Secular Longhorn Alliance

Tickets are first-come, first-serve at the event.

More details can be found at: www.campusfreethought.org

For directions, please go to www.utpac.org/venue/directions.php#hogg

Parenting Beyond Belief Seminar

2008-03-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

The North Texas Church of Freethought and the Freethinkers of UTA are very proud to be able to bring to the Metroplex Dale McGowan, author of "Parenting Beyond Belief," for a 3 1/2 hour seminar focused on raising good kids without indoctrination in theistic religion. The seminar will take place on Sunday, May 4th, from 2:00 to 5:30 PM, at the University of Texas at Arlington. From his website (www.parentingbeyondbelief.com):

Over nine million parents in the U.S. are raising children without theistic religion. The PARENTING BEYOND BELIEF SEMINAR, a unique half-day workshop with author and educator Dale McGowan, offers encouragement and practical solutions for secular parenting in a religious world. Based on the freethinking philosophy of the book Newsweek called "a compelling read," the PARENTING BEYOND BELIEF SEMINAR is empowering secular parents across the country to raise ethical, caring, confident kids without religion.

Participants will learn effective ways to:

Encourage religious literacy without indoctrination;
Help kids interact productively with a religious world;
Help kids develop active moral reasoning;
Weigh church-state issues in the public sphere;
Address sensitive issues with religious relatives using the principles of nonviolent communication;
Help children develop a healthy understanding of death and a joyful love of life;
Build a family atmosphere of fearless questioning and boundless wonder;

…and much more.

Folks, you don't want to miss this first-of-its-kind event, so REGISTER TODAY! The fee is only $40 per person, or $60 per couple- a SMALL PRICE to pay for something you literally cannot get anywhere else! I've attached a promotional poster for the seminar- feel free to forward it along to ANYONE you know who is struggling to raise GOOD KIDS without theistic indoctrination, thinking about raising secular kids someday, or are trying to instill secular values in their GRANDKIDS! If you don't want this kind of seminar to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, make sure to support our Freethinking community and our Freethinking children by attending!

To register online for the Dallas/Fort Worth seminar please visit: http://www.parentingbeyondbelief.com/sem_dfw.htm

Humanists of Houston: March Events

2008-03-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

You can also see the HOH calendar at calendar.yahoo.com/humanistsofhouston

Date	Time	Event	Location
Mon, Mar 3rd	7:00pm	Young Adults Club: Holocaust Perpetrators	Holocaust Museum, Herzstein Theater, 5401 Caroline St, 77004
Sat, Mar 8th	10:30am	HOH Women's Club	Ziggy's Healthy Grill, 2202 W. Alabama, 77098
Sat, Mar 8th	3:30pm	Young Adults Club: Lucy Exhibit	Museum of Natural Science, 1 Herman Circle Drive, 77030
Sat, Mar 15th	1:00pm (new time)	HOH SPECIAL WELCOME GATHERING*	Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet St, 77074(new location)
Sun, Mar 16th	10:30am	Freethought Coffee Social	Borders Books, 570 Meyerland Plaza, 77096
Sat, Mar 22nd	10:30am	HOH Religion Club	Daily Home, 1506 North Blvd, 77006
Sun, Mar 23rd	10:30am	HOH Ideas Club	Daily Home, 1506 North Blvd, 77006
Thu, Mar 27th	7:00pm	HOH Humanist Contemplatives Club	Cullen Sculpture Garden, 1000 Bissonnet St, 77005

*Don't forget to bring canned goods to the Main Gathering for donation to the needy!
Also, CHILD CARE IS AVAILABLE at our Main Monthly Gathering - Parents please RSVP and tell us you're bringing children so we know to inform our sitter to be there.

For more details on these events, including links to maps and topics, please visit us atwww.HumanistsOfHouston.org

NOTE: Although these announcements normally focus on HOH events, we would also like to mention that the Houston Church of Freethought is holding their 8th Anniversary Party at Jim Ashmore's House on Saturday, March 8th at 3pm (RSVP hcof.org for a map). We at HOH make an active attempt to avoid schedule conflicts with our other Freethought friends and regret this conflicts with our Young Adults Club visit to the Lucy Exhibit on the same day, which was unknown to the organizers. Congratulations to HCoF on eight years of excellence and many more to come - we hope a great time is had by all!

CURRENT & UPCOMING NEWS

HOH SPECIAL WELCOME GATHERING
All newcomers and those who have recently made contact with HOH, or those who have simply not had a chance to attend - you are welcome to come and meet with longtime members at this special welcome Gathering! Longtime members are also needed there to welcome the new folks and share their experiences and messages for the new folks! Parents: as with all our monthly Gatherings, child care is available, but please contact us so we know to have the sitter present - thanks.

This Gathering will take place at 1:00pm on Saturday, March 15th at the Bayland Community Center (6400 Bissonnet St, Houston 77074). Click HERE for a map. For more information please see the description on our website at www.humanistsofhouston.org/gathering.htm

HOH IN SEARCH OF ORGANIZERS
As part of the Vision Project, we will be creating several regional gatherings to take place simultaneously on the first Saturday of each month, in different locations throughout the Houston and surrounding areas. Areas covered will eventually include: Clear Lake, Jersey Village, Sugar Land, Spring Branch, West Houston, Pasadena, Silver Lake, and Inner Loop. The first step in this is to call for volunteers to help organize these new gatherings. We now have some for several of the locations, but we can always use more. If you are interested in helping out with finding a place in your area and planning the gathering, please contact us - we need you!

Please consider supporting Humanism and freethought locally by becoming an HOH Patron! To do so, or to learn more, please visit our Patron page at the HOH website.

Unitarian physicist to speak on separation of church, state

2008-02-24T06:34:00.000-08:00

From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

Ellery Schempp, an advocate of separation of church and state, will lecture on "Our Constitution and the Bible" during a visit Thursday through March 2 to the Metroplex.

Schempp, a Unitarian, was the subject of a 1963 Supreme Court case banning school-sponsored Bible readings in public schools. While a high school student in Abington Township, Pa., in 1956, he and fellow students were required by state law to read 10 Bible verses every day. He protested and was disciplined at school. He and his father, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, sued the school district.

Schempp, a physicist, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Red River Room of the University of Texas at Arlington's E.H. Hereford University Center, 300 W. First St., Arlington. On March 2, he will discuss whether atheism and secular humanism can be considered religions in a lecture at 10:30 a.m. at the Wyndham DFW Airport North, 4441 W. John Carpenter Freeway, in Irving.

His appearances will be hosted by the North Texas Church of Freethought in Plano and Freethinkers of the University of Texas at Arlington.

Both lectures are free. Call 972-395-5343 or e-mail info@churchoffreethought.org.

Humanists of Houston: February Events

2008-02-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

You can also see the HOH calendar at calendar.yahoo.com/humanistsofhouston

Date	Time	Event	Location
Sun, Feb 3rd	10:30am	Freethought Coffee Social	Borders Books, 570 Meyerland Plaza, 77096
Sun, Feb 3rd	12:30pm	HOH Brunch	Randall's, 11041 Westheimer, 77042
Sat, Feb 9th	10:30am	HOH Women's Club	Ziggy's Healthy Grill, 2202 W. Alabama, 77098
Sat, Feb 9th	2:00pm	2008 DARWIN DAY!	Rice University, Anderson Bio Labs Room 131
Sat, Feb 16th	2:30pm	HOH Main Monthly Gathering*	Unitarian Fellowship, 1504 Wirt Rd, 77055
Sun, Feb 17th	10:30am	Freethought Coffee Social	Borders Books, 570 Meyerland Plaza, 77096
Sat, Feb 23rd	10:30am	HOH Religion Club	Daily Home, 1506 North Blvd, 77006
Sun, Feb 24th	10:30am	HOH Ideas Club	Daily Home, 1506 North Blvd, 77006
Thu, Feb 28th	7:00pm	HOH Humanist Contemplatives Club	Cullen Sculpture Garden, 1000 Bissonnet St, 77005

*Don't forget to bring canned goods to the Main Gathering for donation to the needy!
Also, CHILD CARE IS AVAILABLE at our Main Monthly Gathering - Parents please RSVP so we know to inform the sitter.

For more details on these events, including links to maps and topics, please visit us at www.HumanistsOfHouston.org

CURRENT & UPCOMING NEWS

HOH MOVING TO NEW PLACE IN MARCH
HOH members voted Saturday January 19th to relocate to a new facility for the City-Wide Monthly Gatherings, starting in March. The February Gathering will still take place in the traditional place, at the Unitarian Fellowship on Wirt Road. However, beginning in March the HOH Main Monthly Gathering will take place at the Bayland Community Center in Bayland Park, 6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston 77074 [map here]. The HOH City-Wide Monthly Gathering is held on the third Saturday of each month. The February Gathering in the old location will take place at the traditional time of 2:30pm. However, the March Gathering in the new location (and every Gathering after) will take place at a new time: 1:00pm. To learn more about the center, please visit their website at www.pct3.hctx.net/CCBayland.

HOH IN SEARCH OF ORGANIZERS
As part of the Vision Project, we will be creating several regional gatherings to take place simultaneously on the first Saturday of each month, in different locations throughout the Houston and surrounding areas. Areas included will eventually include: Clear Lake, Jersey Village, Sugar Land, Spring Branch, West Houston, Pasadena, Silver Lake, and Inner Loop. The first step in this is to call for volunteers to help organize these new gatherings. If you are interested in helping out with finding a place in your area and planning the gathering, please contact us - we need you!

DARWIN DAY 2008 COMING SOON
The Houston Freethought Alliance Darwin Day Committee is composed of volunteers from HOH and all of the other Alliance organizations. They are busy working on preparations for our Darwin Day event this February 9th. For all the details on the plans so far, please see www.HoustonDarwinDay.org.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM REPORT
With President Daniel Strain focused on getting our Regional Forums going, Vice President Roxie Deaton has taken charge of our other big project - coordination for the Children's Program we are developing. She says she is excited about this prospect and will soon be moving to arrange a parent's meeting as our next step. If you are a parent who is interested in this project, or you would like to help teach or develop the children's program, please contact Roxie at roxiedeaton@hotmail.com.

Please consider supporting Humanism and freethought locally by becoming an HOH Patron! To do so, or to learn more, please visit our Patron page at the HOH website.

Freethinkers of UTA: February Events

2008-02-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

The 2nd meeting of the semester will be held on Tuesday, February 5th at 5:00pm in 213 Trimble Hall (NOT the U.C.):
http://www.uta.edu/maps/map?id=TH

We will be discussing the Texas Board of Education and textbook selection.

Here are some relevant articles:

http://www.star-telegram.com/state_news/story/419982.html

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-bookfight_19met.ART0.North.Edition1.3751bab.html

Following the meeting, we will head to J. Gilligan's for some Freethinker fraternization.

Darwin Day: Tuesday, February 12th:

From 10:00am - 2:00pm we will be in front of the Library (or if the weather is bad, in the U.C) reading our "Facts about Evolution" and again this year, we are teaming up with the Texas Freedom Network's Stand up for Science campaign. Last year the theme was stem cell research, this year the theme is sound science in the public schools. We will have postcards to fill out in support of sound science.

From 5:00pm - 6:00pm, Dr. Tim Henry will be giving an "Evolution 101" presentation in UH 121

From 6:00pm to 7:00pm, Dr. Roger Mellgren will be giving a presentation on "Evolutionary Psychology", also in UH 121.

Following the presentations, we will have an Activist Training from 7:00pm - 7:30pm about the Texas Board of Education and what we can do to influence it.

Finally, we will watch the movie, Flock of Dodos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flock_of_Dodos

Pizza, snacks, and Darwin Birthday Cake will be provided while we are in UH 121.

Ellery Schempp Talk: Thursday, February 28th at 7:00 pm in the Red River room of the University Center

There is also an interesting campus event being held next week:

The Darwinian Dilemma: Origins of a Crisis

Dr. Kenneth E. Hendrickson III, Associate Professor of History at Sam Houston State University will speak about "The Darwinian Dilemma: The Origins of a Crisis" at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, in the Sixth Floor Parlor, Central Library. Hendrickson is one of the leading authorities on Charles Darwin, his work, and the reaction his work has sparked. Along with Glenn Sanford, Hendrickson is putting the final touches on a book titled "The Darwin Controversy," a work that will analyze the political, cultural, and scientific controversies spawned by the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species in 1859. The program is free and open to everyone but please R.S.V.P. by Thursday, Feb. 7, at bwood@uta.edu or (817) 272-7421. The event is sponsored by the UT Arlington Friends of the Library.

Christian/Atheist Dialogue

2008-02-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

Terry McDonald, chairman of the Metroplex Atheists, has been invited to dialogue with Dr. Derward Richardson, pastor of the Summit Baptist Church in South Grand Prairie, between Dallas and Fort Worth.

The public is invited to this event which will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Saturday, Feb. 9th. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 4729 S. Carrier Parkway, near Polo Road.

Seating is limited, so please R.S.V.P. by e-mail to pastor@summitbc.org

NTCOF: February Service

2008-01-27T14:51:00.001-08:00

The North Texas Church of Freethought February Service will be held on Sunday, February 3rd, at 10:30 AM at the Wyndham Hotel DFW North in Irving, located at the corner of Hwy. 114 (John Carpenter Freeway) at Esters Blvd.

This service will treat you to a number of fascinating member-driven discussions. As per usual, we'll also have a Moment of Science, take time to Smell the Roses, and learn more about the Reason Driven Life.

Freethought Fellowship will continue after the service at Jason's Deli at the corner of MacArthur Blvd and I-635 (LBJ) beginning at noon for all interested.

Houston Freethought Alliance: Darwin Day 2008

2008-01-27T14:48:00.000-08:00

Houston Freethought Alliance
Darwin Day 2008
Saturday, February 9th

HOH has provided two representatives to serve on a multi-group Darwin Day committee, that has already begun plans for a joint Darwin Day event in February of 2008. This event will be a collaborative effort between all five organizations of the Houston Freethought Alliance.

Alex Gorischek, co-chair of the Darwin Day Committee, has recently reported on the committee's progress. He writes:

***
Hello all! We've made significant progress in putting together our Darwin Day celebration. Please take the time to read the below information and provide feedback. I want to make sure that everyone is satisfied with where the event currently stands. Thanks for you help so far!

1) Venue. The first and probably most important update is that we now have a venue reserved! For those of you who went to Ask an Atheist last year, we have that room reserved again, as well as another smaller lecture hall nearby. The lecture hall worked out great for Ask an Atheist, and I suspect it will serve us just as well for Darwin Day. The event will be held on Saturday, February 9th from 2:00 until around 5:30. Does this time sound good to everybody?

2) Presentation Topics. We currently have four confirmed presenters. There is a fifth (Dr. Daily) who has offered to give a talk, but we have not heard back from him yet. I am waiting to hear back from two of my other professors for the sixth presentation. If neither are able to present, I think Tom Brucia has something he would like to present.
Here is what we have so far:

Dr. Lesley Campbell will be giving an introduction to evolutionary theory.
Dr. Melinda Fagan will be giving a talk about the relationships between Darwin and Wallace, including their theories, religious views, and political views.
Dr. Hector Miranda will be giving a talk about human evolution.
Jim Ashmore will be presenting a brief biography of Darwin along with some readings from his work.
Hopefully, Dr. Louis Daily will deal with the issue of "irreducible complexity" by discussing the evolution of the eye. We have not yet confirmed this.

3) Video Showing. Jim Ashmore suggested (quite a while ago) that we make the event "multimedia". That is, it would probably be boring to have nothing but lectures, so we should also incorporate some video in there. I love this idea, and I think it would be best to end with the video. Does anybody have suggestions for good video to show? We ideally want it to focus on the evolutionary aspects of biology, but we don't want it to be just an intro to evolution, because there's already a talk on that. Does anyone have ideas for a video to show?

4) Schedule. It was pointed out that 45 minutes would probably be too long for the presentations. Thus, we have adjusted the schedule to give each presenter 30 minutes. The current schedule of Darwin Day should look something like this:

2:00 - Arrive and socialize
2:20 - Short welcoming statement, hand out schedule, dispersal to presentation rooms
2:30-3:00 - Presentation Session 1 (two simultaneous presentations)3:00-3:10 - Break/time to switch rooms (if necessary)
3:10-3:40 - Presentation Session 2 (two simultaneous presentations)3:40-4:10 - Break/time to switch rooms (if necessary)4:10-4:40 - Presentation Session 3 (two simultaneous presentations)4:40-4:50 - Have everyone gather in the large auditorium
4:50 - Give a closing statement and show a video

5) Parking. As Tom Brucia pointed out, the parking nearest to the event is NOT free. There IS free parking on the Rice campus, but it's farther from the rooms where the event will be. Furthermore, the Rice parking system uses credit card for payment, as opposed the traditional one dollar bills and quarters. Tom Brucia has expressed concern that having to pay for parking with a credit card would decrease turnout. It seems to me that just about everyone I know has a credit card, so I don't see this as being a problem. However, I want another opinion. Do you all think this will be a problem?

6) Food. I'm not sure if any real decisions have been made here. Do we want food? I suggest that we put snack foods outside in the picnic area before the presentation to give people a place to socialize while others are still arriving. If you all agree that we should have some snack food, I would like to distribute this job to someone else. For various reasons (ie, I'm a vegan, lol), I am NOT a good person to have pick out food. So, would some one please step up and take the job of choosing and obtaining foods? I'm not sure what our budgets look like, but I can tell you right now that SSR has nothing, haha. Will food be a problem? Who would like to take this job?

7) Advertising. I will take care of making flyers. Just as I did for Ask an Atheist, I will also provide a detailed map to make sure people don't get lost. Once we have the presentations solidified, I will type up an email to be sent to the HFA. What I will need help with will be putting up flyers around local establishments. Places like Starbucks and Jamba Juice often (but not always) have community bulletin boards where you can put stuff up. I'll take care of the opportunities to advertise in my area, but I need all of you to help out with your areas. Does this sound reasonable?

***
If you would like to be a part of this planning committee, please contact us!

HCOF: February Service

2008-01-27T14:47:00.001-08:00

The Houston Church of Freethought will be meeting on Sunday, February 10th, 2008.

Coffee and fellowship begin at 10 AM, with services starting at 10:30.

The location is:

Holiday Inn
3131 West Loop South
Houston, Texas 77027

Ethical Society of Austin: February Events

2008-01-27T14:39:00.001-08:00

Sunday, February 3rd

10:00 am	Coffee and conversation.
10:30 am	Platform on Discovering the Meaning of Life, presented by Charles O'Dell.
12:00 noon	Potluck Lunch.

Sunday, February 10th

10:00 am	Coffee and conversation.
10:30 am	Colloquy on Heart, presented by Adam Gravois
12:00 noon	Potluck Lunch

Sunday, February 17th

10:00 am	Coffee and conversation.
10:30 am	Discussion on UU, Humanism, EC and Atheism, presented by Jennifer Scates, Melissa Holmes and Tim Hayles.
12:00 noon	Potluck Lunch.

Sunday, February 24th

10:00 am	Coffee and conversation.
10:30 am	Discussion on Medicine and Ethics in the 21st Century, presented by Michael Barnett.
12:00 noon	Potluck Lunch.

Center For Inquiry: Upcoming Events

2008-01-27T14:37:00.000-08:00

Monday, January 28^th at 6:00pm
Drinking Rationally Happy Hour
Come toss back a few pints with fellow rationalists.
Thursday, January 31^st at 7:30pm
Science and Religion in Fiction Book Club
The book for this month is "The Subtle Knife" (book 2 of the "His Dark Materials" Trilogy) by Phillip Pullman
Monday, February 4^th at 7:00pm
CFI Austin Food for Thought Lecture Series:
“Belief and Unbelief in George Bush’s America”
Sunday, February 10^th at 1:00pm
Darwin Day Celebration 2008 “Teaching Evolution”

TFN Activist Training: Fort Worth

2008-01-17T05:55:00.000-08:00

The Texas Freedom Network is hosting a free Activist Training Session in Fort Worth.

The TFN has worked with secular groups in Texas for their Stand Up for Science campaign and they have been invaluable in keeping the Religious Right in check in Texas.

More information (and registration) can be found here: http://www.tfnleadership.org/fortworth/

NTCOF: Food Critics Meeting

2008-01-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

The first meeting of the North Texas Church of Freethought Food Critics will be held at:

Christina's

2707 E Southlake Blvd

Southlake, TX 76092
(817) 488-2095

You can find a Google Maps link here.

Ginger and Brad Watson be leading the metting, and will be at Christina's at 7:30 PM on Sunday, Jan. 20th.

All Freethinkers are welcome to join us at this once a month sampling of the area's many restaurants! (Attendees must pay for their own meal.) RSVP is essential as we will want to notify the restaurant in advance of how many will be there. RSVP must be sent to social@churchoffreethought.org by noon on Saturday the 19th.

Future Food Critics' meetings will be at other restaurants throughout the Metroplex. The meeting location will, sooner or later, come to a neighborhood near you.

Humanists of Houston - January Gathering

2008-01-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

HOH MAIN MONTHLY GATHERING:
Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 2:30pm
Unitarian Fellowship, 1504 Wirt Road, Houston 77055

*Note to Parents*
Child care IS available in the adjacent room so bring the kids! (please RSVP so we know to inform our sitter).

*Please Remember Those In Need*
As an ongoing program, we ask that you buy just one extra canned good when you do your grocery shopping, and remember to bring them to the Gathering, where we will collect and donate them to the End Hunger Network.

OUR PROGRAM THIS MONTH
Humanist Ethics: A Search For The Good
Presentation by Robert Finch

A summary of the Humanist values and ethics of Hume, Kurtz and other Humanists. We will explain how positivism, pragmatism, relativism, and personalism feature into them. We'll also discuss what that means in our lives and for the Humanists of Houston as an organization. We will also be holding a quick vote on a change of location for our monthly Gatherings (see news section below for details).

For information on our many other events and activities throughout the month, or other news, please visit us at www.HumanistsOfHouston.org

OTHER CURRENT & UPCOMING NEWS

January 12, 2008

LOOKING FOR LOCAL HUMANISTS WILLING TO ACT TO HELP MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY RESEARCH!

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has come to HOH, asking if we know anyone who would be willing to form a team to help collect some money for Muscular Dystrophy research. Our team needs to be composed of a minimum of ten people, and our goal would be to raise $1000 by February 9th (that's just $100 per person!). We're not asking HOH members to contribute - rather, we're asking for your efforts in going out to others to collect the donations - to say to others, "My Humanist group is collecting donations for the MDA for muscular dystrophy research - would you like to contribute?" On February the 9th, our team will be invited to come out to a special reception in a local mall, wearing our HOH T-Shirts (all team members who collect and show up that day will get a free HOH T-Shirt). There will be food, music, etc. and we'll give the money we've collected then. Those teams that reach their goal will have their organization (HOH) recognized by the local media who attend the event, to the MDA families, in the Firefighter Newsletter, Stride & Ride Newsletter, to MDA's corporate sponsors, and thanked on the Houston viewing of the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day telethon on KPRC local channel 2. This is a wonderful opportunity to help those less fortunate, to help your Humanist group, and to show people that Humanists aren't all talk. If you're interested, please reply to this email or contact us at humanistsofhouston@yahoo.com to let me know you'd like to join the team!

January 17, 2008

OOPS!

CORRECTION - In the January events list that was sent out at the beginning of the month, we listed the Humanist Contemplatives Club as taking place in the wrong location. It will actually be taking place at 7:30pm this Thursday, at the Rothko Chapel (1409 Sul Ross St., Houston 77006). This will be a special session of the Contemplatives Club, as we will be attending the Rothko presentation, "The Science of Contemplative Practices" by Dr. James Duffy. To learn more, visit the Humanist Contemplatives website at http://www.humanistsofhouston.org/contemplatives or the Rothko Chapel website at http://www.rothkochapel.org.

January 19, 2008

HOH TO HOLD VOTE ON GATHERING LOCATION CHANGE

It seems likely we will be outgrowing our space at the Unitarian Fellowship soon. We have located a very nice facility: the Bayland Community Center in Bayland Park. It has a larger room available to us on our usual monthly gathering date (3rd Saturday of each month) starting in March. It is also located in a more accessible part of Houston and in a park. Amazingly, the facility is completely free. However, we would like to put this move to a vote. Therefore, at the January 19th HOH Gathering, we will be holding a vote from among attending members on this move. If it passes, we will be in the new location for the first time at our March Gathering. If you are an HOH member and plan on attending, please take a moment to look at the Bayland Community Center's website to see information, pictures, and location: http://www.pct3.hctx.net/ccBayland/

February 9, 2008

DARWIN DAY 2008 COMING SOON

The Houston Freethought Alliance Darwin Day Committee is composed of volunteers from HOH and all of the other Alliance organizations. They are busy working on preparations for our Darwin Day event this February 9th. For all the details on the plans so far, please see our Darwin Day page!

January 6, 2008

SOLSTICE CELEBRATION PICTURES AVAILABLE

Thanks to Marian Hillar, we now have some pictures from the Houston Freethought Alliance's winter solstice celebration! To see them, visit our photos page. If you have some pictures you'd like to send in and share, please contact us to let us know.

NTCOF: January Service

2008-01-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

The North Texas Church of Freethought January Service will be held on Sunday, January 6th, at 10:30 AM. Due to remodeling at the Wyndham Hotel, our January service will be held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel D/FW, 4400 West John Carpenter Fwy., Irving, phone 972.949.8400. The hotel is directly SOUTH of the Wyndham (our usual location), across Hwy. 114. Our meeting will be in the Galleria Ballroom, Sections 1-2, and Freethought Sunday School will be in the Estate Conference Room.

This service will treat you to a number of fascinating discussions, including the Problem of Hell, the Megachurch Paradigm, and the relationship between longitude and the clock. As per usual, we'll also have a Moment of Science, take time to Smell the Roses, and learn more about the Reason Driven Life.

Freethought Fellowship will continue after the service at Jason's Deli at the corner of MacArthur Blvd and I-635 (LBJ) beginning at noon for all interested.

North Texas Skeptics: January Meeting

2008-01-03T05:49:00.000-08:00

Saturday 12 January 2008

2 p.m.
Center for Nonprofit Management
2900 Live Oak Street in Dallas
Board Meeting and Elections
Also, it's party time again. Bring snacks and drinks. Paid up members can vote.
Here's a MAP for you.

Humanists of Houston: January Events

2008-01-03T05:46:00.001-08:00

Date	Time	Event	Location
Sun, Jan 6th	10:30am	Freethought Coffee Social	Borders Books, 570 Meyerland Plaza, 77096
Sun, Jan 6th	12:30pm	HOH Brunch	Randall's, 11041 Westheimer, 77042
Fri, Jan 11th	7:00pm	HOH Young Adults Club, Board Games RSVP!	Daniel & Julie's Home, 2123 Sheridan St, 77030
Sat, Jan 12th	10:30am	HOH Women's Club	Ziggy's Healthy Grill, 2202 W. Alabama, 77098
Thu, Jan 17th	7:00pm	HOH Contemplatives Club	Cullen Sculpture Garden, 1001 Bissonnet, 77005
Sat, Jan 19th	2:30pm	HOH Main Monthly Gathering*	Unitarian Fellowship, 1504 Wirt Rd, 77055
Sun, Jan 20th	10:30am	Freethought Coffee Social	Borders Books, 570 Meyerland Plaza, 77096
Sat, Jan 26th	10:30am	HOH Religion Club	Daily Home, 1506 North Blvd, 77006
Sun, Jan 27th	10:30am	HOH Ideas Club	Daily Home, 1506 North Blvd, 77006

ESA: Humanist Manifesto Discussion

2008-01-03T05:41:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 6th

10:00 am	Coffee and conversation.
10:30 am	Discussion on The Humanist Manifesto of 1933, presented by Paulette Delahoussaye.
12:00 noon	Potluck Lunch.

CFI Austin Food for Thought Lecture Series: Is Pseudoscience Good for Anything?

2008-01-03T05:39:00.001-08:00

Starts: Thursday, January 3^rd at 7:00 pm
Ends: Thursday, January 3^rd at 8:30 pm
Location: Old Quarry Branch Library, 7051 Village Center Dr

UT Professor Dr. Rory Coker will give a talk entitled, "Is Pseudoscience Good for Anything?"

The Food For Thought Lecture Series seeks to inform, educate and raise awareness of issues related to the CFI mission statement:

"To promote and defend science, reason and freedom of inquiry in all areas of human interest. "
Lectures are free and open to the public.

As part of "Food for Thought" we would like to encourage a suggested donation of non-perishable food items to be donated to a local charity.

Freethinkers of UTA: Social Event

2007-12-23T06:09:00.000-08:00

As discussed at the last meeting, the Freethinkers of UTA are having a Freethinker social event over the winter break. We will be meeting on Thursday, January 3rd from 7-11pm at Gameworks at the Grapevine Mills Mall. For a map, click here.

They have a Thursday option for $10 unlimited play (with a one-time $5 charge for a card that can be used every time you go). They also have food and drinks.

We hope to see you there!

FACT: Winter Solstice Party

2007-12-15T08:19:00.000-08:00

Sunday - December 23, 2007; 1:00 to 4:00 pm

13130 Blanco Road, San Antonio, Texas (See Map)

The event is being catered by Apple Annie's offering a selection of two entrées: Chicken Cordon Bleu and Beef Burgundy. Additionally, Sally is going to provide her great Vegetarian Lasagna.

Guest Speaker: Don Lawrence (past President of FACT)

Topic: "Ramblings in Mexico: Thinking Free vs Acting Free"

Members and Friends are invited. The per-person cost is only $15 paid in advance or at the door with a RSVP commitment.

Door Prizes? YES!

For additional information, click here.

ESA: History of Ethical Culture

2007-12-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Scates will present "History of Ethical Culture" at the next Ethical Society of Austin Platform meeting on December 16th, 2007.

Platform meetings feature an address given by an Ethical Culture Leader, member, or guest speaker. Platform addresses cover a wide range of topics. Members and guests have an opportunity to voice their reflections on the address. Platform meetings include music selected from a wide range of traditions. A time for personal announcements is also reserved during platform meetings.

Guests are encouraged to attend our Platform Meetings. While casual attire is the norm at ESA platform meetings, anything from T-shirts and jeans to one's "Sunday best" is acceptable. Platform meetings are held on the first and third Sundays of every month at the Austin Museum of Art, Laguna Gloria (on 35th Street, west of MoPac). See street map for directions. Coffee is served at 10:00 a.m., with the Platform Meeting starting at 10:30 a.m. Child care is available.

Mike Swift to host ACA Winter Solstice Party

2007-12-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

This year's Atheist Community of Austin (ACA) Winter Solstice Party will be on Saturday, December 15, 2007 from 6pm - midnight at Mike Swift's house. Thanks to Mike for his hospitality!

The party is for ACA members, their spouses, family, and atheist-friendly friends. Kids are welcome. RSVPs are encouraged so that Mike can gauge the size of the event. (Send him e-mail via this link.). Also, e-mail him if you'd like to volunteer to help set up.

The early part of the evening will be a potluck dinner. Bring a dish to share, should you wish to participate. If you can, let Mike know what you plan to bring so that he can ensure a breadth of dishes. Mike will provide snacks and beer for the later crowd.

Mike has a game room, arcade machine, and pool table.

Mike's address, a map to his house, and his phone number are now available on the ACA member log-in page. Details will be posted later on the aca_membersonly list and a flier will be printed in December.

Come and celebrate the new year without any of that Xmas stuff!

Center for Inquiry Transnational Experts Comment on TX Science Education Standards

2007-12-13T20:14:00.000-08:00

CFI-Austin expresses their support for Chris Comer, Texas state science curriculum director for more than nine years, who resigned in November amid controversy over forwarding an e-mail marked "FYI" which mentioned the Center for Inquiry Austin sponsored lecture by distinguished professor, Dr. Barbara Forrest.

We are dismayed by the implications these actions have for the children of Texas and their science education. We urge all concerned citizens to pay careful attention to the upcoming review of science standards and to get involved in efforts to ensure that our students receive the scientifically-literate education they need to succeed in a global, competitive market.

CFI Transnational has issued a media release regarding this matter entitled, "Center for Inquiry Experts Comment on Texas Science Education Standards."

Texas Education Agency Director Leaves Post Over Evolution

2007-12-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

A recent article in the New York Times explains that Christine Castillo has left her post as Science Director for the Texas Education Agency. The resignation came after a dispute over her endorsing Evolution and 'taking a position' on the evolution/creationism debate by circulating messages about it on some forums. Thanks to Jimmy Dunne for passing this along to HOH.

Link to New York Times Article HERE.

HOUSTON SOLSTICE CELEBRATION!

2007-11-28T06:56:00.001-08:00

December 15, 2007
Mark your calendars! The Alliance-wide Winter Solstice celebration is coming this December 15th! This is the largest regular event for Humanists, atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers in the Houston area, with members from all five Houston Freethought Alliance groups coming together to celebrate (including HOH). For time, place, and more details, as well as how to RSVP for this limited-space event, please see our Winter Solstice page by clicking HERE.

LOCAL PEARLAND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WALKS OUT ON PRAYERS

2007-11-28T06:55:00.001-08:00

Current (since October 2007)
Suzy Roberts, serving on the Pearland School Board, has recently objected to the practice of prayers before the school board meeting. After the board continued to allow them under an altered policy, Ms. Roberts walked out on the meeting - a first in Pearland history. More information is available at the following links:

ABC 13 (includes video)
HoustonPress
Houston Chronicle, Inside Pearland

HUMANISM DISCUSSED ON HOUSTON KPFT

2007-11-28T06:52:00.000-08:00

November 23, 2007
90.1 FM, Pacifica Houston, has recently discussed secular Humanism on its program, Peaceful Coexistence. You can listen to the program directly by clicking this link, or by going to http://archive.kpft.org and finding "Peace Hour - Peaceful Coexistence" for Friday, November 23, 2007. Thanks to Ariel Thomann for reporting this!

NTCOF: December Service

2007-11-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

The North Texas Church of Freethought December Service will be held on Sunday, December 2nd, at 10:30 AM at the Wyndham Hotel DFW North in Irving, located at the corner of Hwy. 114 (John Carpenter Freeway) at Esters Blvd.

This month's service will be a blockbuster, with an amazing program for Freethinkers served up as an antidote to the piousness and hypocrisy of the Mythmas season. There’s even a rumor that Santa – or maybe TWO Santas?! – will be making a visit! So make sure no matter what else you have planned for December, you start your Solstice Season with NTCOF on December 2!

Freethought Fellowship will continue after the service at Jason's Deli at the corner of MacArthur Blvd and I-635 (LBJ) beginning at noon for all interested.