HSMNY: Meeting Schedule for the 2003 Season

	Second Tuesday	Fourth Tuesday
January	14 ⁽¹⁾	28 ⁽²⁾
February	11 ⁽³⁾	25 ⁽⁴⁾
March	11 ⁽⁵⁾	25 ⁽⁶⁾
April	8 ⁽⁷⁾	22 ⁽⁸⁾
May	13 ⁽⁹⁾	27 ⁽¹⁰⁾
June	10 ⁽¹¹⁾	24 ⁽¹²⁾
July	8 ⁽¹³⁾	22 ⁽¹⁴⁾
August	12 ⁽¹⁵⁾	26 ⁽¹⁶⁾
September	9 ⁽¹⁷⁾	23 ⁽¹⁸⁾
October	14 ⁽¹⁹⁾	28 ⁽²⁰⁾
November	11 ⁽²¹⁾	25 ⁽²²⁾
December	9 ⁽²³⁾	23 ⁽²⁴⁾

⁽¹⁾ Tuesday, January 14, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street [ click here for map ] for dinner and conversation.

⁽²⁾ Tuesday, January 28, 2003: We will be toasting Tom Paine with an evening of celebration in honor of his birthday, beginning at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street. Come join us in our annual re-dedication to the principles, politics and punditry of Thomas Paine, apostle of Reason. Prof. Thomas Riggins will contribute a short presentation on Paine and Elihu Palmer, and the contributions Palmer made to the Deist movement before the toasting begins. Bring your sense of humor, and share dinner, drinks, and dialogue with fellow humanists.

⁽³⁾ Tuesday, February 11, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner, conversation, and a celebration of Charles Darwin Day.

⁽⁴⁾ Tuesday, February 25, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street. Featured speaker will be William G. Faris, speaking on the subject Evolutionary Explanations of Religion.
Synopsis: Can religion be explained by Darwinian evolution? If so, can this predict facts about religion? There are two new books on this topic: Religion Explained, by Pascal Boyer, and Darwin's Cathedral, by David Sloan Wilson. However they propose different kinds of evolution. One is psychological, and religion plays a parasitic role; the other is sociological, and religion is adaptive. Here is a question from Boyer's book. "There is only one God. He is omnipotent. But He exists only on Wednesdays." Could there be such a religion? Why not? Bill Faris will present some of this material and lead a discussion.

⁽⁵⁾ Tuesday, March 11, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street. The new book, World On Fire by Professor Amy Chua of Yale University is the topic of discussion. Chapter member Joseph Fields reports on the book that he describes as "a real mindblower." Professor Chua's book explores how exporting "Freemarket Democracy" breeds ethnic hatred and global instability, often further destabilizing developing Nations. All are invited to participate in the lively discussion that always follows such a presentation.

Special Note: On Thursday, March 13, from 3 PM to 5 PM, at 777 UN Plaza [ click here for map ] please come attend an 80th Birthday party for Dr. Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary of the United Nations and a Humanist of the Year honoree. All are welcome to attend.

⁽⁶⁾ Tuesday, March 25, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽⁷⁾ Tuesday, April 8, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽⁸⁾ Tuesday, April 22, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽⁹⁾ Tuesday, May 13, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street. Our speaker will be Chapter Member Peter C. Wong, exploring differing theories of evolution. He puts it this way: "Currently, there are two major theories on human origin. The Out of Africa Model (Eve-Replacement Theory) asserts that modern humans evolved very recently (150,000 to 200,000 years ago) in Africa; after gaining new evolutionary advantages, they migrated into Europe, Asia, and Australia and replaced all populations which had descended from Homo Erectus. This theory apparently has the upper hand now or at least since 1987 with the publication of the Mitochondria Eve paper by Rebecca Cann and Alan Wilson. As a recent reader of this debate, however, I support the alternative Multiregional Continuity Model which asserts that after Homo Erectus left Africa around 1 and 1/2 millions years ago and dispersed into other populations of Europe, Asia, and Australia, regional populations gradually evolved into modern humans." You are invited to participate in the discussion after Mr. Wong's presentation.

⁽¹⁰⁾ Tuesday, May 27, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽¹¹⁾ Tuesday, June 10, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽¹²⁾ Tuesday, June 24, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽¹³⁾ Tuesday, July 8, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽¹⁴⁾ Tuesday, July 22, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for a viewing and discussion of The Real Eve which was originally shown on The Discovery Channel. This video holds the view that all humans descended from one woman (the real Eve) who lived on the African continent 150 thousand years ago. Whether you agree or not, come and join the discussion.

⁽¹⁵⁾ Tuesday, August 12, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽¹⁶⁾ Tuesday, August 26, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽¹⁷⁾ Tuesday, September 9, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽¹⁸⁾ Tuesday, September 23, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street for dinner and conversation.

⁽¹⁹⁾ Tuesday, October 14, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street. Chapter member Joe Fields will show a segment from the Evolution Series which was shown on PBS television entitled Why Sex?

⁽²⁰⁾ Tuesday, October 28, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street. Our guest will be Anthony Marr, author of the book Omni-Science and the Human Destiny, who will give a speech entitled "A New Model of the Universe for Humanists", based upon the central philosophical system described in his book.

⁽²¹⁾ Tuesday, November 11, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street. Chapter Member Dr. Zina Pelkey will show a 30-minute video about Cuba, their medical system and their highly developed system of natural medicine. She will speak about her recent tour of natural health facilities there and the conference on alternative medicine that she attended (and lectured at). Cuba provides 100% free medical care to all citizens, including full access to alternative approaches. Education is free in Cuba through university and medical school. Zina visited the International School of Medicine where doctors from many developing countries are trained. They receive free tuition, room and board and a stipend in exchange for a commitment to serve their underserved homeland for at least five years. There are over 60 students from the United States in this program who will return to underserved communities in the US.

⁽²²⁾ Tuesday, November 25, 2003: We will meet at 6:30 PM at the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street. Chapter Member Peter Wong will talk on David Hume (1711-1776), secular philosopher and Post Renaissance Humanist. Emphasis will be on some aspects of Hume's empirical Theory of Knowledge and Skepticism, both elements which influenced many of the succeeding generations of anti-metaphysical/theological thinkers and philosophers who also have had an affinity for science.

⁽²³⁾ Tuesday, December 9, 2003: What is the nature of human nature? How about Humanists in particular? Are we rational/logical/practical beings? Are we feeling/emotional/expressive beings? Would you rather debate than dance? Would you rather sing than sound wise? Would you rather pontificate than write poetry? Even brilliant Emma Goldman pondered the dilemma when she declared "You can keep your revolution if I can't dance!" Are we some combinations of all of the above at various times? How about next Tuesday?
Come, at 6:30 to the Moonstruck East Restaurant (upstairs), 449 Third Avenue at the southeast corner of 31st Street, bring pen and paper, and we'll satisfy our creative selves by writing poetry with Irene Sadek inspiring us. She says that even though we may never have written anything more intense than a shopping list, she guarantees results. This should be fun!
At 8:30 we may start a long postponed movie Heaven by Dianne Keaton if Karen Pence is still willing to show it. This was scheduled in November and postponed for the Cuba Medical presentation. Karen is interested to know what books, essays, might have influenced members of our group in exploring the concept of heaven, and hopes to stimulate a discussion of this powerful stranglehold of religion.
If the movie is not available, then we can satisfy our political selves (maybe at 9 PM) with the Robert Greenwald film entitled "Uncovered: The War On Iraq". We know that discussion will ensue 'til the cows come home...or we plan a march on Washington! (The film may be shown next time.)

⁽²⁴⁾ Tuesday, December 23, 2003: This is the traditional-non-traditional holiday party time! Call it Winter Solstice, call it by the new designation...Human Light,... whatever we call it,...let's get together and celebrate! Just being alive is reason enough to celebrate! Just having the promise of another year coming up in which we have another chance to try to make things better than they have been is a good reason to feel joyous. Just knowing that Spring will spring up again is enough to dispel the doomsday drearies. Bring something fattening, illegal or immoral to share. Bring more friends to share it. We can dance on the tabletops playing our favorite music loud as we like until the Moonstruck management kicks us out. Come prepared to guess who you are when the name of a notable person gets scotch-taped to your forehead. Bring your own favorite names written out to challenge the rest of us. Let's eat, drink and be merry. Let's celebrate!

Follow the link below to return to the Humanist Society of Metropolitan New York Home Page.

Humanist Society of Metropolitan New York

The Corliss Lamont Chapter of the American Humanist Association

2003 Schedule