Huntsville Humanist Celebrant Louise Hardin conducts an outdoor weddingPink DogwoodSome HumanistsCouple holds handsShef CeremonyWedding in a wood near a waterfall

  • Humanists of North Alabama News 2014-7-18

    Humanists of North Alabama News! 2014-7-18

    Humanist Event Summary for July:

    • Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 PM: Monthly meeting and discussion at Crestwood Women’s Center, 185 Chateau Drive, Huntsville (off of Airport Road – statue of girl on bench in front)

    • Book Club meetings: Sunday, July 27 and August 3, 10, 24, 31 at 3:00PM: Meeting at the Community Room of Publix (at Whitesburg and Airport Road)

    • Philosophy Café – is taking a summer break and will resume in September.

    Event Details:

    • Our monthly meetings start with a presentation of a topic, followed by discussion of the topic. This month, let’s talk about the impact of the Greece, NY Supreme Court decision on Humanism. Here is an article:

      http://thehumanist.com/commentary/an-invocation-for-everyone-what-the-secular-invocation-in-greece-n-y-means-for-humanists

    • Book Club meeting topics and discussion are updated by email. If you wish to receive these messages, please provide the email address you want this information sent to. Thanks to our coordinators for taking this on!

    • Philosophy Café discussions are open to the public. Topics are selected by those present.

      Our events can be found

    • on our MeetUp group:

      http://www.meetup.com/Humanists-of-North-Alabama-Meetup/

    • on our FaceBook page:
      https://www.facebook.com/pages/Humanists-of-North-Alabama/258854664128349

    • on our web page:
      http://www.humanistsofnorthalabama.org/

      NEW: We are supporting a new MAAF (Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers) affiliate group to support the military and their families in the North Alabama chapter. MAAF Redstone is for active duty military, veterans, spouses and supportive civilians. Join the conversation on Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/MAAF-Redstone-Meetup/ or join the closed group on MAAF Redstone Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/305467142954231/

      Other community events:

      Want to have a good time and support Camp Quest Alabama at the same time! Save the date: Thursday, July 31 at the Space and Rocket Center – Biergarten Stein and Dine!! From the Facebook event:

      Create the largest gathering for science education and critical thinking in the TN Valey at this event (and there is food and beer!) – hope you all will come! MARK YOUR CALENDARs and INVITE your friends – nontheists and theists alike – it’s an opportunity to stand for science and education, teaching kids how to think, not what to think! FUNDRAISER FOR CAMP QUEST ALABAMA – July 31st 4-7PM at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center

      LearningQUEST is taking registration for the fall term at the Main Library Lobby from July 21st to July 24th from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm, or by mail. Information on Programs and how to register can be found here: http://lquest.org/

      (I signed up for “Interfaith Dialogue” and the “Moderate Manifesto”.)

      Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) often has classes of interest to Humanists. The fall term starts on 09/15/2014. Information on becoming a member and enrolling in classes can be found at http://www.uah.edu/pcs/olli. OLLI is always looking for new classes and instructors.

      NAFA: North Alabama Freethought Association
      (see their MeetUp page at http://www.meetup.com/thenafa/

    • 2nd Friday of each month at 6:30 PM – NAFA Movie night at Crestwood Women’s Center. Doors open at 6:30, movie starts at 7:00. Usually on the second Friday of each month.

    • Every Saturday at 10:00 am to noon – Coffee at Angel’s Island Coffee, 7538 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, AL

    • Every Sunday at 10:00 am to noon – Coffee at Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery, 347 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL

    • Every Monday at 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM – Coffee (and cheese-cake and other items) at The Foyer 600 Jordan Lane, suite 2, Huntsville, AL (north-east corner of Holmes and Jordan lane)

    PFLAG-Huntsville and GLBTAYS sponsors “Not Your Mama’s Craft Circle” on the first and third Thursday of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Our Space Community Center (2004 Poole St). Supportive members of the community are invited to bring their craft projects.

     

    If you received this email from a friend and want to be added to the distribution list, send an email to me at louise.hardin@gmail.com.

     

    Suggestions for events, meeting venues, topics are always welcome!

     

    Humanists of North Alabama is an official Chapter of the American Humanist Association.  Membership in the AHA is strongly encouraged!

     

    Louise Hardin

    256-683-8026

  • Monthly meeting, Sunday July 20 at 2 p.m.

    Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 PM: Monthly meeting and discussion at Crestwood Hospital Women’s Center, 185 Chateau Drive, Huntsville (off of Airport Road – statue of girl on bench in front)

  • Book club meetings for July

    Book Club meetings: Sunday, July 13, 20 and 27 at 3:00PM: Meeting at the Community Room of Publix (at Whitesburg and Airport Road)

  • Humanists of North Alabama News! 2014-7-10

    We had a great time talking to people about Humanism at Rocket City Pride! We hope to see some of our visitors at an upcoming meeting!

    Humanist Event Summary for July:

    • Book Club meetings: Sunday, July 13, 20 and 27 at 3:00PM: Meeting at the Community Room of Publix (at Whitesburg and Airport Road)

    • Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 PM: Monthly meeting and discussion at Crestwood Women’s Center, 185 Chateau Drive, Huntsville (off of Airport Road – statue of girl on bench in front)

    • Philosophy Café – is taking a summer break and will resume in September.

    Event Details:

    • Book Club meeting topics and discussion are updated by email. If you wish to receive these messages, please provide the email address you want this information sent to. Thanks to our coordinators for taking this on!

    • Philosophy Café discussions are open to the public. Topics are selected by those present.

    • Our monthly meetings start with a presentation of a topic, followed by discussion of the topic.

      Our events can be found

    • on our MeetUp group:

      http://www.meetup.com/Humanists-of-North-Alabama-Meetup/

    • on our FaceBook page:
      https://www.facebook.com/pages/Humanists-of-North-Alabama/258854664128349

    • on our web page:
      http://www.humanistsofnorthalabama.org/

      NEW: We are supporting a new MAAF (Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers) affiliate group to support the military and their families in the North Alabama area. An organizational meeting for MAAF-Redstone is scheduled for 6 PM on Tuesday, July 15 in the back room at Newk’s Express Café on University Drive in Huntsville. MAAF Redstone is for active duty military, veterans, spouses and supportive civilians. Join the conversation on Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/MAAF-Redstone-Meetup/ or join the closed group on MAAF Redstone Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/305467142954231/

      Other community events:

      Want to have a good time and support Camp Quest Alabama at the same time! Save the date: Thursday, July 31 at the Space and Rocket Center – Biergarten Stein and Dine!! From the Facebook event:

      Create the largest gathering for science education and critical thinking in the TN Valey at this event (and there is food and beer!) – hope you all will come! MARK YOUR CALENDARs and INVITE your friends – nontheists and theists alike – it’s an opportunity to stand for science and education, teaching kids how to think, not what to think! FUNDRAISER FOR CAMP QUEST ALABAMA – July 31st 4-7PM at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center

       

      Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) often has classes of interest to Humanists. The fall term starts on 09/15/2014. Information on becoming a member and enrolling in classes can be found at http://www.uah.edu/pcs/olli. OLLI is always looking for new classes and instructors.

      NAFA: North Alabama Freethought Association
      (see their MeetUp page at http://www.meetup.com/thenafa/

    • 2nd Friday of each month at 6:30 PM – NAFA Movie night at Crestwood Women’s Center. Doors open at 6:30, movie starts at 7:00. Usually on the second Friday of each month.

    • Every Saturday at 10:00 am to noon – Coffee at Angel’s Island Coffee, 7538 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, AL

    • Every Sunday at 10:00 am to noon – Coffee at Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery, 347 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL

    • Every Monday at 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM – Coffee (and cheese-cake and other items) at The Foyer 600 Jordan Lane, suite 2, Huntsville, AL (north-east corner of Holmes and Jordan lane)

    PFLAG-Huntsville and GLBTAYS sponsors “Not Your Mama’s Craft Circle” on the first and third Thursday of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Our Space Community Center (2004 Poole St). Supportive members of the community are invited to bring their craft projects.

     

    If you received this email from a friend and want to be added to the distribution list, send an email to me at louise.hardin@gmail.com.

     

    Suggestions for events, meeting venues, topics are always welcome!

     

    Humanists of North Alabama is an official Chapter of the American Humanist Association.  Membership in the AHA is strongly encouraged!

     

    Louise Hardin

    256-683-8026

    ————————————————————————————————————

  • Biergarten Stein and Dine – Thursday July 31, 2014

    MARK YOUR CALENDARs and INVITE your friends – nontheists and theists alike – it’s an opportunity to stand for science and education, teaching kids how to think, not what to think! FUNDRAISER FOR CAMP QUEST ALABAMA – July 31st 4-7PM at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Ten percent of proceeds go to the Camp Quest fund.

    NAFA_bier

  • Event summary May 26 – June 22 update

    Humanists of North Alabama News! 2014-05-25

    June 5-8 is the American Humanist Association annual conference in Philadelphia. For more information and to register, go to http://conference.americanhumanist.org/

    Humanist Event Summary for next month:

    • Monday, May 26 at 6:00 pm: Philosophy Café  – meets at Sam and Greg’s  119 North Side Square. Open discussion.

    • Book Club meetings: (“On the Nature of Things” by Lucretius as translated by Martin Ferguson Smith)

      • Sunday June 1, 8, and 22 at 3:00: Meeting at the Community Room of Publix (at Whitesburg and Airport Road)

      • Sunday, June 29 at 3:00 PM: meeting at the Bailey Cove Branch Library, 1409 Weatherly Plaza SE, Huntsville, AL (off of Bailey Cove south of Weatherly)

    •  Sunday, June 15 at 2:00 PM: Monthly meeting and discussion at Crestwood Women’s Center, 185 Chateau Drive, Huntsville (off of Airport Road – statue of girl on bench in front)

     

    June 22 is Huntsville’s Rocket City Pride! We will have a table from noon (set-up) to 5 PM (parade start).  Volunteers requested to man the table and give out information and stickers, and to march in the parade as a group.

    Our events can be found

    • on our MeetUp group:

      http://www.meetup.com/Humanists-of-North-Alabama-Meetup/

    • on our FaceBook page:
      https://www.facebook.com/pages/Humanists-of-North-Alabama/258854664128349

    • on our web page:
      http://www.humanistsofnorthalabama.org/

      Other community events:

      Want to have a good time and support Camp Quest Alabama at the same time! Save the date: Thursday, July 31 at the Space and Rocket Center. Details coming soon!

      NAFA: North Alabama Freethought Association
      (see their MeetUp page at http://www.meetup.com/thenafa/

    • 2nd Friday of each month at 6:30 PM – NAFA Movie night at Crestwood Women’s Center. Doors open at 6:30, movie starts at 7:00. Usually on the second Friday of each month.

    • Every Saturday at 10:00 am to noon – Coffee at Angel’s Island Coffee, 7538 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, AL

    • Every Sunday at 10:00 am to noon – Coffee at Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery, 347 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL

    • Every Monday at 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM – Coffee (and cheese-cake and other items) at The Foyer 600 Jordan Lane, suite 2, Huntsville, AL (north-east corner of Holmes and Jordan lane)

    PFLAG-Huntsville and GLBTAYS sponsors “Not Your Mama’s Craft Circle” on the first and third Thursday of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Our Space Community Center (2004 Poole St). Supportive members of the community are invited to bring their craft projects.

     

    If you received this email from a friend and want to be added to the distribution list, send an email to me at louise.hardin@gmail.com.

     

    Suggestions for events, meeting venues, topics are always welcome!

     

    Humanists of North Alabama is an official Chapter of the American Humanist Association.  Membership in the AHA is strongly encouraged!

     

    Louise Hardin

    256-683-8026

  • Events summary May 19 – June 22

    Humanists of North Alabama News!
    by Louise Hardin

    June 5-8 is the American Humanist Association annual conference in Philadelphia. For more information and to register, go to http://conference.americanhumanist.org/

    Humanist Event Summary for next month:

    • Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 PM: Monthly meeting and discussion at Crestwood Women’s Center, 185 Chateau Drive, Huntsville (off of Airport Road – statue of girl on bench in front)

      • There is no planned topic for this meeting – perhaps the loss of secularism by elected government officials.

    • Monday, May 26 at 6:00 pm: Philosophy Café  – meets at A Cup of Everything at 103 North Side Square in their upstairs Board Room. Open discussion.

    • Book Club meetings: (next book “On the Nature of Things” by Lucretius as translated by Martin Ferguson Smith)

      • Sunday, May 25th at 3:00 PM: meeting at the Bailey Cove Branch Library, 1409 Weatherly Plaza SE, Huntsville, AL (off of Bailey Cove south of Weatherly)

      • Sunday June 1, 8, and 22 at 3:00: Meeting at the Community Room of Publix (at Whitesburg and Airport Road)

    June 22 is Huntsville’s Rocket City Pride! We will have a table from noon (set-up) to 5 PM (parade start).  Volunteers requested to man the table and give out information and stickers, and to march in the parade as a group.

    Our events can be found

    • on our MeetUp group:

      http://www.meetup.com/Humanists-of-North-Alabama-Meetup/

    • on our FaceBook page:
      https://www.facebook.com/pages/Humanists-of-North-Alabama/258854664128349

    • on our web page:
      http://www.humanistsofnorthalabama.org/

    • Other community events:

      Want to have a good time and support Camp Quest Alabama at the same time! Save the date: Thursday, July 31 at the Space and Rocket Center. Details coming soon!

    • NAFA: North Alabama Freethought Association
      (see their MeetUp page at http://www.meetup.com/thenafa/

    • 2nd Friday of each month at 6:30 PM – NAFA Movie night at Crestwood Women’s Center. Doors open at 6:30, movie starts at 7:00. Usually on the second Friday of each month.

    • Every Saturday at 10:00 am to noon – Coffee at Angel’s Island Coffee, 7538 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, AL

    • Every Sunday at 10:00 am to noon – Coffee at Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery, 347 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL

    • Every Monday at 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM – Coffee (and cheese-cake and other items) at The Foyer 600 Jordan Lane, suite 2, Huntsville, AL (north-east corner of Holmes and Jordan lane)

    PFLAG-Huntsville and GLBTAYS sponsors “Not Your Mama’s Craft Circle” on the first and third Thursday of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Our Space Community Center (2004 Poole St). Supportive members of the community are invited to bring their craft projects.

     

    If you received this email from a friend and want to be added to the distribution list, send an email to me at louise.hardin@gmail.com.

     

    Suggestions for events, meeting venues, topics are always welcome!

  • Alabama Rally for Secular Government, Saturday, May 3rd, 1 p.m.

    On the steps of the Alabama State Capitol at Montgomery.

    Details: http://montgomeryfreethought.net/rally/

    (Travis Hardin)

  • Secular invocations program

    Humanist Group Launches Secular Invocations Program in Response to Supreme CourtRuling

     

    For Immediate Release

     

    Contact:

     

    Merrill Miller, merrillmiller@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 ext. 105

     

    Monica Miller, mmiller@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 ext. 120

     

    (Washington, DC, May 5, 2014)—In response to today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Town of Greece v. Galloway, which determined that legislative prayer does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, the American Humanist Association announced a new program that will provide resources for atheists and humanists to deliver secular invocations during legislative meetings.

     

    The Supreme Court’s ruling, authored by Justice Kennedy, makes clear that local governments must make “reasonable efforts to identify all of the congregations located within its borders” and welcome an invocation by anyone who wishes to give one, regardless of their faith. The majority decision also states that the policy must be one of nondiscrimination.  The opinion adds that the invocations must not “denigrate nonbelievers or religious minorities, threaten damnation, or preach conversion.”

     

    The Humanist Society, an adjunct of the American Humanist Association, just launched as a platform for humanists to be identified within local government borders so that they can offer secular invocations pursuant to a legislative prayer practice. The website provides sample secular invocations and an interactive map to find a humanist who can deliver an invocation in one’s local area. Though this is a new program, there are already 50 individuals approved to give secular invocations, and the program is actively seeking to bolster this number.

     

    “Non-religious people are often asked to contribute to a ceremonial event, but some struggle to find an alternative to religious wording,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “We want to make it easier for anyone who wants to give a secular invocation so that legislative meetings can be nondiscriminatory.”

     

    Monica Miller, attorney for the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center, said, “While we would have preferred the Supreme Court to rule against any kind of prayer during government meetings by overruling the 1983 Marsh v. Chambers decision, the Supreme Court’s ruling emphasizes that local governments must be inclusive in their prayer policies, meaning that humanists must be allowed to deliver secular invocations whenever a government allows citizens of other faiths to deliver prayers at its meetings.”

     

    ###

     

    Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, DC, the American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other non-religious Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming philosophy of humanism, which—without beliefs in any gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

     

    Special thanks to the Louis J. Appignani Foundation for their support of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.


    About the AHA

    The American Humanist Association, founded in 1941 and located in Washington DC, strives to bring about a progressive society where being “good without god” is an accepted way to live life. We accomplish this through our defense of civil liberties and secular governance, by our outreach to the growing number of people without religious belief, and through a continued refinement and advancement of the humanist worldview. Read more about the AHA here.

    American Humanist Association | 1777 T Street NW, Washington DC, 20009 | 800.837.3792 | If you no longer wish to receive e-mails from us, click here to unsubscribe | Privacy Policy

  • 2014 AHA Conference to be June 5-8 in Philadelphia

    http://conference.americanhumanist.org/

    See you in Philadelphia June 5-8, 2014.

  • The Storytelling of Science. Part 2 or 2 – Q&A. Lawrence Krauss and company. Youtube video.

    The Great Debate: The Storytelling of Science. 60 minutes

  • The Storytelling of Science part 1. Lawrence Krauss and company. Youtube video.

    The Great Debate: The Storytelling of Science 90 minutes

    • Sir Julian Huxley:

    "Today the god hypothesis has ceased to be scientifically tenable...and its abandonment often brings a deep sense of relief... Once our relief at jettisoning an outdated piece of ideological furniture is over, [then] we must construct something to take its place."