Humanists of MN

We meet at the gas station located in the southeast corner at the intersection of Interstate 35W and Highway 23 (right turn from 35W northbound). This is the last exit on 35W going north before it joins 35E, and is about nine miles north of 35W and I-694. I will bring the trash bags and orange vests, so all you need is appropriate clothing and shoes and possibly sunscreen and insect repellent. We are usually finished by noon and most of us get together for lunch and good conversation at a nearby restaurant.

A big turnout means we finish sooner and have more chance to socialize, so we hope many of you will be able to join us this time. This is a great opportunity to show Humanists at work on behalf of the community. If you have questions, contact David Beardsley at (952) 927-4193 or beardsley [at] belleplaine [dot] k12 [dot] mn [dot] us.

Facilitated by Ron Scribner

Lake Nokomis Community Center
2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55417

We will investigate and uncover the principles behind Humanism. With the aid of others such as Fred Edwords of the American Humanist Association (on DVD), we will investigate a prescriptive recommendation about how to use the term Humanism. This will include four main characteristics:

1. a method of inquiry
2. a cosmic world view
3. a concrete set of ethical recommendations for each individual's life stance
4. a main political stance, that is, separation of church and state

Following the ‘disrobing’ of the term Humanism, the group will split up into groups of near equal number and discuss the above points of what it means to be a Humanist.

Following the discussion we will evaluate this year's topics and suggest topics for next year's meetings. Come with your ideas!

Jennifer Tuder, Assistant Professor, St. Cloud State University

Lake Nokomis Community Center
2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55417

Jennifer Tuder explores the role of sexuality in identity through her experiences with sexual “outsiders.” Combining memoir, theory and performance, this presentation confronts personal and cultural fears about sexuality and identity. (This is a reprise of her solo performance at the 2007 Minnesota Fringe Festival.)

An Evening with Susan Jacoby

Registration Deadline! April 2 12:00 Noon

We must have a headcount by 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, April 2. If you haven't registered, please call Ron Scribner (952 884 5755) before the registration deadline to arrange payment.

Registration & Payment Form

DoubleTree Hotel
1500 Park Place Blvd
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
952-542-8600

• Social Hour: 5 PM
• Dinner: 6 PM
• Program: 7 PM

The Humanists of Minnesota are proud to announce that Susan Jacoby will be the featured speaker at this year’s annual banquet. Jacoby is the program director of the Center for Inquiry – New York City, a rationalist think tank, and a regular panelist for On Faith, a web site sponsored by The Washington Post and Newsweek. She also has her own political blog, The Secularist’s Corner on the web site of The Washington Post.

David Paxson, President, World Population Balance

Lake Nokomis Community Center
2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55417

David Paxson is a national leader on the issue of population stabilization and humane reduction. He has participated at international meetings—including the United Nations Population Conference in Egypt in 1994—and he has spoken to groups across the United States.

He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Economics and a concentration in Environmental Education and Policy. He worked at the Center for Population Studies at the University of Minnesota.

In 1991 David retired from the financial field and founded World Population Balance. Members of the World Population Balance Board of Advisors include: Dr. Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace laureate and "father" of the Green Revolution; Sister Mary Zirbes, retired from the Office of Social Justice of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul; Dr. Tom Hale, medical missionary in Nepal since 1970, and William Milliken, former Governor of Michigan.

Lori Lipman Brown, Executive Director, Secular Coalition for America

Lake Nokomis Community Center
2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55417

Lake Nokomis Community Center
2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55417

We will view a video of Dr. John E. Finn, professor of government at Wesleyan University, where he has taught for more than 20 years. He is a coauthor of American Constitutional Law: Essays, Cases, and Comparative Notes and an internationally recognized expert on constitutional law and political violence.

We've heard many debates on “Does God exist?” The
more penetrating question striking at the heart of
Christians who seek to legislatively impose their dogma
on America is: Did Jesus exist? Based on the ever-
growing body of evidence, what are the probabilities for
Jesus's existence? Our speaker explains why an objective
consideration of these questions would lead one to
conclude the probabilities are very remote, why the Bible
is an unreliable guide and why recent archaeological
research in Nazareth is so devastating to the Jesus story.

Thursday, Nov. 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m. – “To Believe or Not to Believe” – a debate between Humanists of Minnesota board member August Berkshire and Northwestern College theology professor Ronn Johnson. One hour of debate followed by one hour of questions from the audience.

Topics to be discussed include the burden of proof, the universe, life, morality/ethics, the problem of evil, and afterlife.