Humanists of First Parish
&
Cape Cod
Most programs and lectures occur on the 4th Sunday of the month at 2PM
in the Parish Room at the First Parish Church in Brewster, MA.
Everyone is welcome so please join us for thoughtful stimulating programs.
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announcing a Forum Series - Is There Such a Thing as a "Just War?"
sponsored by: Humanists of First Parish and Cape Cod; Social Justice Ministry of First Parish Brewster.
place: First Parish Brewster Meeting House sanctuary; Sundays at 2:00 or 3:00; refreshments.
session 1: 2/26/12; 2:00; Introduction to Just War Theory and to Forum Series (Bob Marcus).
session 2: 3/25/12; 2:00; U.S. Involvement in World War II As Seen Through a ‘Just War’ Lens (Jack Barnard).
session 3: 4/22/12; 3:00; The U.S. Civil War As Seen Through a ‘Just War’ Lens (John Myers).
session 4: 5/20/12; 2:00; Group ‘Just War’ Analyses of War-like Scenarios (Margaret and Rob Moir).
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HUMANISTS OF FIRST PARISH AND CAPE COD
Annual Report
2009-2010
The Humanists of First Parish and Cape Cod met 5 times during this past year. Our meetings are on the 4th Sunday of the month at 2:00 PM in the Parish Room, and consist of an invited talk followed by a discussion.
Our first meeting was held on Sunday October 25 and was a talk by Howard Berkowitz: "Torture in Perspective". Mr. Berkowitz was trained as a strategic intelligence analyst during the Vietnam War, and has had a long career in computer networks that deal with a wide variety of national security systems.
On Sunday November 22 we has a talk by Ronal C. Madnick: "Some Important & Current Civil Rights Issues". Ronal Madnick is Director of the Worcester County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLUM), President of the Massachusetts Chapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, and is a member of the AU National Advisory Board.
On January 23, 2010, we deviated from our usual format with a showing of the film "Inherit the Wind", followed by pizza and discussion. This seemed to go over quite well.
On March 28, 2010, we had a talk by Chris Powicki: "Growing Renewable Energy: Technology Options for the Cape & Beyond". Mr. Powicki is an energy consultant and is president of the Cape & Islands Renewable Energy Collaborative.
Our last meeting of this season was on April 25, 2010, and was a talk by Jeff Klein: "The Struggle for Justice for Palestinians". Jeff Klein has a long history of political activism for peace and justice in Southeast Asia, Central America, Southern Africa, and in the Middle East.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Marcus, June 5, 2010.
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There are many enlightened and interesting speakers here on Cape Cod and we would like your input on helping us to find them. We encourage you to join our planning group.
Bob Marcus
President
508-945-0832
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HUMANISTS OF FIRST PARISH ANNUAL REPORT
2007 – 2008
The purpose of the Humanists of First Parish Brewster is to promote Humanism.
Humanism is a rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art and motivated by compassion.
It recognizes human beings as a part of nature and holds that values have their source in human nature, experience and culture. We promote our philosophy by holding lectures and forums throughout the year.
The Humanists of First Parish met seven times in the past year.
Our first program in early October featured old friend John Crosby who discussed his book
“The Flip Side of Godspeak, Theism as Constructed Reality.”
Later in October Tom Ferrick, retired Humanist Chaplin at Harvard spoke on
“Today’s Antagonists: Religious Enthusiasm and Embolded Atheism.”
On December 2nd we hosted presentations on the Wind Farm by Clean Power Now
and the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound.
Our first presentation in 2008 was by Ellery Schempp. His topic was “The Constitution and the Bible, Reflections on the Separation of Church and State.” Unfortunately attendance was curtailed by a snow storm, so we have asked Ellery to return this fall.
In late January a number of the Humanists and friends went to Cambridge and saw the play: Copenhagen” which detailed a 1941 meeting between the Danish Physicist Niels Bohr
and the German Physicist, Werner Heisenberg.
In late February we hosted Unitarian Minister, the Rev. Justin Osterman. His presentation was entitled
“A Cancer on Our Democracy: What I Saw in Guantanamo.”
Unfortunately, our March program was cancelled by the speaker.
In April we had a return engagement from Dr. Paul Gross,
former Director and President of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole.
His topic was “Evolution 101, All You Wanted to Know About Evolution and More.”
Our final program this spring was a panel discussion on the question: “What is a Christian?”
Panel members were:
Rev. Erik Wikstrom – Sr. Minister, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church,
Rev. Kent Morehead – Retired Minister, Orleans Methodist Church and
Rev. Larry Snow – Interim Minister, Wellfleet Methodist Church
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