December 2013

The Morning After the Night Before

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David

I just came across this version of  “The Night Before Christmas” written as a parody and celebrating the Court decision of Kitzmiller v. Dover that established the unconstitutionality of teaching Intelligent Design (ID).  Josh Rosneau and Glenn Branch are with the National Center for Science Education.  I found this originally in an NPR.org article and the original was a Facebook post by the Center. Read more about The Morning After the Night Before »

The Humanist Celebrant Marriage Course

Posted on December 22, 2013 by David

A few years ago I had decided that I would like to apply to The Humanist Society, part of the American Humanist Association (AHA), to become a celebrant.  Celebrants officiate at public events that usher the participants from one role in society to another.  The most common of these are weddings and funerals, but may also include new-borns, or coming of age milestones or thresholds.  A Humanist Celebrant will officiate at these celebrations in a way that the participants’ humanity is celebrated without resorting to supernatural refer Read more about The Humanist Celebrant Marriage Course »

Humanism, Humanities, and Humanity

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David

To me, Humanism uses the Humanities to help Humanity.  (That’s an original as far as I know.)  With that definition, I would like to present two quotes from the humanities, history and literature, and use them together to try to develop some compassion for the vulnerables in our present-day society.

George Santayana, a philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist is quoted as saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  Read more about Humanism, Humanities, and Humanity »

An Interview with Spinoza on His Excommunication

Posted on December 19, 2013 by David

(The following is a combination of storytelling and a new genre called creative non-fiction.  Although the facts in the story are true and based on research, the dialogues and scenes are made up.)

An interview with Baruch Spinoza on his excommunication:

INTERVIEWER:  Bento, or do you prefer to be called Baruch, could you tell us your first thoughts when you heard about your excommunication? Read more about An Interview with Spinoza on His Excommunication »

Behind the Kitchen Door - Book Review

Posted on December 19, 2013 by David

Behind the Kitchen Door cover

Book Review:  “Behind the Kitchen Door “ by Saru Jayaraman

All of us are familiar with the “front” people at restaurants – those who take our orders, who serve us our meals, who pour our water for us, who serve us our wines and drinks, and tempt us with tasty tarts.  But do we really know them?  Even the waitstaff that know and recognize us as big tippers.  Do we really know them?  Probably not. Read more about Behind the Kitchen Door - Book Review »

Religion Taught at Harvard

Posted on December 12, 2013 by David

Myths and Legends

Back in 2010, Newsweek magazine had an article about Harvard University and religion courses.  It seems that there are certain professors who believe that for a person to be “well-educated”, they should understand how religions play such an important role in many societies.  However there are others who feel that religion should not be taught on the same level as science and other courses of higher learning. Read more about Religion Taught at Harvard »

Obama's Eulogy of Nelson Mandela

Posted on December 10, 2013 by David

Nelson Mandela

If you are like me, you can absorb and retain and assimilate much more by hearing and at the same time reading.  So here is a link to Obama's eulogy of Nelson Mandela and also a transcript.  (It's rather hard to hear amid all the cheering.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SggOsfjsL0c

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
AT MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN
PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA

  Read more about Obama's Eulogy of Nelson Mandela »

Sustainability and Humanism

Posted on December 10, 2013 by David

Sustainability Speres of Financial, Environmental, and Social

Back in 2009 I went for training at the United Nations Centre in Vienna, Austria.  This was to be certified in being a consultant for the United Nation’s Global Compact within the developing countries.  This was the only agency of the United Nations that is tasked with promoting businesses in the developing countries.  Developing Countries are those countries who are more economically stable than the Least Developed Countries, but are not at the level of the Most Developed Countries like the US.  Least Developed Countries is a preferred name to “Third World Countries” wh Read more about Sustainability and Humanism »

Idolatry and Blasphemy

Posted on December 10, 2013 by David

This morning, while lying in bed, I was thinking of writing a blog on Idolatry and Blasphemy.  I then was later reading some of the blogs on the Concord Area Humanists site and discovered to my surprise a blog post on blasphemy by Ellery.  This was a copy of an address he gave on Blasphemy Day, September 30, in 2012 at the Massachusetts Beirut Memorial.  If I weren’t a Humanist, I would have sworn that this was a sign from the realms of the supernatural to “Go forth and declare”.  (smile) Read more about Idolatry and Blasphemy »

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