Humanist Society of Santa Barbara
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Secular Humanism is a philosphy of life guided by reason and science, free from religious dogma, motivated by an appreciation of life and the life of others, seeking to reach goals of human happiness, personal freedom and growth with responsibility and understanding on this earth, in this life, at this time.
We meet at 3pm on the 3rd Saturday of each month at The Patio Room of Vista del Monte, 3775 Modoc Road, Santa Barbara. If you would like a copy of this bulletin mailed to a friend or someone you believe would be interested in our Society please drop a line to us with their name and address to P.O. Box 30232, Santa Barbara, CA 93130. |
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SOCIETY OF SANTA BARBARA OFFICERS 2003 - 2004 CHAIRMAN - Bob Perry 968-1951 bob.perry3@verizon.net SECRETARY - James Kimberly 969-9686 dr.doboy@cox.net EDITOR - Dick Cousineau 687-2371 rcous1geol@aol.com TREASURER - Ron Kronenberg 967-0883 seelberg@home.com PROGRAMS - Bea Duncan 964-3109 bfarwellduncan@cox.net SOCIAL DIRECTOR - Anne Rojas 564-6086 annehrojas@cox.net MEMBERSHIP - Mary Wilk 967-3045 mwilk@cox.net ARCHIVIST - Hope Smith 967-5143 hsmith1923@aol.com WEB MASTER - Colin Gordon 682-0545 colin3@juno.com MEMBER AT LARGE - Art Brody 692-8898 brodybiz@silcom.com MEMBER AT LARGE - Don Young 898-7000 donandjuan@worldnet.att.net PUBLICITY - Marian Shapiro 968-0478 marianshapiro@cox.net Please don't forget to bring canned foods and non-perishable goods to our regular Society meetings. These donations are given to the Crisis Shelter (Domestic Solutions) and they are well appreciated by the clients and staff. |
IN RETROSPECT August 16: Gordon Melton spoke on The Problematic Future of Religion in America. Dr. Melton, director of his Inst. for the Study of American Religion and author of the Encyclopedia of American Religion had obvious qualifications for his subject and answered numerous questions, from his "religious' point of view'. Very good and thought provoking. Sept. 20: WE are the speakers this month. Chairman Perry wants to get a picture of who we are, where we are going, and what actions, if any, we wish to take. This is a policy session: A good turnout is encouraged to showcase the ideas that concern and define us. October 18: Ellen Johnson, President of the American Atheists, in her only southern California appearance, will address "The Pledge", "The Ten Commandments", and Church/state separation. She will also be advocating activism in "Is Activism Right for You". A special reception will follow her talk. Nov. 15: The Voices of Reason, a choral group from Los Angeles has cancelled their scheduled appearance with us, but promise to be here at a later date. Stay tuned! We are pleased to acknowledge and welcome the following new newsletter subscriber to our Society: M.J.D. De Muller We hope M.J.D De M. will also come to our meetings and eventually join our society. (See the printed Newsletter for details - Webmaster.) |
Our September meeting will provide a forum for members to discuss, comment, debate and/or express their opinions about the possible future directions of the society as well as critique our various activities. It also will give the board insights upon which to make its decisions.
Before HSSB was founded there had been several other attempts to start a humanist or freethought group in Santa Barbara but they faltered when they were unable to continue attracting a sufficient number of new members. Keith Bailey succeeded in overcoming this problem in 1994 by going public with a series of one column ads featuring a picture of Robert Ingersoll and excerpts from his speeches and writings. (Copies of the ads are displayed on the information table) This history is relevant to us now as we seem to have leveled off at our present size. The growth we have experienced in the past two years is directly traceable to two factors. In 2001 Roger had succeeded in placing a story about the society in the News-Press that produced a number of new members, myself included. Then that summer HSSB sponsored a talk by William Edelen, who at the time had a weekly column in the opinion section of the News-Press, which drew a paying audience of 500 to the La Colina Jr. High auditorium and the membership soared. Since then we have slowly come to a halt. The question is "what do we do now?"
As the society grew from approximately fifty members in the year 2000 to the present one hundred and twenty five our basic structure has changed little. Where once most members knew each other by name and attended the monthly meetings, now less than one third of the membership (not counting board members and their spouses) are in the El Patio room on any third Saturday of the month. Of those present less than one third opt for the group dinner following the meeting. The same ratio also pertains to the monthly Sunday brunch. Now it may be that many of our members have other commitments at this day and time, or just don't like to go to meetings, or feel that paying their annual dues is sufficient support without being involved in these events, which are quite valid reasons for not attending. Still, the percentage of members represented would seem to be unusually high and even worse when compared to registered voters who don't go to the polls.
It is easy to speculate, but without input from the non-attendees themselves there is not much that can be done to create a situation or program that would attract broader participation. Thus I urge all members who possibly can to attend the September 2Oth meeting to help in the effort to find a consensus, if one exists, or at least highlight the variety of preferences that we have. However, if for any reason you cannot attend this meeting you can still participate by sending me an e-mail (bob.perry3@verizon.net), or using that antique communication device call me at 968-1951 with any comments or suggestions you might have about any or all aspects of the society. If I am not there when you call you can leave your message of up to four minutes on the answering machine. I will keep a note pad handy to record your sentiments and will relay all communications received to the board.
So, join the action. We will look forward to your response either in person or by mechanical proxy.
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Intellectual sabotage
A recent encounter at the University of Oregon with a respected friend provided a wealth of insight into some of civilization's most ancient controversies and carries hope for the enllghtenment of the local community. Unfortunately, my friend's appearance bore evidence of physical and psychological abuse. Dedicated to reason, my friend's character, which reflects 18 eminent atheist personalities' thoughts - including Sigmund Freud, Bertrand Russell, Sidney Hook, Kai Nielsen and Corliss Lamont - attract vehement abuse from that vast army of theist sycophants who regard wallowlng in ignorance a virtue. My friend, of course, is a book, "Critiques of God", edited and compiled by Peter Angeles (Prometheus Books, Buffalo, 1976). At publication it was the only anthology of the pbilosophy of religion exclusively presenting the case against "God's" existence. It contains masterful argumentation by scholars whose clear, concise essays demolish irrational theist claims. That it took 11 years for the University of Oregon Library to acquire this important book is an example of suppression of legitimate atheist argumentation in that library. A cause for continuing concern is the condition of the book's cover. A blank piece of paper hides the cover title, and the title on the spine is almost obliterated beneath the new, clear plastic binding. Thus vandalized there is virtually no chance the cover will attract the attention and interest of browsers. Surely the bookbinder could have easily remedied observed damage. Quality education at the UO is endangered so long as intellectual sabotage of this sort is allowed to persist. BERT TRYBA |
With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for
good people to do evil, that takes religion! Islamic leaders in Sudan have issued a fatwa on anyone who calls for the introduction of secular laws in the country. The call to kill politicians who propose non-Shariah legislation, published in the newspaper Akhbar Alyoum, comes against the backdrop of a debate on whether Khartoum should become a secular capital accommodating different creeds and beliefs. "Whoever approves or calls for application of a ruling other than the Islamic Shariah, like socialism or communism or other subversive beliefs that contradict
Islamic thought, is, frankly, an apostate," according to
the fatwa signed by 14 prominent scholars. Anyone who
puts other principles above the Koran should be persuaded otherwise, the fatwa continues. If this fails, they
should, of course, be killed. ENLIGHTENED AFGHANISTAN ... -"Left Behind" author Tim LaHaye in The Christian Science Monitor, 8/29/02 |
Dudley Duncan has come through again, with a site where you can while away many a Winter's evening. If you are concerned about the Separation of Church and State, as many of us humanists are, go to
The Contents page is right on when it claims "There is a lot of information on this site". The list of contents alone seems to go on for ever and the information stored here is exhaustive, if not exhausting. There is a list of ten Study Guides, some subdivided, covering such subjects as the History of the United States, the Pledge of Allegiance, School Vouchers and more. Each is a mine of useful information. The Roots of American Law gives a detailed history of US law and a review of the place that the Ten Commandments holds as a step in its development, while a section on State Constitutions reviews the sections of the constitutions of the Original Thirteen States (plus three more) dealing with religion. When you have digested that, try the page entitled "Webrings and Meetup". You will just have to go there to find out what that is all about, and while you are there don't forget so sign the Guest Book.