C-SPAN2 BookTV will be airing FFRF Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel’s recent debate “Does America Have a Christian Founding?” tonight at 6:30 p.m. Central. The actual debate took place September 11th against George Fox University Professor Mark David Hall at the University of Louisville McConnell Center and examined the role of religion in America’s founding, as well as its role in American government today. This is a great opportunity to hear Seidel — whose new book is The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American — correct the record on Christian nationalist propaganda about America’s so-called religious founding.
Moral Behavior in Animals:
Implications for Freethinkers
Charles Gessert will present the short film Moral Behavior in Animals. Then he will lead a discussion that includes ideas from the 2011 book The Bonobo and the Atheist. Both are the work of Franciscus “Frans” de Waal, a Dutch primatologist and ethologist, professor of Primate Behavior in the Department of Psychology at Emory University, and director of the Living Links Center at its Yerkes National Primate Research Center. Dr. de Waal is a member of both the United States National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has written numerous books on primate social behavior addressing issues such as conflict resolution, cooperation, inequity aversion, and food-sharing. Does this work mean we can explain and expect morality in humans without religion?
9:00 Coffee and Conversation 9:30 Breakfast Buffet Available 10:00 Formal Program Begins
Duluth Radisson Harborview
505 West Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 727-8981
Time to visit Canal Park again. On Wednesday, September 18th, freethinkers will gather to invade Little Angie’s at 5:30 pm. Join our host, Sue Anderson, for “Tex Mex and a wall of Tequila.” [Hey! Remember Loni Anderson from WKRP, which aired its first episode on September 18th of 1978? … well … no relation.] Share stories and hopes and dreams or just marinate in the joy of being surrounded by thoughtful people and Angie’s famous nachos. Where Canal Park Drive meets Buchanan Street—maybe park behind Bellisio’s.
Once again on Saturday, September 14th, we will gather at the home of Our Flounder, Dr. Bill van Druten. Please bring along something to share: maybe some food you’ve made or some “spirits” to enliven the conversation. The fun starts at 1:00 pm, rain or shine, at his lovely home: 2931 Greysolon Road in Duluth. Park anywhere on Greysolon Road but not on 30th Avenue.
The War on Women’s Reproductive Rights: Alive and Well in 2019!
Women’s reproductive rights continue to be under assault, especially in the current political climate. While Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land since 1973 numerous restrictions have been enacted across the country and access to abortion care is more limited than ever, especially for women with less financial and social supports. As the former executive director of the only abortion clinic in Minnesota outside the Twin Cities, our speaker will share her experiences and provide an update on the current state of reproductive health care in these times.
Tina Welsh served as the Executive Director of the Women’s Health Center in Duluth from 1981 until her retirement in 2009. She has been an activist in the reproductive rights movement since 1970. The Women’s Health Center became a catalyst for the acquisition and foundation of the Building for Women, which opened in 1995.
Prior to joining the WHC, Ms. Welsh worked for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota and was one of the “founding mothers” of PAVSA (the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault). She later served on the Board of Directors for PAVSA spanning a period of twenty years.
9:00 Coffee and Conversation
9:30 Breakfast Buffet Available
10:00 Formal Program Begins
Duluth Radisson Harborview
505 West Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 727-8981
THIS SATURDAY, once again, we will gather at the home of Our Flounder, Dr. Bill van Druten. It’s August 24th and time to bring along something to share: maybe some food you’ve made or some “spirits” to enliven the conversation. We’ll drink and snack and drink some more. The fun starts at 1:00 pm, rain or shine, at his lovely home: (2931 Greysolon Road in Duluth). Park anywhere on Greysolon Road but not on 30th Avenue! (218) 724-4176.
