Discussion 10

About the Event

Meeting 10

Meeting Minutes for November 12, 1997; #10.

Rob Adamczyk, Howard Foster, Don Hansen, Charles LaRue, Charley Moore, Jeff Seaver.

Jeff has spoken to Charles Honey, religious editor of the G.R. Press, who would be open to items that we write. He suggested that they be topical essays, or current events. Jeff is considering an article dealing with Amway and religious conservatism. Honey said he may want to do a story about our skeptics group.

Jeff said that at his son’s school last night, he was elected to be the leader of the moral focus group. The prior leader was an ultra conservative, so Jeff’s election is a significant event.

Howard discussed true beliefs based on the True Believer by Eric Hoffer. He described why people join mass movements, some reasons being social and a desire for change. Howard also read from Unheavenly Discourses by Thomas Vernon. The chapter, “The Holier-Than-Thou Sindrome” describes how by emphasizing guilt, a big market can be created by those slick enough to exploit it. After getting people to accept their guilt, prayer is introduced to make them repentant and ashamed, and all this is turned into cash. Finally they begin to think that the sinners are out there and the group becomes self-righteous, generating more opportunities to keep the cash flowing.

Jeff finished reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It aroused him to deal with the issue of pride and contrary to what the Bible stated, why not be proud of our accomplishments and our talents. There is no rationality to being embarrassed by our achievements.

Rob, upon seeing a full moon recently, questioned why the Bible (or God) did not spell out the system of planets and stars in order to lend credibility to the creation event. Rob also presented an example of turning the other cheek which his older daughter, Heidi, attempted with an intimidating classmate, but discovered it did not work. Be being assertive herself, the antagonist turned around and became respectful of Heidi.

Charles expressed some of his and his family’s beliefs. A letter he had published in the Press will be shared with the group.

As a means to enlarge our group, it was decided to invite Lanette Grate, who published an essay in the Press last March critical of traditional religion.

Charley will make another contact with Duncan Littlefair to invite him as a guest.

It was decided to change our next meeting in order to avoid Thanksgiving Eve. We will meet on Tuesday, 11-25, at 7 p.m.