Discussion 9
About the Event
Discussion 9
Freethought Association of West Michigan
Meeting Minutes for October 29, 1997; #9.
Rob Adamczyk, Howard Foster, Don Hansen, Charles LaRue, Jeff Seaver.
Duncan Littlefair was unable to attend the meeting, originally scheduled for 10-30, so this meeting was held on the usual Wednesday. A future invitation to him will be on hold until we can review Charley Moore’s advice.
Jeff discussed a current book he is reading that has had a lot of fascination. It is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, A Russian- born American novelist, who defends capitalism and attacks government and other controls for inhibiting the self-interested individuals.
Christianity and Buddhism were compared and contrasted, and the group has consensus that an ethical society can exist without the overlay of religions as we know them. Reason has and can prevail. The Catholic church was singled out as historically not promoting the common good. Being judgmental toward religious improprieties is not inappropriate.
Books recommended for reading, in addition to the one Jeff reviewed above are as follows:
Howard – Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe. – The Arrogance of Faith by Forrest Wood. – True Believer by Eric Hoffer.
Charles – Some Mistakes of Moses by Robert G. Ingersoll.
It was decided to create an agenda for future meetings, with the following topics to be presented by the following:
True Believer by Howard for the 11-12 meeting.
At subsequent meetings the topics will be:
God and Constitution – by Rob. The Age of Reason – by Don. Moral Issues – by Jeff. Science and religion – by Charles.
