http://bmorethical.org a humanistic religious fellowship Wed, 02 May 2012 01:04:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 a humanistic religious fellowship The Baltimore Ethical Society no a humanistic religious fellowship http://bmorethical.org/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/Congress_Hotel_Icon_Small_20100515.jpg http://bmorethical.org http://bmorethical.org/anniversary-banquet/ http://bmorethical.org/anniversary-banquet/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 00:06:20 +0000 wpadmin http://bmorethical.org/?p=1037 http://bmorethical.org/anniversary-banquet/feed/ 0 The Baltimore Ethical Society celebrated its 60th Anniversary with a banquet on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Four speakers addressed the society that evening. The speeches of three are offered here as a podcast.  First, Michael Franch, The Baltimore Ethical Society celebrated its 60th Anniversary with a banquet on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Four speakers addressed the society that evening. The speeches of three are offered here as a podcast.  First, Michael Franch, past Leader of the Baltimore Ethical Society and current associate minister at First Unitarian Church of Baltimore.  Second, Dale Adams, a long-time BES member who with her sister attended the initial Baltimore Ethical Society Sunday School. Her father, Roy Patterson, was a founding member of the Baltimore Ethical Society. Third, Diana Ulman, a past Society member who also attended the initial Sunday School.  Her father, Ken Milford, initially brought the Baltimore Ethical Society into being, later signing the Society's incorporation papers with Roy Patterson and Pell Kangas and becoming its first president. Hugh Taft-Morales, Leader of the Baltimore Ethical Society, introduces the other speakers.  He gave the evening's fourth speech, which is available in video. Listen to the podcast. The Baltimore Ethical Society no 39:44 http://bmorethical.org/pythagoras-and-dark-energy/ http://bmorethical.org/pythagoras-and-dark-energy/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:04:51 +0000 wpadmin http://bmorethical.org/?p=1001 http://bmorethical.org/pythagoras-and-dark-energy/feed/ 0 During the 6th to 4th centuries B.C., the Pythagoreans were a small secretive cult of ascetics who step-by-step discovered abstract mathematics. Their central metaphysical doctrine was that our natural surroundings are an incarnation of the logical arr... During the 6th to 4th centuries B.C., the Pythagoreans were a small secretive cult of ascetics who step-by-step discovered abstract mathematics. Their central metaphysical doctrine was that our natural surroundings are an incarnation of the logical arrangement of what they called “number.” This curiosity reached across the centuries to ignite the thinking of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, and others. Why did science refrain from pursuing theological issues and when and why did it begin to avoid metaphysical issues as well? Don Helm is a member of the Baltimore Ethical Society. Originally planning to major in classical Greek, Don was inspired by Pythagoras to switch his major to mathematics in his senior year of college. He holds an A.B. degree (cum laude) in mathematics from Amherst College, an M.Div. in theology from the Hartford Seminary, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in engineering from Cal in Berkeley and had a career with several institutions of scientific research and of higher learning. Further bio-information is available from Who’s Who in America. Listen to the podcast of this platform address delivered April 10, 2011: The Baltimore Ethical Society no 36:40 http://bmorethical.org/growing-up-humanist-framework-for-a-better-society/ http://bmorethical.org/growing-up-humanist-framework-for-a-better-society/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:45:47 +0000 wpadmin http://bmorethical.org/?p=975 http://bmorethical.org/growing-up-humanist-framework-for-a-better-society/feed/ 0 Young people in today’s American society face many challenges.  Tumultuous economic conditions, continued discrimination leveled against large segments of the population, and progressive climate change are all serious issues that we as a nation have fa... Young people in today’s American society face many challenges.  Tumultuous economic conditions, continued discrimination leveled against large segments of the population, and progressive climate change are all serious issues that we as a nation have failed to deal with effectively.  Can the current American moral framework, which seems lacking and foundationless, be cited as a source aggravating these problems?  Can Humanism provide the generation now entering adulthood effective solutions? Katherine “Kati” LaClair grew up in New Jersey, attending the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County in Maplewood for much of her childhood.  Two years ago, she graduated from Drew University in Madison, NJ, with a BA in neuroscience.  She then moved to Baltimore, where she is pursuing a PhD in cellular and molecular medicine at Johns Hopkins and currently studying the disease mechanisms of and therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease. Last November, LaClair, by then a regular visitor, joined the Baltimore Ethical Society.  She recently co-founded BES-Youth Action (BES-YA) to involve the next generation of Ethical Humanists in direct action with the Society and the larger community. Listen to the podcast of her platform address delivered April 8, 2012: The Baltimore Ethical Society no 21:00 http://bmorethical.org/apocalyptic-environmentalism/ http://bmorethical.org/apocalyptic-environmentalism/#comments Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:15:39 +0000 wpadmin http://bmorethical.org/?p=960 http://bmorethical.org/apocalyptic-environmentalism/feed/ 0 Many environmental activists warn that ignoring climate change is leading to dramatic ecological and humanitarian catastrophe. Some say we’ve already passed the tipping point – that rising sea levels and collapsed ecosystems will threaten our very surv... Many environmental activists warn that ignoring climate change is leading to dramatic ecological and humanitarian catastrophe. Some say we’ve already passed the tipping point – that rising sea levels and collapsed ecosystems will threaten our very survival. How do we process such challenging predictions? Do we take comfort in critics who denounce these activists as exaggerating Cassandras? Or has the horror of ecological apocalypse driven our species into nearly suicidal denial? What’s a humanist to do? Hugh Taft-Morales is the Leader of the Baltimore Ethical Society.  Listen to the podcast of his platform address, delivered on February 11, 2012. The Baltimore Ethical Society no 37:17 http://bmorethical.org/the-journey-through-atheism-to-humanism-ethical-culture-and-beyond/ http://bmorethical.org/the-journey-through-atheism-to-humanism-ethical-culture-and-beyond/#comments Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:38:43 +0000 wpadmin http://bmorethical.org/?p=726 http://bmorethical.org/the-journey-through-atheism-to-humanism-ethical-culture-and-beyond/feed/ 0 Peter Bishop, PhD, Member, Washington Ethical Society - Among those in attendance at the Baltimore Ethical Society, some might reply when asked what their religion is either “none” or “atheism” or the reply might be either “humanism” or “Ethical Cultu... Peter Bishop, PhD, Member, Washington Ethical Society Among those in attendance at the Baltimore Ethical Society, some might reply when asked what their religion is either “none” or “atheism” or the reply might be either “humanism” or “Ethical Culture.” Bishop will consider the philosophical journey through atheism, then on to humanism, and to Ethical Culture. The journey Bishop will lead us on will also show what might happen beyond these points resulting in an even more mature philosophical and religious outlook, one which BES members may find themselves comfortable describing as Ethical Culture. Peter Bishop received his PhD in Computer Science from MIT in 1977 and was one of the developers of object-oriented programming. During his successful 30-year software career, he played an active role in the humanist community. He now devotes his time to humanist philosophy and is Webmaster and Humanist Philosopher for the International Federation for Secular & Humanistic Judaism. He has authored the essay  "An Alternate View on the Relationship Between Science and Religion," a Sunday school course on the philosophy of humanism, and – with other Sunday school parents – a humanist songbook. Listen to the podcast. The Baltimore Ethical Society no 29:48 http://bmorethical.org/together-we-can-make-a-difference/ http://bmorethical.org/together-we-can-make-a-difference/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:41:45 +0000 wpadmin http://bmorethical.org/?p=672 http://bmorethical.org/together-we-can-make-a-difference/feed/ 0 Arnold Fishman spoke to the society about how he discovered Ethical Culture and how it has become an important part of his life.  He compares and contrasts Ethical Culture with mainstream religion and with secular humanism.  (October 16, Arnold Fishman spoke to the society about how he discovered Ethical Culture and how it has become an important part of his life.  He compares and contrasts Ethical Culture with mainstream religion and with secular humanism.  (October 16, 2011)  Listen to the podcast. The Baltimore Ethical Society no 39:21 http://bmorethical.org/african-migration-to-the-us-in-recent-times/ http://bmorethical.org/african-migration-to-the-us-in-recent-times/#comments Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:32:10 +0000 wpadmin http://bmorethical.org/?p=638 http://bmorethical.org/african-migration-to-the-us-in-recent-times/feed/ 0 Dr. Badru addressed the society on the topic of African migration and economic development.  Badru is a Professor and Acting Chair of Africana Studies at UMBC.  He described four waves of African migration, Dr. Badru addressed the society on the topic of African migration and economic development.  Badru is a Professor and Acting Chair of Africana Studies at UMBC.  He described four waves of African migration, which arose from different causes at different times, including slavery, political persecution and economic hardship.  He considered how western colonial powers promoted migration for their own goals, and how this continued into the Cold War era.  Globalization as promoted by the World Bank and the IMF have negatively impacted the developing economies of African nations, distorting production and trade patterns and devaluing currency in the interest of free trade.  Listen to the podcast of his talk. The Baltimore Ethical Society no 41:35 http://bmorethical.org/the-war-on-drugs-unintended-consequences/ http://bmorethical.org/the-war-on-drugs-unintended-consequences/#comments Sun, 03 Apr 2011 02:04:15 +0000 wpadmin http://bmorethical.org/?p=586 http://bmorethical.org/the-war-on-drugs-unintended-consequences/feed/ 0 Major Neill Franklin, Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, delivered a platform address titled "The War on Drugs -- Unintended Consequences" on April 3, 2011.  Continue to read a description of his talk and to listen to a podcast. Major Neill Franklin, Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, delivered a platform address titled "The War on Drugs -- Unintended Consequences" on April 3, 2011.  Continue to read a description of his talk and to listen to a podcast. The "War On Drugs" was designed and implemented in the early 1970s with goals to reduce death, crime, disease and addiction. Not only has it failed to accomplish any of these goals, but it has made some of these problems worse. Additionally, its unintended consequences include the prison-industrial complex, poisonous and dangerous products, accessibility of drugs to children, increased overdose deaths, increased rates of AIDS and hepatitis, and increases in crime, violence and murders. Major Franklin, a 34-year law enforcement veteran, retired from the Maryland State Police in 1999 after which he was recruited by the Baltimore Police Commissioner to reconstruct and command Baltimore’s Education and Training Division and was soon after promoted to Chief of Human Resources. In 2004 Major Franklin joined the Maryland Transit Administration Police Force from which he resigned on July 13, 2010 to become the executive director for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).   The Baltimore Ethical Society no 31:02