The Cowtown Humanist
The Official E-Mail Publication of the Humanists of Fort Worth
http://www.hofw.org;
E-mail: info@hofw.org
A chapter of the American Humanist Association,
and allied with the Council for Secular Humanism
December 2002; Volume 4, No. 9
E-Mailed Thursday November 28,
2002
___________________________________________________
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
We hope that you and yours are
preparing for a bountiful and enjoyable few days of eating, celebrating,
eating, feeling thankful, and eating. We hope you continue to enjoy the
pleasures of the holiday season.
NOVEMBER MEETING REPORT
The speaker for our November 13
meeting was Paul Boller, Professor Emeritus of History at TCU. Prof. Boller
talked initially about the "Faith of Our Fathers," how the true
political and spiritual beliefs of our nation's founders -- and their prior
experience with state-supported religion -- impelled them to ensure a
separation of church and state. He quickly moved to explain the origin of
Christian fundamentalism, and point out how Fundamentalists today are
dominating public policy. He traced Fundamentalism's phenomenal growth, and
illuminated its threat to reshape our government and our Constitution.
The diminutive, learned, and feisty Mr.
Boller, punctuated his presentation with witty quotes and anecdotal
recollections. With the assistance of our members' numerous questions and
knowledgeable remarks, he (and the audience) regaled recent administrations --
particularly those of Reagan and Bush-the-Elder -- as advancing the
Fundamentalist agenda. And that was before discussing the agenda of
Bush-the-Dubya and his Fundamentalist advisors and appointees.
Mr. Boller's knowledge was appreciated as
much as his humor. It was a good night for the 27 folks who participated in the
HOFW meeting.
NEXT MEETING: A PARTY
The December meeting will give way to a
rare social event, a "getting-to-know-you" Solstice party. It will be
held on our regular meeting night, the 2nd Wednesday of the month, December 11,
2002.
The association will furnish roast turkey
and spiral-cut ham. Dolores Ruhs will bring some pumpkin bread, and do the
coordinating. Others are requested to bring a covered dish (or other container)
of food, but are requested to let Dolores know what it is (so she can keep us
from having 20 dishes of beans, and no corn bread).
We hope that YOU will join us.
Contact Dolores (our treasurer) at the
address, phone, or e-mail address shown in the "Officers" section,
below.
“What is Humanism Anyway?”
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Several articles in the fall issue of
Free Inquiry, which is published by the Council for Secular Humanism, shed some
light on one aspect of this question: the difference between Secular Humanism
and Religious Humanism. This in turn relates to the question of what is a
“religion”.
In the view of these authors, the use of
the word "religious" implies a belief in the supernatural, which of
course, they reject. The Council for Secular Humanism draws a clear distinction
in this regard between itself and the American Humanist Association.
I am sure we have Humanists of Fort Worth
members in both the religious and the secular camps, which might make for an
interesting discussion topic at a future meeting.
The religious versus secular humanism
issue is also particularly relevant at this time because both of the national
Humanist organizations have made proposals for a closer association with our
local group.
I believe we should try to reach a
decision on whether or not to accept either of these offers by the end of our
fiscal year in March. -- Mike Haney
YOUR OFFICERS, AND HOW TO REACH THEM
Chairman: Mike Haney, 924 Roaring
Springs Rd., Fort Worth 76114; Ph. 817-737-7047;
mhaneyinfw@charter.net
Vice Chair and Newsletter Editor:
Wallace Harrison, 4163 Sarita Dr., Fort Worth 76109;
817-923-4698; w.s.harri@att.net
Secretary: Reed Bilz, 6316 Walburn
Ct., Fort Worth 76133; 817-292-7974, rbilz@earthlink.net
Treasurer: Dolores Ruhs, 1036
Hilltop Pass, Benbrook 76126-3848; 817-249-1829,
ruhsd@myexcel.com
Immed. Past Chair: Shane Taylor,
3922 Rawlins, #113, Dallas 75219; 214-526-8258;
s-t-t@juno.com
Past President and Programs Director:
Jeff Rodriguez, 4901 Bryce Ave., #5, Fort Worth TX 76102; 817-732-4235;
jeff@appifw.org
Past President and Webmaster:
Russell Elleven, 6120 Comfort Dr., Fort Worth TX 76132; 817-370-2171;
info@hofw.org
Bulletin Board
HOFW REMINDER
Mark your calendar: The Humanists of
Fort Worth will hold it's "annual" holiday party Wednesday, December
11, 2002 at the Westside Unitarian Universalist Church at 6901 McCart Ave., Suite
125, Fort Worth. The festivities will begin at 6:30 PM.
ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY BAZAAR
On two consecutive weekends at two
different locations in Fort Worth in December, a variety of organizations will
offer the 11th Annual Alternative Holiday Bazaar for what they bill as
"socially responsible holiday shopping."
What's available at the numerous booths
include arts & crafts, books (including cook books), calendars, housewares,
games, toys, jewelry, and clothing from Central America. Food will be provided
by the Fort Worth Vegetarian Society.
Participating will be such sponsoring
organizations/causes as: Buddhist Global Bazaar, Catholic Charities Work of
Human Hands, Fort Worth Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Green Party,
Peace Action, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and Unity Church.
Other Vendors include: Amnesty
International, Colores del Pueblo, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project, Peace
Farm, and Sierra Club.
It will be held Saturday and Sunday,
December 7-8, at the Unity Church of Fort Worth, 5051 Trail Lake Dr. (76133).
The following weekend (Dec. 14-15) it will
be at the First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church at 1959 Sandy Lane
(76112).
The Saturday times at both locations will
be 10 AM-5 PM. (They will also be open from 6:30-8:30 PM on Dec. 14, in
conjunction with Jefferson Freedom Cafe.) The Sunday hours are noon 'til 3 PM.
INFIDELS' BASH HOLIDAY PARTY 2002
(The following information was provided by Shelly Hattan)
Metroplex Atheists will be holding its 5th
annual holiday "Infidels' Bash" party on Sunday, December 15th at
Dick Hogan's infamous "party barn" in Weatherford. We welcome
atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, humanists, wiccans, Unitarians, Quakers,
candle-lighting new-age nuts, or anyone else who's ever been considered part of
the Great Satanic Conspiracy.
The address is: 101 Woodland Trail,
Weatherford, TX 76082
If you need a map or point-to-point
directions, enter the above address into www.mapquest.com. If you get really lost, Dick's cell-phone
number is (817) 825-0213.
We'll meet around noon and disband
whenever we get done. The plans for the courthouse sign are up in the air,
because the courthouse is under construction. We've already got at least one
permit, so we'll play it by ear.
Children are welcome, but be aware that
alcohol and irreverence will be plentiful.
BYOB. If you're interested in bringing
chips or munchies, contact director@metroplexatheists.org to see what we need.
We are also having a gift exchange. We ask
that the gift stay under $10 and is wrapped and unlabeled.