Volume 2, No. 04 webalias.com/humanism July 2000

Dr. Daryl Schmidt of the TCU Religion Department joins us for the July 12^th meeting.

Dr. Schmidt is the Chair of the TCU Religion Department and is a member of the Jesus Seminar. We read from the Jesus Seminar website:

"The Jesus Seminar was organized under the auspices of the Westar Institute to renew the quest of the historical Jesus and to report the results of its research to more than a handful of gospel specialists. At its inception in 1985, thirty scholars took up the challenge. Eventually more than two hundred professionally trained specialists, called Fellows, joined the group. The Seminar meets twice a year to debate technical papers that have been prepared and circulated in advance. At the close of debate on each agenda item, Fellows of the Seminar vote, using colored beads to indicate the degree of authenticity of Jesus' words or deeds. Dropping colored beads into a box has become a trademark of the Seminar."

Our June 14^th meeting featured Kenneth and Lois Robison. They shared how the death penalty affected their lives. Their son was recently put to death by lethal injection.

After the presentation there was an opportunity to sign a death penalty moratorium. Signatures were sent to the governor’s office, state senators, and others.

We are very excited to announce that the Adopt a Street sign has been erected on Granbury Road. Jeff Rodriguez should have additional information for us at the meeting on the 12^th.

We should begin to think about a date in September to do our first of four cleanings. Saturday mornings will probably work best. We will take a vote for the date at our meeting.

Your editor of this grand publication has been vacationing in Colorado and has just returned. I have begun to work through the 346 e-mails that accumulated in my absence.

If you have e-mailed me recently it might be a short while before I am able to reply.

SPEAKERS YOU WANT TO HEAR!!!

If You have speakers you would like to see at our monthly meetings please let one of the officers know of your request. Without your input we will continue to make these decisions for you J

WHO: Humanists of Ft. Worth

WHAT: Monthly Meeting

WHERE: First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church

WHEN: Second Wednesday of Each Month - 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Our speaker next month will discuss the SMART recovery group possibilities for Ft. Worth. We can sponsor a SMART Recovery Group. SMART Recovery benefits non-theists in abstaining from alcohol through a rational basis. It would be wonderful to have one of our members coordinate this program! For more information please contact Russell Elleven (see contact info under "Rites of Passage"). There is a great deal of information and support available for this project.

My name is Micah White (Swarthmore College class of 2004), and I am the newly- elected Campus Freethought Alliance President. Many of you may have heard of me before, but for those who haven't I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and talk about some of the goals I have for the CFA this year. I first got involved in the "Atheist Movement" two years ago when I started a high school Atheist Club in Michigan. Forming the club was no easy task and I ended up enlisting the support of Americans United for Separation of Church and State as my lawyers. I won't rehash the entire story here but if you'd like to read more jump over to my high school club's website - http://atheistclub.cjb.net.

Starting an Atheist club taught me two lessons. First, it taught me that running a club is extremely hard, both because of the lack of funds and simply because it takes some great ideas and materials to sustain the club's membership. The second thing I learned is that there is a whole community of individuals who are willing to help. You just need to know who to talk to.

This year's CFA is to going help with both of those two problems. We are focused on bringing you all of the help you need. Whether it be a speaker, a debater, money for an event, books, or merchandise - the CFA is here to help.

Every group will be receiving a package early in the school year with some samples of the materials we can provide. If you'd like anything before then or simply have a question or suggestion, don't hesitate to contact me or any of the CFA EC members. It's important to realize that the CFA is serving you and your organization. Therefore, we rely on your input.

I'm excited about this year, and I believe that it will be the best year the CFA has ever seen.

Sincerely yours,

Micah White

CFA President

Swarthmore College '04

First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church is located at 1959 Sandy Lane between Meadowbrook drive and Brentwood Stair Road. Anyone needing assistance to the meeting should contact Russell.

Humanists of Ft. Worth are encouraged to join the American Humanist Association. A special introductory membership rate of $25 is now available. The Humanist magazine and Free Mind newsletter are benefits of membership.

Think about sharing your ideas about humanism with the readers of The Cowtown Humanist. No doubt we all have opinions we’d like to let others know about…do it in your newsletter

Russell Elleven

Jeff Rodriguez

Bruce Berggren

Joel Bailey

Time: 6:30 pm

Dates: 2nd Sunday of each month

Location: Westside UU Church

Leader: Dick Trice (446-3840)

This group follows the Great Books format of advance reading of a selection and discussion at the meeting. Discussion is varied and lively. Participants include Cowtown Humanist members and others from the community. Newcomer’s are welcome to "sit in" before making the commitment to purchase materials.

Russell Elleven is certified as a Humanist minister by the Humanist Society of Friends. He can officiate weddings, commitment ceremonies, naming ceremonies, and other life celebrating events. He is also available during periods of grief and to officiate memorial services.

817.370.2171 – hm

817.257.7870 – wk