The Religious Right’s War on Sex—and Democracy

Dr. Marty Klein

April 29, 2012

  Sex and religion are constantly in the news this election year—typically in ways quite aggravating to humanists. With razor-sharp wit and 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Marty Klein will analyze the news, describing what he calls America’s War On Sex (www.WarOnSex.com). “The Religious Right is using the issue of sexual regulation to undermine secular democracy,” he says. “Its War On Sex uses phony categories, dangerism, and a broad Sexual Disaster Industry. It is successfully re-conceptualizing private sexual expression into public behavior, which is therefore subject to public control.” The subject of sexuality is currently missing from much of humanist thought. But a humanist approach to sexuality, says Dr. Klein, would address people’s fear of their own–and others’–sexuality without supporting their ignorance, superstition, narrow categories, and anxiety about not being “normal.” What a great way to attract people to humanism, he says—and what a great way to make supernatural religion obsolete. Dr. Marty Klein is a Palo Alto-based psychotherapist, sex therapist, and international lecturer in sexuality and public policy. He has been an expert witness or invited plaintiff in many important state and federal obscenity and anti-censorship cases. His landmark book America’s War On Sex, with a foreword by the ACLU’s Nadine Strossen, was honored as Book of the Year by AASECT, and will be re-released on April 30. Join us for a creative, thought-provoking, and entertaining talk.

Globalization, an Ironic Economic Theory, and Time and Money

Martin Squibbs

April 22, 2012

This presentation will contain ideas that longtime Humanist Community member Martin Squibbs has developed from the presentations on “Values and Wealth” and “Money”, that he gave respectively in November 2011 and January 2012. Firstly, he will discuss globalization, and how we might differentiate its meaning into material and human categories in order to discuss the subject more intelligently and more usefully (from the point of view of looking forward to a better future). Secondly, he will present and discuss a model of the US economic system which may extend to many other economic systems and which may offer some ironic connections between government debt and stock market valuation. Finally, if time allows, he has some additional thoughts on time and money.

View the slides here.
 

More Militarism and War = More Guns But Little Butter

Michael Eisenscher

April 15, 2012

Sunday April 15, 2012 Michael Eisenscher will discuss the economic consequences of a militarized foreign policy and economy. He will describe how a decade of militarism and war has contributed to the economic crisis and how continuing to prosecute the “war on terror” will prolong and deepen that crisis, while actually undermining national security. He will report on the emerging Bay Area and national movement for “new priorities” – which seeks to redirect revenue from the bloated military budget to create jobs, repair the social safety net, protect the environment and meet a host of other urgent social needs – and will suggest what is required for a transition to a peace economy.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2012-04-15): More Militarism and War = More Guns But Little Butter (Michael Eisenscher) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

Peace Building from the Personal to a U.S. Department of Peace

Lorraine Norby

April 8, 2012

Lorraine Norby from the Northern California Campaign for a Department of Peace will discuss their efforts to advance peace in our country.

 
 
 
 
 

Humanist Community Forum (2012-04-08): Peace Building from the Personal to a U.S. Department of Peace (Lorraine Norby) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

World Peace Education Project

April 1, 2012

Many diverse ideas related to the goal of world peace and security, free of nuclear weapons, have been proposed in   numerous books and articles. But what ideas have national governments already agreed to? And what progress have they made so far? Using information from the United Nations and national governments related to this goal, Humanists Tim Lee,  Alex Havasy, Sena Havasy, Dianne Jacobsen, and Bob Gauntt will discuss the World Peace Education Project (founded by Bob in 2010 — see www.WorldPeaceEd.org) aimed at increasing public awareness of these issues.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2012-04-01): World Peace Education Project from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.