Rationalists of East Tennessee Newsletter

May 2025

May 4 First Sunday Meeting (in Person)

May 4, 2025 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Pellissippi State, Hardin Valley, Goins Bldg Cafeteria Annex

Today's presentation will be a joint event by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation-East Tennessee Chapter. AU's Knoxville Branch of the Nashville Chapter's Edward Sullivan (Sully) and FFRF-East Tennessee Chapter's Aleta Ledendecker will be presenting on State/Church separation issues and what individuals can do in today's climate.

Coffee and other beverages will be available and you can bring a snack to share if you wish.

Topic: RET First Sunday In-Person Meeting

Time: May 4, 2025 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86597239641?pwd=YZB6lKUp1CILaeOzlvyD4rIiyUl7Nu.1

Meeting ID: 865 9723 9641

Passcode: 790864

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/ksoCQH3T4

Blount County First Wednesday Social

Wednesday, May 7, 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Come join us at "The Bird and The Book" Cafe, 1509 E Broadway Ave, Maryville, for socializing and dinner.

If you have any extra copies of Free Inquiry, Skeptical Inquirer, Freethought Today, or other Freethought magazines, bring them to the social. We will try to have RET stickers ready to place over your addresses to make the magazines suitable for distribution for outreach.

This will be a monthly event, normally on the First Wednesday. All are welcome to join in.

RET Skeptic Book Club

May 11, 2025 Sunday 4:00 – 6:00 pm EST

Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81864194816?pwd=hWb8kNsXPbMgmap9CsMb0bj725SOJR.1

Animal Liberation NOW

Peter Singer

Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed

Peter Singer

Few books maintain their relevance – and have remained continuously in print – nearly 50 years after they were first published. Animal Liberation, one of TIME’s “All-Time 100 Best Non-Fiction Books” is one such book. Since its original publication in 1975, this groundbreaking work has awakened millions of people to the existence of "speciesism"—our systematic disregard of nonhuman animals—inspiring a worldwide movement to transform our attitudes to animals and eliminate the cruelty we inflict on them. In Animal Liberation Now, Singer exposes the chilling realities of today's "factory farms" and product-testing procedures, destroying the spurious justifications behind them and showing us just how woefully we have been misled. Now, for the first time since its original publication, Singer returns to the major arguments and examples and brings us to the current moment. This edition, revised from top to bottom, covers important reforms in the European Union, and now in various U.S. states. But on the flip side, Singer shows us the impact of the huge expansion of factory farming due to the exploding demand for animal products in China. Further, meat consumption is taking a toll on the environment, and factory farms pose a profound risk for spreading new viruses even worse than COVID-19. Animal Liberation Now includes alternatives to what has become a profound environmental and social as well as moral issue. An important and persuasive appeal to conscience, fairness, decency, and justice, it is essential reading for the supporter and the skeptic alike. 368 pages.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81864194816?pwd=hWb8kNsXPbMgmap9CsMb0bj725SOJR.1

Meeting ID: 818 6419 4816

Passcode: 871720

Third Sunday Zoom Meeting

When 05/18/2025
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

This will be a bring your own topic meeting with a focus on Christian Nationalism. There is so much happening in relation to the implementation of Project 2025 that there is much to discuss.

Bring your own coffee and snacks, too.

Keep in mind that the Americans United will be having a screening of "Bad Faith" on May 21, 6:00 PM at Central Cinema, 1205 N Central St, Knoxville, TN. Our discussion will be a good tie-in to that event.

Topic: RET Third Sunday Zoom Meeting

Time: May 18, 2025 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87145515031?pwd=BCThpa7pGluFd8MulCwN6aV4MFdIah.1

Meeting ID: 871 4551 5031

Passcode: 617981

Fourth Sunday Reflections

May 25, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Zoom meeting

Are We Moving Toward a New Western Civilization?

As you have noticed, there has been a rightward leaning in western elections in the past decade. Is this a move from a multicultural globalism world view back to a more western centered one?

"Western civilization, which rejects the notion of one global civilization and instead focuses on prioritizing Western interests, brings with it a set of values that includes individualism, Christian social thought, and representative — though not necessarily liberal or progressive — democracy. It has been a cause célèbre for right-populists since the beginning of their surge."

In rightwing circles there is much talk about saving civilization and promoting western rather than progressive or global values. They see western civilization as extending back thousands of years and being a major driver in advancement of the world. After all they point out, many of the civilizations that are part of the globalization effect had a multi thousand-year head start yet failed to develop the large-scale democratic institutions and efficient market economies.

Liberal democracy is the current default, but it is under assault by an angry populist movement. Many in the west feel that they have made sacrifices in their culture and jobs for societies do not represent their values and are unfairly benefiting. In addition, if these global values are so great, why the constant turmoil, wars, and desire to immigrate to western countries?

Their belief:

"Making the West great again will not just aid populists politically. It will do something more important: Inspire Westerners on both sides of the Atlantic for decades to come. Youth throughout America and Europe, instead of being told they are members of a paradisical global society, will be brought up understanding they are part of an ancient and storied civilization. The countries which make up that civilization will have disagreements. But like a family, they will understand that they all share one common, civilizational home."

For more:

Opinion | Populists Are Gaining Power and Keeping It. What Comes Next? - POLITICO

Come join us for a discussion about the next direction of civilization.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82683733956?pwd=MyFb4avzAe2YtoKCsH8OapH38pc7YJ.1

Meeting ID: 826 8373 3956

Passcode: 901625

Knox County Fourth Wednesday Social

Wednesday, May 28, 6:00 - 7:30 pm

We will have a Knox County Social on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Our get-together will be on May 28 this month at:

Kern's Food Hall

2110 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920

Kern's Food Hall is a vibrant food and drink destination that offers a diverse range of culinary experiences.

Come join fellow freethinkers for lively discussion around a light meal. Everyone is welcome!

This will be a monthly event on the Fourth Wednesday.

RET Special Event

RET will be participating in the Farragut July 4 Parade. We need people to walk the 1.3 mile course to help make our group more visible. Put the date on your calendar for this fun event. Be ready to wear any secular t-shirt you would like. If you are interested in participating, please let us know at info@rationalists.org. Once we have your name, we can give you particulars about where to meet and when. We will be sporting a Flying Spaghetti Monster as part of the festivities.

Flying Spaghetti Monster Build Party

Saturday, May 31, 5:00 PM at the Ledendecker’s

This will be a spaghetti-themed pot-luck during which we will be making a model of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to carry in the July 4 Parade. BYOB. Please RSVP at secretary@rationalists.org. This will help us in planning. Also, if you don’t know the address, this is how you can get it.

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State

Knoxville Events in May

Americans United is tabling at two events in Knoxville in May. First, they will be at Vestival on May 10 and then at Holleroo on May 17. They could use some help with tabling. Any RET members who participate are welcome to hand out RET brochures, as well. Brochures will be available at the May 4 in-person meeting.

Join Americans United for Separation of Church and State for a FREE screening of Bad Faith at Central Cinema on Wednesday, May 21, at 6 pm. This urgent documentary explores the dangerous rise of Christian Nationalism in the United States.

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Copyright © 2020 {Rationalists of East Tennessee, Inc.}. All rights reserved. Please request use of any material at contact below.
Contact email: info@rationalists.org
Edited by Sharron King: newsletter@rationalists.org.
Opinions expressed are those of authors and/or editors and are not necessarily the opinions of RET