The True Meaning of the Holidays

Its the holiday season and in the midst of all the celebrations and trappings, there is real conversation about what exactly we're celebrating. The Holidays (Chanukah, Christmas, etc.) seem to encompass more than just religious people. For instance, a Gallop survey found that 93% of Americans celebrate the Christian holiday of Christmas, yet only about 81% of those respondents identified themselves as 'Christian.'

So, what are the Holidays all about? Have they become a secular experience, or are the Holidays still a religious phenomenon?

This holiday season, will you emphasize the religious elements of the season, or are you going to attempt to avoid religious trappings? A little bit of both, perhaps?

Join us this Wednesday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company as we attempt to learn from one another about the Holiday season!

Moral Humility

Below is a video from TED. It features psychologist Jonathon Haidt presenting evidence of five morals that we all share to differing degrees. The difference in the importance we place on these morals defines many of the great social, political, and religious debates of our time.

 

 Take a few minutes to explore your morality. Check out Haidt's site at http://www.yourmorals.org/ Where do you fall on the moral scale? Do you think of yourself that way?

 What do you think of his concept of 'moral humility'? Aren't morals supposed to be fiercely defended? Isn't moral humility just another form of apathy?

Join us this Wednesday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company as we explore morals!

Spiritual Leaders

In your faith journey, do you require a leader?

Certainly most people have family and friends that help them explore spirituality in a vibrant, dynamic way. However, these people are more like peers than leaders. So, what does it mean to be a spiritual leader and what affect do spiritual leaders have that are different than peers?

As culture continues to change, younger generations are more skeptical of those presenting themselves as leaders. Some of this is due to generational cynicism, but some of it is also due to a philosophical mindset. Leaders have less of a role. Pastors, rabbis, and other leaders are not automatically respected or obeyed by younger generations just because those people are proclaimed leaders.

So, what about you? What role do leaders play in your life? Are they integral?

Join us this Wednesday, 7pm for a conversation about leaders, peers and the role of spiritual guides.

Surviving the Darkest Moments

 What was the worst moment of your life? When was the world the darkest for you?

If you're reading this then you are either in the midst of your darkest valley, or you somehow found a way to survive. How were you able to make it through the pain and the trouble? What kept you going?

Join us this Thursday and help us discover a light in the darkness. We gather every Wednesday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company, downtown Bellaire, MI.

 image source: deviant art

Inner Demons and Better Angels

This week's topic comes to us via Barb:

 Steven Pinker has a new book out called The Better Angels of our Nature. He says human nature is a constant pull of good and evil. He identifies 5 inner demons: sadism, revenge, dominance, violence in pursuit of ideology and violence in pursuit of practical benefit. The 4 "better angels" are self-control, empathy, morality and reason. He says civilization has given good the upper hand and we are kinder and gentler beings. He says we reframe conflict as a problem to be solved with brains and not brawn and that is a good thing. He says our world looks bad because of the news and such but when compared to the past we are much more moral and kind to others.  

The following link will bring you to a video where Pinker gives a lecture at TED (about 20 minutes) where he gives evidence that as we advance in our societies, we are actually becoming more peaceful people. The violence and 'evil' of human beings are actually an illusory result of better reporting and more media exposure.

Steven Pinker on the myth of violence | Video on TED.com

So, what do you think? Are our better angels winning? Are we actually getting better? Is there a connection between the decline of religion and the advancement of peaceful societies?

Join us this Wednesday for a conversation about our inner demons and our better angels. We'll meet at Short's, 7pm!

unTapped Topic: Human Origins?

This week's conversation:


One of our sometime conversationalists put on his facebook status a quote from Napoleon (Bonaparte, not Dynamite): 

 ' All religions are made by men' 

I whole-heartedly agreed with the quote, but I think I came to a very different conclusion for what that quote practically meant for my life and spirituality. So, do you think that religion is a human-made institution or do you believe there is a divine impetus at the center of your faith? Does a belief in a human-based automatically make you a non-religious person? Are people who question the veracity of religions historical being overly skeptical or are their concerns legitimate inquiries?

Join us this WEDNESDAY, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire for a lively chat about faith origins and how they affect our paths. 

unTapped Reminder

UnTapped, at its core, is a weekly exercise for the ears. In the arena of faith, there are few places where it is safe to have a conversation with diverse perspectives. We are trying to make one of these safe places in our weekly conversation. We hope to establish a conversation where we can hear and learn from perspectives and experiences we would not otherwise hear about.


Our conversations are open and public. Open means that every perspective is welcome. Public means that we gather in a place that is not dedicated to any religious perspective at all. Instead, we gather at a great pub in a great town.  That way, if you don't like the subject matter, you can still enjoy this:

Thanks to everybody that has been a part of the conversation over the past several years. Cheers!