• OPEN DISCUSSION - For the first 30 minutes of the Thursday night forums we will have informal open discussion. This will allow for late arrivals, food & drink ordering, and new attendees to become acclimated.
• ANNOUNCEMENTS - Any events, news, or other items that you feel are of interest to the group can be announced at the start of Free Inquiry Forum.

TOPICS for Thursday (2/24/05) & Monday (2/28/05):

1. Recycling became mandatory Jan. 1 for people living and working in Seattle. Other communities are considering mandatory recycling, pay-as-you-throw rubbish pickup (this works on the premise that those who generate more trash should pay more), or similar programs and/or laws. Should recycling be mandatory? Which programs or laws do you think would be most successful?
2. In his book, The End of Faith, author Sam Harris argues for a new type of intolerance -- conversational intolerance. Meaning that when someone makes outlandish claims, using faith instead of evidence in support for their claim, they should be challenged instead of ignored. Do you agree with this type approach? Mr. Harris also maintains that “moderation” in religion poses considerable dangers of its own. Do you agree? (Listen to audio of Sam Harris on BookTV here)
3. A man used e-mail to try and set up a mass suicide on Valentine's Day involving as many as 32 people across the United States and Canada. He faces charges of solicitation to commit murder. Should attempts to organize a group suicide be considered "solicitation to commit murder"? A 78-year-old euthanasia activist killed himself after announcing his plans to the media and hoping the publicity he generated will cause debate over the issue, leading to a repeal of laws against assisted suicide. He planned the suicide for months and suffered from a lung condition. Should helping another person commit suicide be illegal?
4. OPEN DISCUSSION.

Quote of the week: "When people make outlandish claims, without evidence, we stop listening to them--except on matters of faith. I am arguing that we can no longer afford to give faith a pass in this way. Bad beliefs should be criticized wherever they appear in our discourse--in physics, in medicine, and on matters of ethics and spirituality as well." [Sam Harris, author of "The End of Faith" - Source]

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