Upcoming Events
Free Thinkers’ Forum
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., Room L
Getting Beyond Categorical Thinking:
The Role of Implicit Bias in Selecting a New Minister
Presentation by: John Sample, Ph.D.
Program: The science of implicit cognition suggests that we do not always have conscious, intentional control over our perceptions for forming impressions, and decision making judgements that can motivate our behaviors. We will explore the nature of unconscious automatic responses that may influence selection of executive level personnel, such as a new minister for UUCT.
John Sample, Ph.D.:Dr. Sample is retired from Florida State University and currently is Principal Consultant at Sample & Associates LLC.
Free Thinkers’ Forum
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., Room L
Michael Sandel’s Justice Lecture Series, Lecture 2: The Case for Cannibalism
The series, “Justice: Whats the Right Thing to do?” with Michael Sandel, Political Philosophy Professor, Harvard University, continues.
Presentation by: Warren Brackmann
Program: We will watch a 30-minute video of the lecture in which Sandel introduces the principles of utilitarian philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, with a famous nineteenth century law case involving a shipwrecked crew of four. After nineteen days lost at sea, the captain decides to kill the cabin boy, the weakest amongst them, to obtain the nourishment they needed to survive.
Warren Brackmann: Warren, was born in New York, lived in Virginia before moving to Canada at the age of 16. Earning a B.Sc in Computer Science from the University of Western Ontario, he worked for over thirty years in information technology in Canada and the U.S. He is now retired from the IT business and is pursuing his passion of fine art photography when not volunteering. His work is, or has been, exhibited in art galleries in and around Tallahassee.
Michael Sandel: Sandel subscribes to a certain version of communitarianism (although he is uncomfortable with the label), and in this vein he is perhaps best known for his critique of John Rawls’ A Theory of Justice. Rawls’ argument depends on the assumption of the veil of ignorance, which he claims allows us to become “unencumbered selves”.
Sandel’s view is that we are by nature encumbered to an extent that makes it impossible even in the hypothetical to have such a veil. Some examples of such ties are those with our families, which we do not make by conscious choice but are born with, already attached. Because they are not consciously acquired, it is impossible to separate oneself from such ties. Sandel believes that only a less-restrictive, looser version of the veil of ignorance should be postulated. Criticism such as Sandel’s inspired Rawls to subsequently argue that his theory of justice was not a “metaphysical” theory but a “political” one, a basis on which an overriding consensus could be formed among individuals and groups with many different moral and political views.[4]
Communitarianism is a philosophy that emphasizes the connection between the individual and the community. Its overriding philosophy is based upon the belief that a person’s social identity and personality are largely molded by community relationships, with a smaller degree of development being placed on individualism. Although the community might be a family unit, communitarianism usually is understood, in the wider, philosophical sense, as a collection of interactions, among a community of people in a given place (geographical location), or among a community who share an interest or who share a history.
Matsiko World Orphan Choir
Choir to perform Saturday, October 14th & Sunday, October 15th during Service, Sanctuary
A choir of International Children’s Network
Our church has a tradition of hosting musical ensembles throughout the years. This year we are grateful to host the Matsiko World Orphan Choir on October 14th and 15th. There will be a free concert Saturday October 14th at 7:00 pm. The choir will be leading the service with our youth the next day; followed by a church wide International Potluck. This event is not to be missed!