Welcome to the Grand Traverse Humanists. If you value science, reason, and compassion and believe that humans are responsible for their own destiny, you have come to the right place. We are a community for the non-religious in the Grand Traverse area, offering a forum for discussing and advancing a secular worldview based on our common humanity. Our programs include monthly speakers and discussions, film and book groups, and various volunteer and social events. All are free and open to the public. Check out Upcoming Events below, or click on the calendar. Nontheists, agnostics, atheists, freethinkers, rationalists, humanists, and more…we welcome you to join us!
Upcoming Events
- Meeting at the History Center: Roundtable Discussion–“Election Dissection”
November 12 2012: Meeting at the History Center–Roundtable Discussion–“Election Dissection”7 p.m. 322 Sixth Street, Traverse City
The election is over; now what? Join us for a roundtable discussion of the election results and their implications for Humanists.
- Meeting at the History Center: The Danger of Relativism in Reason
October 8 2012: Meeting at the History Center: The Danger of Relativism in Reason7 p.m….History Center of Traverse City, 322 Sixth Street
The first principle of the Humanist Manifesto (III) states: “The lifestance of Humanism—[is] guided by reason…” It also states that Humanists “…find science to be the best method for determining knowledge of the world…” Yet as we know, others disagree and “find” that the best method for determining knowledge of the world comes through the revelations of the Bible or from oral traditions, etc. As sources of knowledge, these various methods are often viewed as having equal status, and therefore the choice between them is considered subjective; as a question of taste. One could ask; is there an objective method for acquiring knowledge of the world? Chris Kuchuris and Mella McCormick, philosophy professors at Northwestern Michigan College, will reveal that all methods are not logically equal and that genuine knowledge cannot be reduced to the whimsy of mere opinion.
About the speakers:
Chris Kuchuris earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. He also attended graduate school there and at the University of Nevada, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Ethics and Policy Studies. He has been working in philosophy for the past 21 years teaching classes in Ethics, Critical Thinking, and Existentialism at the College of Southern Nevada. Chris has published a textbook titled Puncturing Our Illusions: Developing Our Critical Thinking Attitude. His most recent publication is Aristotle’s Greatest Contribution to Science in An Anthology of Philosophical Studies Volume 6 which he co-authored with Mella McCormick.
Mella McCormick is a philosophy professor at Northwestern Michigan College. She completed her undergraduate studies at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and Keele University in Staffordshire, England. She attended the University of Missouri-Columbia for her graduate work in philosophy. Prior to teaching in Michigan, Mella taught both philosophy and women’s studies at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas where she authored and chaired the Associate of Arts degree in Women’s Studies.
- Meeting at the History Center: “Israel and Nuclear Iran”
September 10 2012: Meeting at the History Center–“Israel and Nuclear Iran”7 p.m….History Center of Traverse City, 322 Sixth Street
Jack Segal, formerly a senior NATO official and member of the National Security Council, will speak on “Israel, Iran, and the Bomb: Are We at the Brink?” Mr. Segal served from 2000-2010 as the senior political advisor to the NATO Commander in Afghanistan, and is presently advising NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander on the Middle East crisis. Join us for what is sure to be an informative and interesting evening.
- Media Night: Discussion of “The Blood of the Lamb” by Peter De Vries
September 24 2012: Media Night7 p.m….home of DeAnna and Matt Hess (email for directions)
Join us for a discussion of Peter De Vries’ book The Blood of the Lamb. Peter De Vries was an American editor and novelist known for his satirid wit. He has been described by the philospher Daniel Dennett as “probably the funniest writer on religion ever.”
The most poignant of all De Vries’s novels, The Blood of the Lamb is also the most autobiographical. It follows the life of Don Wanderhop from his childhood in an immigrant Calvinist family living in Chicago in the 1950s through the loss of a brother, his faith, his wife, and finally his daughter-a tragedy drawn directly from De Vries’s own life. Despite its foundation in misfortune, The Blood of the Lamb offers glimpses of the comic sensibility for which De Vries was famous. Engaging directly with the reader in a manner that buttresses the personal intimacy of the story, De Vries writes with a powerful blend of grief, love, wit, and fury.
- Meeting at the History Center: “You Are What You Breathe”
August 13 2012: Meeting at the History Center–“You Are What You Breathe”
7 p.m….History Center of Traverse City, 322 Sixth Street
Air pollution became a hot topic in Traverse City with the attempt last year to approve the building of a biomass plant in our area. What do we need to know about air pollutants, and how can we protect ourselves and society as a whole? Dr. Robert Brook, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Michigan, will present a talk entitled “You Are What You Breathe: Effect of Air Pollutants on Cardiovascular Health.”
- Meeting at the History Center: Humanist Celebration of the Arts
July 30 2011: Meeting at the History Center: Humanist Celebration of the ArtsHumanism is a philosophy informed by science, motivated by compassion, and INSPIRED BY ART. Art enriches all of our lives, from the carved handle on a serving knife to the beauty of a painting or the joy inspired by our favorite music. We invite you to share what inspires YOU…either your own artistic endeavor, or something done by others that you enjoy. Email larry.dean@gthumanists.org to sign up for a 5-10 minute spot. No pressure…just a joyful sharing of the art that enriches our everyday lives. “The artist is not a different kind of person; every person is a different kind of artist.”
