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Humanist Association of Toronto |
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We meet every Saturday at 11 AM till 1 PM We meet in a very informal way to discuss various
topics of particular interests to Free-Thinkers. You don't have to be a member
to attend. If you are looking for a friendly group with whom to discuss ideas
and make new friends you are welcome. Just show up. |
Humanist Forum:TOPIC: Humanism: should it be more concerned with ensuring the viability of life on our planet over the coming thousands of years, or more concerned with helping the plight of people currently living here? FACILITATOR: Robin Russell Do you care about your children? of course. How about your grandchildren? naturally. What about their children, and their children after that? At this point many people start to say it doesn't concern them since they won't be around any more. Managing the planet will be their problem. At first glance the first statement above seems a silly question, since we should be concerned with both the long term and the short term. However, there are many trade-offs that affect the two, and cause choices to be required that affect our lives: > increasing world population puts unreasonable stress on existing resources: the Malthusian thing. Should population be controlled? >Pollution and global warming are threatening the viability of all species on the planet. If we stop putting contaminants into the ecosystem, we will certainly see a reduction in things like cancers, an improvement in health in general. Likewise if we can stop global warming. But the impact to our lifestyles and standard of living would be drastic. Should we do it anyway? > allowing representative democracy ensures politicians make choices that keep them in power by continually spending more money than is coming into the coffers. Don't blame the politicians: we elect them based on what they promise they are going to do. Should we move to a more autocratic governmental system? > Can people think of other tradeoffs? |
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 SOME PREVIOUS FORUM TOPICS: |
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| Darwin Day Sport, Violence, and Corruption Cultural Literary Capitalism vs Marxism Obama's Nobel Prize Immigration Panhandling Moral Relativism Health Care in Canada Honour Killings Government Surveillance and the Internet Global Power and dictatorship, an exercise Myths or Stories about Africa |
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| Building the case for Humanism as a Faith | |
| Politics is about Messaging | |
| Expertise and Authority | |
| Mediocrity vs. Excellence | |
| The Depression | |
| Envy | |
| Self-Perception | |
| The Social Contract | |
| The Tories Youth Crime Bill | |
| Utopia | |
| What has been your experience of religious people? | |
| Are there limits to the individual's responsibilities towards others? | |
| Pleasure and Hedonism | |
| Isolation | |
| Language | |
| Security | |
| Aspects of "sacredness" over time and its connection to interculturalism | |
| Is it fair to give children a religious upbringing before they reach adulthood? | |
| Gender differences? | |
| The evils of progress | |
| Hope and Humanism | |
| Hidden discrimination | |
| What Humanists have to fear from the religious majority | |
| Nationalism and national allegiances | |
| Marriage | |
| A humanist goal is to strive for a secular and better world. | |
| Is Western Society heading towards its decline? | |
| THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY | |
| Media and the Environment | |
| Imagination | |
| What has your experience of "conversion" been?) | |
| Are humanists the grown-up members of the human species? | |
| Embracing technology | |
| Should humanism have a positive or negative approach? | |
| When does a philosophy become a religion? | |
| What are the aging issues for Humanists? | |
| Is Humanism compatible with a real respect for the faiths of believers? | |
| Can science discover truth? | |
| Prostitution & Pornography | |
| What is modern slavery? | |
| The many varieties of human rights | |
| Is multiculturism working in Canada? | |
| How would the perfect person act in today's world? | |
| "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" | |
| Why are some people religious and others not? | |
| Should we proselytize? | |
| Earth Day | |
| Is man the measure of all things? | |
| Can groups function without moralizing? | |
| Positive influences of religion | |
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"Live well and help others live well." (Mario
Bunge)
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