August 7

Why the ‘Old World’ Stopped Fighting Wars and
Started Building a Peaceful Transnational Union
Professor Lloyd Kramer
UNC History Department

Professor Kramer's research is on modern European history, with emphasis on nineteenth-century France. His major focus is the historical processes
that shapes cultural identities, including cross-cultural exchange and the emergence
of modern nationalism. His teaching stresses the importance of reading, discussing,
and writing about influential books in various eras of European and world history.

August 21

Beyond Shame and Guilt
James Coley

When we build our moral values on the twin pillars of reason and the love of humanity, instead of the purported commands of a supernatural parent-figure, we undercut the potential for the dominance of shame and guilt in our ethical feelings and thoughts. This is one of the best features of Humanism, as it encourages us to approach our moral choices as adults taking responsibility for our actions, not children who feel self-deprecating and ashamed when they disappoint their heavenly father. And we are better able to recognize our errors and shortcomings, and to strive to be better people, when we are not burdened by guilt about the kind of beings we are.

James Coley has a master's degree in philosophy from UNC Chapel Hill and has taught courses in ethics and other philosophical subjects. He is a past president of the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle, and for many years hosted the "Ethics Matters" radio program.

August 7	This Sunday is our regular collection day for the IFC food pantry. Items this organization needs this month can be seen at Priority Items.
August 19	The Bellwether Book Club is resuming this month with The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean. This best seller has many threads running through it...the ordeals of survival during wartime, the consolations of memory, the paintings in the Hermitage - as an old woman with Altzheimer's disease relives her memories. We will meet on Friday, August 19 with time and place to be decided.
August 25	Our scheduled cook and serve project for IFC is this Thursday from 4 to 7:15pm. Contact Amy Piersma to sign up. EHST members cook and serve meals at the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services' community kitchen once each month. The food is donated from the community and anyone who is hungry can eat. Our entire membership participates. On the fourth Thursday of each month, January through October, five to six members cook from 4-6pm, and several members serve from 6-7:15 . . It's great fun and a worthy endeavor!
Fall Programs	UNC Humanities in Action is presenting a series of programs paying homage to the tradition of civic humanism. These will be at Flyleaf Books. Check the link for topics and dates.