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The Suncoast Humanist Society June Meetup

Jun 6
Sat 2:00 PM
Location
This location is shown only to members
Estimated attendance
 24  people attended.
4.00 4.003

Who organized?
Jim Peterson

Our Program for Saturday, May 2nd ...

Jihad
An Islamic holy quest, or a source of violence?
Led by Phil Cutajar

For Moslems, the pursuit of Jihad as an internal quest to avert one’s attention from the world of sensory, emotional, and intellectual satisfactions to more completely unite with Allah, seems at first blush, worlds apart for the brutish wars and inchoate violence imposed by some aspiring to this pursuit.
Regardless of the economic, social and cultural impact of western culture, this worldwide synonym for cold minded, religiously inspired destruction on a mass scale focuses our attention on this critical religious doctrine.
Is this a recent development, as global communications and trade exacerbated the tensions and fears of the new, or has this behavior always been a part of this religion’s mission?
Many followers of Islam decry the stereotypes and the discrimination imposed by non-Islamic majorities. But are they being honest about their practices and doctrines, and are their grounds for the concerns of others? Join us for this important discussion.

Philip Cutajar is a former Foreign Service Officer who moderates the Café Philo philosophy discussion
group at the Carrollwood Cultural Center in Tampa. A graduate of Columbia University, Philip is a long-time student of politico-military affairs and their relationship with religion. JP

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Talk about this Meetup

  • Jim Peterson
    Posted Jun 8, 2009 4:22 PM
    Jim Peterson
    President
    Phil delivered a thoughtful and insightful analysis of the problems attendant to dealing with religiously inspired terrorism. While no definitive solution emerged from the discussion, most came away with a greater appreciation for the difficulties civilized people are facing.

Who attended?

  • 24 attendees
    • “ The speaker was good for the subject that he elected to talk about. Meanwhile he downplay the speech of the president in Cairo maybe as a propaganda, when we know there are two sides of the story. We can winn more with honey than with a stick. We came out aware of the problem but what was the proposed solution? ”
    • “ I enjoyed the meeting. It was not at all what I thought it would be, but I'm guessing it's different each month. I found the speaker very interesting. Unfortunately, I hadn't expected it to last as long as it did and I had to leave early. My situation is this - I have two grade school aged grandchildren. I enjoyed taking them to a Christian church, but felt bad about going, because I'm not a Christian. I believe there was a man named Jesus, I just don't believe he is the son of God. Although, there may be a GOD, I don't think it's the one that the Bible talks about. I'm looking for a place where I can take my grandkids on a weekly basis to teach them the importance of being good, honest people. Something that reinforces what I am teaching them at home. But, I want to do it without pushing Christianity on them. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks, Gail Hunter ”