PowerPoint Presentation - Circle Slideshow

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The Circle of Reason
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A fellowship of the religious and non-religious
who believe communal commitment to reason will
transform the world.
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PROBLEMS Lack of dialogue Religious and
secular aggression Polarization and
prejudice SOLUTION Bridge religious and
secular gulfs with reasoning dialogue Communal
commitment to reasoning in lieu of
aggression Pluralistic, transbelief fellowship
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Our Mission We believe in the power of reasoning
and logical minds, when present in sufficient
numbers, to reduce and someday eliminate all ills
on Earth caused by human irrationality. But no
culture exists today that envisions community
commitment to logic and reason as an absolute
requirement for improvement of the world or even
of one's own assumptions and actions. Only a
different approach to solving irrationality by
the human race can lead to a better outcome.
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About Us The Circle of Reason is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization devoted to fellowship and
service to society -- but in a way different than
you've seen before A fellowship who believes
communal commitment to reason will transform the
world. No culture in history has used communal
commitment to reason as a way to improve the
world as well as our individual lives. We believe
this approach to solving irrationality by the
human race can lead to a better outcome than what
has come before. Our goal is to institute local
and virtual congregations, or circles, of those
who believe in the power of reason to gradually
but inexorably identify and expunge irrationality
from our worldly lives and from local society,
campaign and governmental policies, and global
society. A fellowship who excludes none. We
welcome all who seek clarity of mind, regardless
of their present beliefs or creeds. Faith can
even harmonize with reason, when we accept the
gift of the mind to better understand, live in,
and shepherd this world. Consequently, the Circle
is unique in inviting everyone, including both
the religious and the non-religious, into an
additional shared haven -- a truly ecumenical
fellowship to make the world we've all inherited
a saner place. As an international organization
for pluralistic rationalism, The Circle of Reason
sponsors or endorses local circles of reasoning
dialogue and fellowship between those with
disparate beliefs and backgrounds.
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• Reason Can Be Compatible with Religion
• It is a historical position of the Methodist
  church that any disciplined theological work
  calls for the careful use of reason.
• By reason, it is said, one reads and is able to
  interpret scripture coherently and consistently.
  By reason one determines whether one's Christian
  witness is clear. By reason one asks questions of
  faith and seeks to understand God's action and
  will.
• The Role of Reason in the Methodist Church --
  Wikipedia

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• The Role of Reason In
• Belief Systems
• Reason plays a critical role in all belief
  systems -- as the umpire.
• Reason defines the limit of the role beliefs,
  faiths or religions can legitimately play in (and
  the interface through which they must communicate
  with) our larger and more heterogeneous society
  and its moral systems.
• Without reason, belief cuts itself off from the
  universe, like a black hole spiraling into
  crushing darkness -- becoming an aggressive,
  all-consuming dogma of ignorance. What do we
  consider evil in the world? Willful unreasoning.
• Reason is the one unique capacity that confers
  upon the human species the potential for
  self-generated apotheosis -- the potential to
  create a purpose as a sentient species that may
  outlive all that we now know.
• Reason could thus be considered a "sacred gift
  (whether from God or Darwin) -- even though we
  don't usually capitalize the "R!

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• How the Circle of Reason Contributes
• The Circle of Reason's (CORs) purpose is not
  merely to call for trans-belief tolerance, as do
  other fellowships. Telling people to be more
  tolerant is not necessarily the best way to make
  them more tolerant.
• Tolerance may best be achieved by encouraging
  people to use the intellectual tools that
  naturally create it.
• Hence, COR asks for more than simply
  fellowship.
• COR thinks it is critical to encourage
  reasoning fellowship -- to encourage
  rationality within, and reasoning dialogue
  between, its community members both religious and
  secular, and of disparate biological, racial,
  ethnic, social, political and economic
  backgrounds.

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History Founded January 1, 2000 (Dr. Frank H.
Burton, Exec. Director) Incorporated as
Non-profit September 13, 2002 Publicly debuted
(online) July 4, 2007 (www.circleofreason.org) Se
rvice mark U.S. Registration November, 27,
2007 RSS Feed syndicated January 3, 2009
(Parable of the Week blog) Main website hits to
date 8,619 (101 countries, 2421
cities) Registered online Virtual Local Circles
to date 4 Virtual Local Circle discussion posts
to date 3699 Registered Local Circles to date 4
(Cardiff UK Mayfield KY, USA Minneapolis MN,
USA Leiden, The Netherlands) News articles to
date 3 (MN Independent, TC Daily Planet, RH
Reality Check) Membership tally to date
403 date 3/24/10
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Tenets Fundamental (hard to reasonably
deny) Minimal (avoids dogma) Compatible
(accommodates religious or secular stance)
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The Affirmation of The Circle of Reason We
believe in the power of reasoning and logical
minds, when present in sufficient numbers, to
reduce and someday eliminate all ills on Earth
caused by human irrationality -- to prevent war,
government corruption, environmental destruction,
institutionalized poverty and discrimination. Our
purpose is to so change the world within the next
50 generations -- by encouraging people to commit
to local congregations of faith in the ability of
reasoning thought to save our world and bring our
next major step in moral evolution. We welcome
all who seek clarity of mind, regardless of
present beliefs or creed, to The Circle of
Reason. January 1, 2000 C.E.
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3 Tenets of Reason Reality's Acceptance
Assumption's Denial Emotion's Mastery 3
Guides of Action What is, is. Reality denied
causes wrong action Reality accepted causes
right action. What is not, is not. Incorrect
assumptions, non-reality accepted as reality,
cause wrong action Questioned assumptions cause
right action. What is or is not, is
paramount. Emotion unmastered by reason causes
wrong action Emotion's mastery by reason causes
right action.
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The 3 Paths to Right Action Accept what is,
reject what is not, leave open what may be.
Root out incorrect assumptions and their
signpost -- contradictions. Let reason, not
emotion, be the final arbiter of your actions.
Here resides faith. The 3 Paths to Wrong
Action Reject what is, accept what is not,
reject or accept what may be. Act based
on unconsidered assumptions, and ignore their
contradictions. Let emotion rule, not simply
inform, your actions. Here resides
superstition. Here resides dogmatism.
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The Paragons of Reason and Unreason The
Paragon of Reason Objective, Open-minded, and
Equable The Paragon of Unreason Subjective,
Close-minded, and Emotional
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The Meditation of Reason In Reality's denial
was I blind -- by Reality's Acceptance do I
see. In Assumption's acceptance was I bowed --
by Assumption's Denial do I stand. In Emotion's
surrender did I stampede -- by Emotion's Mastery
do I stride. By these three do I drink from the
depths, tread beyond the horizon, and reach for
the zenith of the World.
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The Circle Thanksgiving A Pluralistic
Thanksgiving Let us bow our heads in prayer or
contemplation. We give thanks for the gift of
the Mind, through which our purpose shall be
envisioned. We give thanks for the gift of the
Will, through which our purpose shall be
manifest. We give thanks for the gift of the
Heart, through which our purpose shall be
ennobled. And we give thanks for the gift of
the Universe, through which our purpose shall be
magnified. So say we all.
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Virtual Local Circles of Reason Online Beliefnet
Circle of Reason (BCOR), Facebook Circle of
Reason (FCOR), The Circle of Reason Round Table
(CORRT) Scienceforums.net Circle of Reason
(SFCOR) To seek out new logical life, and new
rational civilizations -- to clearly go where no
one has gone before To find, recruit, converse
with and encourage -- from all walks of life, all
biologies, all beliefs, all societies -- those
who are your own kinsmen and kinswomen - the
reasoning kind To discuss the role of reason,
or its absence, in our "modern" society To
help humankind at long last attain philosophical
maturity You're looking for The Circle of
Reason's public webforums -- Gather in, speak
out, listen up, get down.
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Clarity Circles A tradition of communal clear
thinking Online or real-world gatherings whose
members help one of their group through an
important life choice by simply -- and only --
asking questions, to help their colleagues
perceive the realities, assumptions, and emotions
that underlie their dilemma. Historically, the
first clarity circles were founded by the
Quakers, where they continue today.
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The Circle of Reason does not seek to convert
its members from their faiths, but encourages its
members to reasonably guide their faiths. Local
Circles are thus encouraged to be founded in and
sponsored by (or between) neighborhood churches,
synagogues, mosques, temples and atheist groups,
while welcoming members of every belief and
creed
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Local Circles of Reason
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Local Circles of Reason A shared haven of true
ecumenism for a saner world. Founding of
Local Circles is beginning within cities and,
more locally, within neighborhood houses of
worship and/or secular groups and as virtual,
online Local Circles.
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Local Circle Activities (all voluntary
current) Charitable Activities (see Website
Links) Weeknight or Weekend Meetings (no
conflict with religious services) Clarity
Circles and Circle Coaches Sermons/Lectures Discu
ssions Ecumenical Music Potlucks Reasoning
Fellowship Ceremonies (marriage, commitment,
amicable divorce, eulogium) Vocational Hobby
Groups Networking Groups Socrates or Science
Cafes Study and Book Groups Wikilators
(International Circle Program) StrikeForce
(International Circle Program) Reason Monitors
(International Circle Program) Bad hominem
Campaign (International Circle Program) Day Care,
Literacy and Adult Education Internet to
Neighborhood Local Circle Formation
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Circle Programs StrikeForce Most bad
events in the world are the consequences of our
own actions magnified by 6.6 billion others
acting in the same way. To remind us we all need
to go "on strike" to avoid doing the things that,
when done en masse, harm society and our planet,
we are sponsoring the Circle StrikeForces,
including DrugStrike, BingeStrike and its "242"
(Two Drinks for Two Decades) celebration,
GangStrike, CliqueStrike, ForceStrike,
AbuseStrike, SlurStrike, CheatStrike, LieStrike,
TrashStrike, PetrolStrike and WarStrike.
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Circle Programs Reason Monitor Much of
what passes for public discourse is filled with
denials of reality, questionable assumptions
(false realities), and ad hominem emotive
attacks. Reason Monitors will flag such errors,
to help keep the ship of state on an even keel.
As part of this effort, The Circle will be
publishing an online periodical, The Reason
Monitor, wherein volunteer editors will highlight
illogical reasoning and the use of invective in
public commentary.
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Circle Programs Bad Hominem Our
campaign asks the public to question its
long-cherished assumption that emotive, ad
hominem attacks are moral The Circle of Reason
asserts that, because such argumentation seeks to
persuade only by evoking emotionality, it is
indeed not moral and should be frowned upon in
civil society. So the next time you see an insult
masked as an argument, stand up and speak its
true name -- immorality.
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Circle Programs Wikilator Volunteer
internet translators for the Circles Parable of
The Week and Parables Archive, to permit
other-language mirror websites.
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Church-Sponsored Local Circles Host churchgoers
who believe in reason in worldly society Host
neighborhood members of different religious
secular beliefs A charitable activity, to
encourage reason -- no proselytizing Demonstrate
how religion can coexist, and harmonize, with
reason
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Church-Sponsored Local Circles Benefit to Church
Members Learn about other religious secular
perspectives Learn how to believe without
aggression, by faith not falsehoods Find
common ground between religious- reason- based
morality Benefit to Non-Church Members Learn
about neighborhood churchs religious
perspectives and faith Learn how to believe (or
disbelieve) without aggression, by faith Find
common ground between religious- reason- based
morality
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Circle Membership Membership through Circle
Main Website or Virtual Local Circles (Online
Communities) Provide Name, E-mail address
City, State and Country of Residence -- used for
networking local circle organizing. Membership
in Regional Local Circles No membership fee --
rich or poor, all are welcome No creed based
exclusion.
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Membership is Open We welcome all who seek
clarity of mind, regardless of current beliefs or
creed. Exclusion from, or discrimination
against any person in, the Circle because of
religious or non-religious belief, race,
ethnicity, country of origin, economic status,
profession, gender (or trans-, multi- or non-
gendered) status, sexual orientation, marital
status, disability, or political orientation is
prohibited. Total inclusiveness that is
sensitive to strongly-held beliefs, but that
promulgates the effort to adhere to, develop and
celebrate reason-validated assumptions and
actions in personal life and worldly society, is
the only requirement of local circles to remain
registered as a Circle of Reason.
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Membership is Religious Nonreligious Local
Circles commit to welcome and recruit members of
differing religious or non-religious beliefs,
accomplished by these guidelines Proselytizing
by, or of, Circle attendees to accept unproven
assumptions (e.g., faith-based religious or
atheistic beliefs) isnt permitted by Circle
officials or Circle literature. Tolerance of
another's right to refrain from adopting beliefs
is the shared foundation stone of religion,
atheism and agnosticism -- that each possesses
the right, whether innate or God-given, to free
will and unimpeded, reasoned choice. Proselytizin
g by, or of, Circle attendees to deny unproven
assumptions should be limited to
non-confrontationally encouraging the questioning
of only those assumptions reviewable within
current strongly held belief systems. Attendees
will differ in their starting assumptions, and
must question them at their own pace. Moreover,
questioning assumptions that underlie lifestyles
reasonably defensible without such assumptions
should be avoided as incidental and thus
confrontational (e.g., because a tolerant
religious lifestyle is defensible without
unproven assumptions via either "Pascal's Wager"
or apotheism, while a tolerant non-religious
lifestyle is defensible without unproven
assumptions via "Occam's Razor, questioning the
belief of tolerant religious or atheist persons
who adhere to rationally-defensible ethical codes
should be avoided.)
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• Secular Bible Study Meetup Endorsed by The
  Circle of Reason
• Secular Bible Study casts wide net --
  Star-Tribune, 2/20/09
• The Secular Bible Study program aims to "foster
  and nurture relationships between folks who would
  otherwise avoid each other."
• "Secular Bible Study hopes to attract a variety
  of people -- Buddhists, atheists, agnostics,
  Christians and even Jews and Muslims.
• Organizers have drawn up a set of ground rules
  designed to keep participants from proselytizing,
  but that doesn't mean that they want to
  discourage disagreement.
• We've discerned that people have lost or lack
  the skills to engage in constructive and
  respectful dialogue in the context of profound
  disagreement.
• "An emphasis will be placed on dialogue among
  the group of small groups."

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Local Circles of Reason (2010) Circle of
Reason-Mayfield High School (KY, USA) Lee
Scarbrough, Circle Advisor Circle of
Reason-Cardiff (United Kingdom) Favio Becker,
Circle Advisor Circle of Reason-Minneapolis (MN,
USA) Frank Burton, Circle Advisor Cirkel van
Rede-Leiden (The Netherlands), Maarten Pieter van
den Driest, Circle Advisor Circle-Endorsed
Transbelief Reasoning Fellowships Secular
Bible Study Meetup (Minneapolis, MN,
USA) Believers and Nonbelievers in Dialogue
(BAND) (Portland, ME, USA)
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Tips for Local Circle Founding Websites
Recruit Circle, Meetup, Facebook, Beliefnet,
STARFLEET, and Atlasphere members and
leaders. Newspaper Photoshop ads for local
circle organizational meetings. Public Access
TV Photoshop TV bulletins and iMovie video
commercials for local circle organizational
meetings. Churches PowerPoint show replayed
TV commercials to organize open local circles
hosted by churches or other religious sponsors as
well as humanist, atheist or Objectivist
groups. Direct Recruitment E-mail local
Objectivist-Ayn Rand/Star Trek/
Atheist/Humanist/Ecumenical religious/Interfaith
leaders found in Meetup, Facebook, MySpace,
STARFLEET, Atlasphere and other online humanist,
atheist and religious and/or interfaith
dot-orgs. Scale Up Recruit leaders in all
above meetings and groups to expand recruitment
and local circles by similarly visiting and
organizing.
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Circle Finances No tithing No passing the
plate No membership dues Volunteerism Future
income from authors donation of 100 of book
royalties 501(c)(3) tax-exempt religious
charitable non-profit corporation
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Local and International Circle Leadership I.
Nominated by Board Majority Elected by
Membership Majority Local Circle of Reason Board
of Directors (non-profit) The Circle of Reason,
Inc. International Board of Directors
(non-profit.) II. Appointees of Local or
International Boards of Directors Executive
Director Communications Director Treasurer Secreta
ry Taskforces Local Circle Discussion
Moderators Local Circle Advisors (Local Boards
Appoint, International Board Reviews) The Reason
Monitor, Editorial Staff (International Board
Approval) Virtual Local Circles, Administrators
(International Board Approval) III. Irrevocable
Charter of Principles IV. Decadal or Petitioned
Principles Adherence Review by Philosophy
Department Faculty of Accredited Public
Universities in Countries with Constitutional
Separation of Church and State
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The Circle of Reason Administrative Units
Checks and Balances M Members-at-Large (LC
formation no LB or IB election or veto
privileges 1 R petition privilege) LC Local
Circles (LB election and majority IB veto
privilege 1 R petition privilege) LB Local
Circle Boards (IB election and majority LC veto
privilege 1 R petition privilege) IB
International Circle Board (LC registration and
majority LB veto privilege 1 R petition
privilege) R Philosophy Faculty
Principles-Adherence Review Group (decadal and/or
petitioned majority veto privilege against any
LC, LB or IB unit or action adjudged by R as not
adhering to the Irrevocable Charter of Principles)
R
M
LC
LB
IB
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The Circle of Reason-International HQ 606 East
Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417
USA Website www.circleofreason.org Email
burton_at_circleofreason.org Executive Director,
The Circle of Reason, Inc. Dr. Frank H. Burton,
Minneapolis, MN, USA Administrator, Beliefnet
Circle of Reason Dr. Frank H. Burton,
Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Visit COR at www.circleofreason.org
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