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METHOD:PUBLISH
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
X-ORIGINAL-URL:http://deism.meetup.com/103/calendar/10295188/ical/Is+Gettin
 g+Freethinkers+Together+Like+Trying+to+Herd+Cats
X-WR-CALNAME:Events - Is Getting Freethinkers Together Like Trying to Herd 
 Cats
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Is Getting Freethinkers Together Like Trying to Herd Cats?
DESCRIPTION:Pittsburgh Secular Freethinkers\n\nThe most common theme expres
 sed among the individual introductions that people who've signed up for thi
 s group have posted here is that they feel somewhat isolated and long to sh
 are discussions of their personal world-views with like-minded people.  \nH
 owever\, reviewing the history of the previous "meet-ups" for this group\, 
 it looks like the turn-outs have been extremely small.  Not that there is a
 nything wrong with small gatherings -- even two people create a conversatio
 n and an opportunity for growth and community.  But each additional person 
 expands that opportunity exponentially.\n\nTrue\, it can be more difficult 
 to define a "theme" around which to frame discussions when what the group h
 as in common seems more a "lack" of something (formalized religion) than a 
 "possession" of something.  But\, having an open and curious mind is\, to m
 e\, a more substantial "possession" than simply conforming to a scripted do
 gma and it's something we should each be eager and proud to share.\n\nAltho
 ugh (to paraphrase an old quote)\, convening freethinkers may be like attem
 pting to herd cats\, I'd like to try.  So\, I'm volunteering my house for t
 he first get-together.  I have a large\, comfortably furnished (chairs\, co
 uches\, pillows)\, covered outdoor porch in a secluded garden setting in Fo
 rest Hills\, a minute from the Parkway East (halfway between the Squirrel H
 ill tunnel and Monroeville).  I'll provide snacks and drinks and a starting
  theme to get discussion going.  For now I'm setting it up for 7:00 on a Fr
 iday\, but I welcome feedback as to how people feel about that time.  Thoug
 h the main purpose would be to focus on sharing philosophical viewpoints\, 
 the obvious secondary benefit would be to relax\, socialize and get to know
  a variety of new people. \n\nSo\, is this "catnip" enough to get a good tu
 rnout?\n\nPittsburgh\, PA  15221 - USA\n\nFriday\, May 8 at 7:00 PM\n\nPhot
 o: http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/e/7/7/event_787799.jpeg\n
 \nAttending: 15\n\nDetails: http://deism.meetup.com/103/calendar/10295188/
LAST-MODIFIED:20090717T003348Z
UID:event_10295188@meetup.com
CLASS:PUBLIC
CREATED:20090429T173949Z
DTSTAMP:20091220T213844Z
DTSTART:20090508T230000Z
DTEND:20090509T010000Z
GEO:40.55;-80.04
URL:http://deism.meetup.com/103/calendar/10295188/
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