"You can't be a good and moral person: you're not Christian!"

Being as there has been good response so far to the scheduling of this meetup, we will go ahead as planned. I am reserving the private room at the restaurant so we can be as raucous as we want in our discussion.

To anyone who didn't make the June Meetup and is not familiar with the Pacific Ring, there is a great variety of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese food as well as a full sushi bar. With very few exceptions (avoid the Shu Mai potstickers) the food is very good, in fact some dishes like the Vietnamese Spring Rolls and the Sesame Ginger Salmon with crispy spinach are the best I've had in the city. Vegetarian choices, too. And how many places still sell a hearty bowl of wonton soup (with three or four dumplings) for $1.50?? It's BYOB and we brought bottled beer, wine and liquor. For less than $15 each we were all stuffed. The atmosphere is quiet and uncrowded and great for discussion. Lots of handy parking in the lots around the back or (if you luck out) on the street. Just don't park in the Giant Iggle parking lot across the street -- they WILL tag you.

I chose the topic because several people had mentioned their own experiences with religious chauvinism, having sanctimonious believers (particularly Christians) question how a "non-believer" could be "trusted" to be decent and ethical when they don't subscribe to a formalized code of morality or have the fear of holy retribution hanging over them. I've run into that most of my life and wondered how other people deal with such accusations.

By the way, the $2 fee is to cover the monthly subscription charge for maintaining the MeetUp on the web site. Suzanne and Jordan have both graciously covered it so far this year so we are trying to reimburse them.

See you there! Don't be shy -- we are welcoming to new or renewing members. I'm a "newbie" myself.