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#nashvillehumanist
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Admin
Aug 28, 2018
In Q&A
Since we don’t believe in the promise of paradise after death, many of us take a more pragmatic approach to our mortality. My home state of Oregon was the very first state to legalize assisted death to the terminally ill in 1994. It’s no surprise that since most religions view suicide as a mortal sin that lands you in the pit of hell, it’s not something up for discussion in Tennessee. I recently read an article in the Tennessean written by Kristen Hanson, a community relations advocate with the Patients Rights Action Fund in which she claims that the “death with dignity” movement gives in to despair and preys on terminally ill patients when they are most vulnerable. Kevin Yule, the author of Assisted Suicide: The Liberal, Humanist Case Against Legalisation, has an interesting take on this subject that left me with much to consider. In an article he wrote for The Economist entitled, Liberals and Atheists can also Oppose Assisted Dying, he makes the simple point that we are not simply our bodies. He explains that because we currently place equal moral weight on human life and do not measure it by years left or physical ability, instituting assisted dying threatens that moral precept. I am trying to navigate my thoughts on this issue by exposing myself to the opinions of others. My gut reaction to assisted suicide is that it’s perfectly acceptable. I arrived at this judgment via a simple thought experiment. I asked myself, “What if it were me?” Without downplaying the seriousness of staring down your own mortality and with as much sincerity and empathy as is possible, I would like to think that if I were faced with a terminal illness and suffering was imminent, I would choose to die. At the very least, I would like to know that I had the option to make that choice for myself. A few questions come to mind and I'd be very interested in your answers: In circumstances of the terminally ill, is there a difference between killing someone and letting them die? Should human beings have the right to decide on issues of life and death? Should assisted suicide apply only to those with a terminal prognosis? What about those suffering from horrible and unremitting illnesses? Should they too have a right to assisted death? And perhaps the most haunting question that has come to mind for me; once we accept that only life of a certain quality is worth living, where will we stop? What if it were you?
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Admin
Aug 26, 2018
In Q&A
Do you think women who make false accusations of rape should face prison time? Here is a link to a recent news article describing one such circumstance: https://nypost.com/2018/08/23/woman-who-made-false-rape-claim-sentenced-to-prison/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&sr_share=facebook&utm_medium=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPFacebook Personally, I believe there should be consequences for this. Rape is a very serious crime and this woman destroyed the academic careers of two men. Is restorative justice possible in this context? What kind of court order/sentencing could aid in rebuilding the reputations, careers, finances, and relationships of the victims of these false accusations?
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Admin
Aug 13, 2018
In Q&A
Conservative and liberal; You can't deny the predictive powers these classifications have over your moral views. What do you think explains this connection?
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Admin
Aug 10, 2018
In Q&A
A recent experience of mine forced me into a conversation I wasn’t ready to have with my youngest child. A conversation I kept as brief and illusive as possible because at 5 years of age, I don’t think it’s appropriate to induce an existential crisis… That being said, I also couldn’t just let it go. I didn’t want the misinformation she had been given to gain the slightest traction but I also can’t explain the science of evolution to a 5 year old. - When did your children start asking the big questions and what did you tell them? - What is the right age to start having these conversations?
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Admin
Aug 09, 2018
In Q&A
Billy Ray Irick, 59, was convicted in 1986 of the rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl in Knox County, Tennessee. He is set to be executed Thursday. More can be learned about Irick by following this link > https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2018/08/06/supreme-court-denies-stay-irick-execution-proceed/883766002/ Do you support the death penalty? Is the death penalty immoral in your view? Is the mental health of these inmates relevant in making this decision? Should the victims family have a say in a death sentence verdict? Do you trust the legal system to always conclude the correct verdict? Do you think innocent men have ever faced execution under the law? If modern day executions were held in public, would your current feelings on the death penalty change? Share your thoughts below!
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Admin
Nov 27, 2017
In Q&A
It is my hope that this forum will encourage people to challenge themselves by engaging in ongoing learning, critical thinking, vigorous inquiry and substantial conversation about important and relevant topics. No subject is off limits. If you see something that offends you, kindly scroll by. Whether they are areas of science or philosophy; spirituality or social justice; civil liberties or secular governance; local, national or global issues; public policy or environmentalism, I hope that this forum will be a catalyst for informed thinking and effective action. I love a good troll, but use your discretion.
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