Freethinkers are people who decide what to believe
based on reason (facts and logic) - not authority or dogma.
There are two Free Thinkers Club meetings in most months. We host speakers on a variety of topics and encourage debate, discussions and questions after an initial presentation. There are Freethinkers Club meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month at Bridgeport Recreation Center at 2:30. We also meet on the 4th Thursday of each month at Aviary Recreation Center, at 3:30. We were asked to give meetings at this location a separate name for administrative purposes, so Freethinkers Club meetings at Aviary Rec. Center will be referred to as "Freethinkers Club South" meetings. For more information, or to get on our email distribution, email us at freethinkingvillager@gmail.com. Villages Resident or Guest ID are required to attend.
The Freethinkers Club collaborates administratively with The Humanists Club. We share the same email distribution list and management. Emails with information concerning future presentations for both clubs will be sent to the joint email distribution. The list below shows upcoming Freethinkers Club meeting topics.
Upcoming scheduled topics
July The Freethinkers clubs do not meet in July
Aug 13 Mark Welton Bridgeport 2:30 Law and War: Venezuela and Iran
In the past two years, the U.S. has used military force against two countries: Venezuela annd Iran. These conflicts involved similar issues of both international and domestic law. Using these examples, this talk provides a basic framework for understanding the ongoing debates about the current and future relevance of law to U.S. military operations.
Dr. Mark Welton is a retired Army JAG colonel who spent most of his active-duty career working with NATO and EU counterparts on legal and national security issues. He is also retired from his second career as a Professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Mark is a very popular and prolific speaker at venues in and around The Villages.
Aug 27 Mark Welton Aviary 3:30 Law and War: Venezuela and Iran (repeat of Aug 13 presentation)
Sep 10 Jim Laurent Bridgeport 2:30 Is it Bad to Be Godless?
An examination of some of the verbal accusations made against atheists, whether they make sense, and recent demographic trends.
Jim Laurent is a trained educator who started his career as a 7th grade science teacher. He worked for 30 years as an instructor and technologist for major companies in the computer industry. Jim is a frequent speaker at discussion clubs in The Villages and a Board Member of the Humanists Club of The Villages.
Sep 24 Bud Webber Aviary 3:30 Foreign Policy in President Trump's 2nd Term
What are the goals of U.S. Foreign Policy? How have the goals and especially the strategies to achieve those goals changed under President Trump? Which of these strategies are working (so far)? Which of these strategies are not working (so far)?
Bud Webber is a frequent speaker at discussion clubs in The Villages, and is the leader of the Freethinkers Club. He is a retired insurance company Actuary. His education is primarily in Actuarial Science, but he also holds a Masters Degree in Physics.
Oct 8 Bud Webber Bridgeport 2:30 Foreign Policy in President Trump's 2nd Term (repeat of Sep 24 presentation)
Oct 22 Jim Press Aviary 3:30 The Aftermath of WWII in Europe
Let's explore how WWII changed Europe and the world. The vast devastation caused by the war created new friends, new enemies, a Cold War, and a rebuilding that changed Europe. We'll also look at how the war laid the seeds for the birth of Israel, the European Union, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the rise of Vladimir Putin and his new Russia.
Jim Press is a retired history professor. He is also a retired Lt. Col. in the Army Reserves and a frequent speaker for groups in and around The Villages.
Nov 12 Mark Welton Bridgeport 2:30 What Is the World's Best Legal System?
There are many ways to achieve "the rule of law". How is our legal system different from other important systems (such as those used in Europe and Sharia Law)? What are the pros and cons of our system? Is our system the best - how do you think our legal system measures up?
COL Mark Welton is a retired Army JAG officer who spent most of his Army career in Europe, working with counterparts from NATO, the EU, and other European countries on legal and national security issues. He is also retired from his second career as a Professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. These days, Dr. Welton is a frequent speaker in and around The Villages.
Nov 26 No Meeting (Thanksgiving Day)
Dec 3 Mark Welton Aviary 3:30 What Is the World's Best Legal System? (repeat of Nov 12 presentation)
Dec 10 Jim Press Bridgeport 2:30 The Aftermath of WWII in Europe (repeat of Oct 8 presentation)
Dec 24 No Meeting (Christmas Eve - Meet on Dec 3 instead)