The Villages Free Thinkers Club
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. (Note new time and location starting April 11). 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
Apr 25 Jim Laurent Aviary 3:30 Does Capital Punishment Work? (Repeat of Apr 11 presentation)
May 9 Mike Petersen Bridgeport 2:30 Artificial Intelligence
What is happening in AI? How will AI affect our lives in the future? What are the potential benefits and risks associated with AI? Should it be regulated (and how would that work, internationally)?
Mike Petersen has been presenting mostly scientific topics to non-scientists for over 40 years, in the U.S. and abroad.
May 23 Dr. Mark Welton Aviary 3:30 War & Peace in The Middle East (Repeat of Mar 14 presentation)
June 13 Dr. Mark Welton Bridgeport 2:30 Sunnis & Shia's: Sectarian Conflict in the Islamic World
What are the differences between these 2 major Muslim denominations, and how did they evolve? How have these differences and historical grievances led to religious wars? What are Iran's goals and rationale in fomenting conflict in certain areas of the Middle East?
Col Welton is a retired Army JAG officer who spent most of his career in Europe co-ordinating national security and legal issues with his EU and NATO counterparts. He is also retired from a second career as a Professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is a prolific and very popular speaker at many venues in and around The Villages. Areas of expertise include the Middle East, Iran & National Security.
June 27 Dr. Mark Welton Aviary 3:30 Sunnis & Shia's: Sectarian Conflict in the Islamic World (Repeat of June 13 presentation)
The Freethinkers Clubs do not meet in July