Café Inquiry Muskegon – Transcendence and the Search for Meaning

Burl and Sprig – 333 W. Western Ave, Muskegon

Most of us have had what can be loosely defined as a transcendent experience – looking at a gorgeous sunset a beautiful work of art or the vast night sky, listening to a beautiful piece of music, or falling in love. What causes these feelings? Is it just the interaction of the atoms that make up our bodies? Or is there another level beyond the physical? What does science tell us about this? How do we find meaning in our existence if we are basically just an organized bundle of physical processes?

Join us February 9 at 6 PM as we discuss these and whatever other questions that may arise! Here are a couple of links if you’d like to explore these issues ahead of time. The first is to the PBS series, “Searching: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science”. The second is to an episode and transcript of Sean Carroll’s “Mindscape” podcast in which he discusses some of these issues with Alan Lightman, the host of the PBS series in the first link.

Café Inquiry starts with a short introduction of the day’s topic, followed by casual discussion.

This event is free and open to the public. Donations appreciated, but not expected.

Attendees are able to future propose topics which would align with Michigan Humanist’s purpose: from atheism, agnosticism, humanism, secularism, and freethinking to broader subjects in science and humanities, such as religion, philosophy, social issues, politics, evolution, morality, ethics, and psychology.

Café Inquiry (Muskegon) meets each month on the second Thursday.

—

Michigan Humanists values the participation of all guests — requests for reasonable accommodation may be made by contacting the event host at least three days prior to the event.

Michigan Humanists expects all guests to engage in respectful discussion. Critiques on views and claims based on merit are allowed, but not attacks on individuals who hold other perspectives.

Any person engaging in disruptive behavior or harassment will be asked to leave, and may be banned from future events pending the severity of the action. Please speak to the event host or contact info@michiganhumanists.org if you feel these expectations are being violated.