... disparate biological, racial, ethnic, social, politica

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The Circle of Reason
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A fellowship of the religious and non-religious
who believe communal commitment to reason will
transform the world.
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PROBLEMS Lack of dialogue Religious and
secular aggression Polarization and
prejudice SOLUTION Bridge religious and
secular gulfs with reasoning dialogue Communal
commitment to reasoning in lieu of
aggression Truly ecumenical, transbelief
fellowship
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Our Mission We believe in the power of reasoning
and logical minds, when present in sufficient
numbers, to reduce and someday eliminate all ills
on Earth caused by human irrationality. But no
culture exists today that envisions community
commitment to logic and reason as an absolute
requirement for improvement of the world or even
of one's own assumptions and actions. Only a
different approach to solving irrationality by
the human race can lead to a better outcome.
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• What is the Role of Reason in any
• Religion, Faith, or Belief System?
• Reason plays a critical role in all belief
  systems -- as the umpire.
• Reason defines the limit of the role religion,
  faith or belief can legitimately play in (and the
  interface through which it must communicate with)
  our larger and more heterogeneous society and its
  moral systems.
• Without reason, belief cuts itself off from the
  universe, like a black hole spiraling into
  crushing darkness -- becoming an aggressive,
  all-consuming dogma of ignorance. What do we
  consider evil in the world? Willful unreasoning.
• Reason is the one unique capacity that confers
  upon the human species the potential for
  self-generated apotheosis -- the potential to
  create a purpose as a sentient species that may
  outlive all that we now know.
• Reason could thus be considered a "sacred gift
  (whether from God or Darwin) -- even though we
  don't usually capitalize the "R!

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• The Role of Reason and Charity in the Methodist
  Church -- Wikipedia
• It is a historical position of the Methodist
  church that any disciplined theological work
  calls for the careful use of reason.
• By reason, it is said, one reads and is able
  to interpret Scripture coherently and
  consistently. By reason one determines whether
  one's Christian witness is clear. By reason one
  asks questions of faith and seeks to understand
  God's action and will.
• Methodism insists that personal salvation
  always implies Christian mission and service to
  the world. Scriptural holiness entails more than
  personal piety love of God is always linked with
  love of neighbors and a passion for justice and
  renewal in the life of the world.

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About Us The Circle of Reason is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization devoted to fellowship and
service to society -- but in a way different than
you've seen before A fellowship who believe
communal commitment to reason will transform the
world. No culture in history has used communal
commitment to reason as a way to improve the
world as well as our individual lives. We believe
this approach to solving irrationality by the
human race can lead to a better outcome than what
has come before. Our goal is to institute local
and virtual congregations, or circles, of those
who believe in the power of reason to gradually
but inexorably identify and expunge irrationality
from our worldly lives and from local society,
campaign and governmental policies, and global
society. A fellowship who exclude none. We
welcome all who seek clarity of mind, regardless
of their present beliefs or creeds. Faith can
even harmonize with reason, when we accept the
gift of the mind to better understand, live in,
and shepherd this world. Consequently, the Circle
is unique in inviting everyone, including both
the religious and the non-religious, into an
additional shared haven -- a truly ecumenical
fellowship to make the world we've all inherited
a saner place.
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• How the Circle of Reason Contributes
• The Circle of Reason's (CORs) purpose is not
  merely to call for trans-belief tolerance, as do
  other ecumenical fellowships. Telling people to
  be more tolerant is not necessarily the best way
  to make them more tolerant.
• Tolerance may best be achieved by encouraging
  people to use the intellectual tools that
  naturally create it.
• Hence, COR asks for more than simply
  fellowship.
• COR thinks it is critical to encourage
  reasoning fellowship -- to encourage
  rationality within, and reasoning dialogue
  between, its community members both religious and
  secular, and of disparate biological, racial,
  ethnic, social, political and economic
  backgrounds.

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History Founded January 1, 2000 (Dr. Frank H.
Burton, Exec. Director) Incorporated as
religious/charitable nonprofit September 13,
2002 Publicly debuted (online) July 4, 2007
(www.circleofreason.org) Service mark U.S.
Registered November, 27, 2007 RSS Feed
syndicated January 3, 2009 (Parable of the Week
blog) Main website hits to date 5231 (71
countries,1533 cities) Registered online Virtual
Local Circles to date 3 Virtual Local Circle
discussion posts to date 3153 Registered Local
Circles to date 2 (Cardiff UK Mayfield KY,
USA) News articles to date 3 (MN Independent, TC
Daily Planet, RH Reality Check) Membership
tally to date 343 (date 4/5/09)
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Tenets Fundamental (hard to reasonably
deny) Minimal (avoids dogma) Compatible
(accommodates religious or secular beliefs)
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The Affirmation of The Circle of Reason We
believe in the power of reasoning and logical
minds, when present in sufficient numbers, to
reduce and someday eliminate all ills on Earth
caused by human irrationality -- to prevent war,
government corruption, environmental destruction,
institutionalized poverty and discrimination. Our
purpose is to so change the world within the next
50 generations -- by encouraging people to commit
to local congregations of faith in the ability of
logical and reasoning thought to save our world
and bring our next major step in moral evolution.
We welcome all who seek clarity of mind,
regardless of present beliefs or creed, to The
Circle of Reason. January 1, 2000 C.E.
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3 Tenets of Reason Reality's Acceptance
Assumption's Denial Emotion's Mastery 3
Guides of Action What is, is. Reality denied
causes wrong action Reality accepted causes
right action. What is not, is not. Incorrect
assumptions, non-reality accepted as reality,
cause wrong action Questioned assumptions cause
right action. What is or is not, is
paramount. Emotion unmastered by reason causes
wrong action Emotion's mastery by reason causes
right action.
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The 3 Paths to Right Action Accept what is,
reject what is not, leave open what may be.
Root out incorrect assumptions and their
signpost -- contradictions. Let reason, not
emotion, be the final arbiter of your actions.
Here resides faith. The 3 Paths to Wrong
Action Reject what is, accept what is not,
reject or accept what may be. Act based
on unconsidered assumptions, and ignore their
contradictions. Let emotion rule your actions.
Here resides superstition. Here resides
dogmatism.
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The Paragons of Reason and Unreason The
Paragon of Reason Objective, Open-minded, and
Calm The Paragon of Unreason Subjective,
Close-minded, and Emotional
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The Meditation of Reason In Reality's denial
was I blind -- by Reality's Acceptance do I
see. In Assumption's acceptance was I bowed --
by Assumption's Denial do I stand. In Emotion's
surrender did I stampede -- by Emotion's Mastery
do I stride. By these three do I drink from the
depths, tread beyond the horizon, and reach for
the zenith of the World.
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The Circle Thanksgiving An Ecumenical
Thanksgiving Let us bow our heads in prayer or
contemplation. We give thanks for the gift of
the Mind, through which our purpose shall be
envisioned. We give thanks for the gift of the
Will, through which our purpose shall be
manifest. We give thanks for the gift of the
Heart, through which our purpose shall be
ennobled. And we give thanks for the gift of
the Universe, through which our purpose shall be
magnified. So say we all.
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Virtual Local Circles of Reason Online Beliefnet
Circle of Reason (BCOR), Facebook Circle of
Reason (FCOR) The Circle of Reason Round Table
(CORRT) To seek out new logical life, and new
rational civilizations -- to clearly go where no
one has gone before To find, recruit, converse
with and encourage -- from all walks of life, all
biologies, all beliefs, all societies -- those
who are your own kinsmen and kinswomen - the
reasoning kind To discuss the role of reason,
or its absence, in our "modern" society To
help humankind at long last attain philosophical
maturity You're looking for The Circle of
Reason's public webforums -- Gather in, speak
out, listen up, get down.
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Clarity Circles A tradition of communal clear
thinking Online or real-world gatherings whose
members help one of their group through an
important life choice by simply -- and only --
asking questions, to help their colleagues
perceive the realities, assumptions, and emotions
that underlie their dilemma. Historically, the
first clarity circles were founded by the
Quakers, where they continue today.
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The Circle of Reason does not seek to convert
its members from their faiths, but encourages its
members to reasonably guide their faiths. Local
Circles are thus encouraged to be founded in and
sponsored by (or between) neighborhood churches,
synagogues, mosques, temples and atheist groups,
while welcoming members of every belief and
creed
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Local Circles of Reason
Local Circles of Reason
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Local Circles of Reason A shared haven of true
ecumenism for a saner world. Founding of
Local Circles is beginning within cities and,
more locally, within neighborhood houses of
worship and/or secular groups and as virtual,
online Local Circles.
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Local Circle Activities (all voluntary
current) Charitable Activities (see Website
Links) Weekday, or Weekend Afternoon, Meetings
(no conflict with worship) Clarity Circles and
Circle Coaches Sermons/Lectures Discussions Ecume
nical Music Potlucks Witnessing for Reasoning
Fellowship Ceremonies (marriage, commitment,
amicable divorce, eulogium) Vocational Hobby
Groups Networking Groups Socrates or Science
Cafes Study and Book Groups Wikilators
(International Circle Program) StrikeForcers
(International Circle Program) Reason Monitors
(International Circle Program) Day Care, Literacy
and Adult Education Internet to Neighborhood
Local Circle Formation
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Unique Circle Programs Wikilators Internet
translators for the Circles Parable of The Week
and Parables Archive, to permit other-language
mirror websites. StrikeForce Most bad events in
the world are the consequences of our own actions
magnified by 6.6 billion others acting in the
same way. To remind us we all need to go "on
strike" to avoid doing the things that, when done
en masse, harm society and our planet, we are
sponsoring the Circle StrikeForces, including
DrugStrike, BingeStrike and its "242" (Two Drinks
for Two Decades) celebration, GangStrike,
CliqueStrike, SlurStrike, CheatStrike and
TrashStrike. Reason Monitors Much public
discourse is filled with denials of reality,
questionable assumptions (false realities), and
"argumentum ad hominem," or emotional insults or
appeals. Reason Monitors will sit by the front
row, or post YouTube clips, while literally
green-, yellow- or red- flagging such errors, to
help keep the ship of state on an even keel.
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Church-Sponsored Local Circles Host church
members who believe in reason in worldly
society Host neighborhood members of different
religious secular beliefs A charitable
activity, to encourage reason -- no
proselytizing Demonstrate how religion can
coexist, and harmonize, with reason
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Church-Sponsored Local Circles Benefit to Church
Members Learn about other religious secular
perspectives Learn how to believe without
aggression, and by faith Find common ground
between religious- reason- based
morality Benefit to Non-Church Members Learn
about neighborhood churchs religious
perspectives and faith Learn how to believe (or
disbelieve) without aggression, and by
faith Find common ground between religious-
reason- based morality
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Circle Membership Membership through Circle
Main Website, Beliefnet, Facebook and Round
Table Groups Provide Name, E-mail address
City, State and Country of Residence -- used for
networking local circle organizing. Membership
in Local Circles No membership fee -- rich or
poor, all are welcome No creed based exclusion.
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Membership is Open We welcome all who seek
clarity of mind, regardless of current beliefs or
creed. Exclusion from, or discrimination
against any person in, the Circle because of
religious or non-religious belief, race,
ethnicity, country of origin, economic status,
profession, gender (or trans-, multi- or non-
gendered) status, sexual orientation, marital
status, disability, or political orientation is
prohibited. Total inclusiveness that is
sensitive to strongly-held beliefs, but that
promulgates the effort to adhere to, develop and
celebrate reason-validated assumptions and
actions in personal life and worldly society, is
the only requirement of local circles to remain
registered as a Circle of Reason.
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Membership is Religious Nonreligious Local
Circles commit to welcome and recruit members of
differing religious or non-religious beliefs,
accomplished by these guidelines Proselytizing
by, or of, Circle attendees to accept unproven
assumptions (e.g., faith-based religious or
atheistic beliefs) isnt permitted by Circle
officials or Circle literature. Tolerance of
another's right to refrain from adopting beliefs
is the shared foundation stone of religion,
atheism and agnosticism -- that each possesses
the right, whether innate or God-given, to free
will and unimpeded, reasoned choice. Proselytizin
g by, or of, Circle attendees to deny unproven
assumptions should be limited to
non-confrontationally encouraging the questioning
of only those assumptions reviewable within
current strongly held belief systems. Attendees
will differ in their starting assumptions, and
must question them at their own pace. Moreover,
questioning assumptions that underlie lifestyles
reasonably defensible without such assumptions
should be avoided as incidental and thus
confrontational (e.g., because a tolerant
religious lifestyle is defensible without
unproven assumptions via "Pascal's Wager," and a
tolerant non-religious lifestyle is defensible
without unproven assumptions via "Occam's Razor,
questioning the belief of tolerant religious or
atheist persons should be avoided.)
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• Is Secular Bible Study a de facto Local Circle of
  Reason?
• Secular Bible Study casts wide net --
  Star-Tribune, 2/20/09
• The Secular Bible Study program aims to "foster
  and nurture relationships between folks who would
  otherwise avoid each other."
• "Secular Bible Study hopes to attract a variety
  of people -- Buddhists, atheists, agnostics,
  Christians and even Jews and Muslims.
• Organizers have drawn up a set of ground rules
  designed to keep participants from proselytizing,
  but that doesn't mean that they want to
  discourage disagreement.
• We've discerned that people have lost or lack
  the skills to engage in constructive and
  respectful dialogue in the context of profound
  disagreement.
• "An emphasis will be placed on dialogue among
  the group of small groups."

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Local Circles of Reason (2009) Mayfield High
School Circle of Reason (Kentucky, USA) Lee
Scarbrough, Circle Advisor Circle of
Reason-Cardiff (UK) Favio Becker, Circle
Advisor Circle of Reason-Endorsed Transbelief
Reasoning Fellowships (2009) Secular Bible Study
Meetup Group (Minneapolis, MN, USA) Chester
OGorman (Trinity United Methodist Church) and
Grant Steves (MN Atheists), Meetup Group
Organizers
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Circle Organizational Strategy Websites
Recruit Circle, Beliefnet, Facebook, Round Table,
Meetup, STARFLEET, and Atlasphere members
leaders. Newspaper Photoshop ads for local
circle organizational meetings. Public Access
TV Photoshop TV bulletins and iMovie video
commercials for local circle organizational
meetings. Churches PowerPoint show replayed
TV commercials to organize open local circles
among the more liberal or progressive contingents
of churches (as well as humanist, atheist and
Objectivist groups.) Direct Recruitment E-mail
local Objectivist-Ayn Rand/Star Trek/
Atheist/Humanist/Ecumenical religious leaders
found in Meetup, Facebook, MySpace, STARFLEET,
Atlasphere and other online humanist, atheist and
progressive religious dot-orgs. Scale Up
Recruit leaders in all above meetings and groups
to expand recruitment and local circles by
similarly visiting and organizing.
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Circle Finances No tithing No passing the
plate No membership dues Volunteerism Future
income from authors donation of 100 of book
royalties 501(c)(3) tax-exempt religious
charitable non-profit corporation
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Local and International Circle Leadership I.
Nominated by Board Majority Elected by
Membership Majority Local Circle of Reason
Board of Directors (local non-profit) The Circle
of Reason, Inc. International Board of Directors
(non-profit.) II. Appointees of Local and
International Boards of Directors Executive
Director Communications Director Treasurer Secreta
ry Taskforces Local Circle Advisors (Local Boards
Appoint, International Board Reviews) III.
Irrevocable Charter of Principles IV. Decadal
Principles Adherence Review of Leadership by
Philosophy Department Faculty of Accredited
Public Universities in Countries with
Constitutional Separation of Church and State
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The Circle of Reason, Inc., International
Headquarters 606 East Minnehaha Parkway,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 USA Website
www.circleofreason.org Email burton_at_circleofreas
on.org Executive Director, The Circle of
Reason, Inc. Dr. Frank H. Burton, Minneapolis,
MN, USA Administrator, Facebook Circle of
Reason Favio Masulli y Becker, Cardiff,
UK Moderators, Beliefnet Circle of
Reason Hahayana and Frank Burton
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Visit the Circle at www.circleofreason.org
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