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.  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

Dec 5 Peter Irwin Aviary 3:30 Rationales for War 

Were the British and French justified in fighting to stop Hitler?  Were we justified in fighting for our independence?  Was Lincoln justified in the Civil War?  How about attacking Afghanistan after 9/11? Viet Nam? Korea? Iraq?  Helping Ukraine save its democracy and freedom? Helping dictators who side with us against our enemies?  Protecting our economic interests?  Under what circumstances is war justified?

Peter is a retired clinical scientist who worked for pharmaceutical companies developing drugs to treat diseases of the brain.  He is a frequent speaker at discussion clubs in The Villages

Dec 12 Peter Irwin Bridgeport 2:30 Rationales for War (repeat of Dec 5 presentation)

Jan 9 Mark Welton Bridgeport 2:30 The Rule of Law:  Principles and Challenges

What do we mean by "the rule of law"?  Why is it so crucially important to a functioning democracy and economic prosperity?  What are the challenges that the U.S. and other democracies are facing in maintaining the rule of law?  How might these challenges impact our future?

Col Welton is a retired Army JAG officer who spent most of his active duty career in Europe dealing with legal issues with his EU and NATO counterparts.  Dr. Welton is also retired from a second career as a professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.  Mark is a prolific and very popular speaker at many venues around The Villages.  Areas of expertise include Iran, the Middle East, Constitutional & International law

Jan 23 Mark Welton Aviary 3:30 The Rule of Law:  Principles and Challenges  (repeat of Jan 9 presentation)