Assholes Alert! Orange County NeoFreethinkers Hear UCI Professor's Asshole Theory SUNDAY

Peter Montoya says his Church for Thinkers is catching fire with believers and non-believers alike. With that in mind (and spirit), let us think about the topic of this weekend's “Re-Think Sunday” presentation by Aaron James, a UC Irvine professor of philosophy: “Assholes: a Theory.”

Oh, I think it's more than a theory, brothers and sistahs! (Ask anyone who reads me!)

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James, author of the New York Times bestseller Assholes – A Theory, will share with Orange County freethinkers what it means to be an asshole while challenging them to look inward and evaluate their own behaviors.

By the way, he defines an “asshole” as someone who, in interpersonal or cooperative relations, has the following characteristics: allows himself to enjoy special advantages and does so systemically; does this out of an entrenched sense of entitlement; is immunized by his sense of entitlement against the complaints of other people.

Marry me!

Pop the question at http://www.onassholes.com.

Montoya says that with little pre-publicity, the last monthly Re-Think Sunday event on May 31 drew 50 people.

“We're really starting to get come great traction,” he says. “We're not just another cute little meet-up group, but rather we have a strong philosophy and [are] attracting great attention.”

His description of that philosophy:

New Freethinking is the philosophy of human cooperation. It is rooted in critical thinking, which encourages us to carefully consider facts, listen to the views of others, acknowledge prejudices and think more deeply. We provide a platform for people to engage in mutually satisfying conversations and develop meaningful relationships through which we challenge ourselves to grow. We believe that active listening and a true desire to understand others is the foundation for solving political and social gridlock. Without question (and contrary to what we see in politics and world affairs today), people can work together for the greater good. The principals and practices of New Freethinking provide a pathway to maximize human cooperation, supporting productive communication and practical solutions to the problems we face on a local, national and global basis.

Can you dig it? Then head over Sunday to The Duck Club (Irvine Ranch Water District Community Room), 15 Riparian View, Irvine, by 10 a.m. More: http://www.meetup.com/NewFreethinkers/.

And here comes the disclaimer: “The Irvine Ranch Water District neither supports nor endorses the cause or activities of organizations which use the District's facilities. The facilities are made available as a public service.”

Email: mc****@oc******.com. Twitter: @MatthewTCoker. Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly or on Facebook!

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