A lot of people suggested that it might be useful to have an occasional "chat group" in cyberspace so that those of us who are interested in discussing the ideas of Paul Rosenfels — some of whom are literally on the other side of the world from NYC — could all meet. With the increasing popularity of "instant messaging" software, this dream became a reality in 1999. Hosted by .
Some groundrules: This is a serious group, about issues that are hard to understand, so we ask for your complete attention. Turn off the TV and, if possible, ignore the phone. Don't drop in and out of the chat either; continuity is crucial, so stay with us. Aim for candor, but avoid grandstanding. Disclose personal problems about which you can honestly use some advice, but avoid debating academic questions — especially those which conventional people assume the failed ideologies of famous dead white men have already settled. If you have an ongoing problem with someone in your life, don't just complain about them or rehearse the speech you're going to make if you ever find the courage. We thrive on new ideas, so use your imagination rather than what you remember from Psych 101. Leave your legal problems at the door, too, and don't ask us about Dr. Phil's latest sensational revelation or what we think of that new soap opera hunk. Finally, please test out your messaging software before the group, not during it. Remember that if you violate these groundrules and then fail to heed the moderator's warnings you can be removed from the chat to protect the rest of us.
NOTE: This group is currently on hiatus.
The Enlightenment is one of the most important periods in the history of thought. It gave birth not only to deists and freethinkers, but also to democratic ideals and the scientific method. We are a small group of men and women who meet once every month or so in Manhattan to discuss books that relate broadly to themes of intellectual liberation and social progress — usually in some cozy and quiet restaurant on the Lower East Side. To see which books we're considering and which we've already read, . We also use resources like and . Our organizers are and . To get on the mailing list and receive occasional notices of upcoming meetings, please visit the in Yahoo Groups and click on "Join this Group!" Getting on this list does not obligate you in any way to actually come to any particular meeting. You're perfectly welcome to drop by only when you're interested in what we're reading.
Although our community is distributed throughout the world, many of us now offer peer counseling based on the psychological insights of Paul Rosenfels. To arrange for an appointment, email us at and we will try to connect you with someone.