Author: Toronto OASIS

Sunday Gathering – Top Ten World Issues More Important that Trump

This Sunday August 27th Toronto Oasis is pleased to have Charles Richard Christopher Hope (Chris) lead us in a discussion exploring the top ten world issues more important than Trump.

Its easy to get caught up in the media frenzy of one story and lose sight of all the other issues facing our world today.  Chris will lead us through a discussion on what we think are the most pressing world issues, followed by a review of what a number of publications have noted as critical issues facing the world.

We will meet as usual in the Koffler Centre at the University of Toronto at 11am, in the 2nd floor space beside the elevator. Please RSVP on our Meetup page for the event at https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/241328829/.

Advance Notice: For Sunday September 3rd, the plan is for us all to go join with the other Oasis Network member in Toronto, West Hill United Church, for their non-theist service and the “Visitors and Travelers Lunch” afterwards – 10:30am at 62 Orchard Park Drive (corner with Kingston Road) in Scarborough.

Sun Aug 20 – Discussion on Godless Faith

This week Toronto Oasis is pleased to have Brett Matthews tell his own story of godless faith, followed by a general discussion.

We know that there is meditation without religion. Is there also room for a godless faith?

Is there a difference to you, between faith and belief? faith and hope? 
Do you have faith? If so, what sort? Why?

Is faith a useful spiritual practice for you?

Please RSVP on the Meetup page for this event, https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/241328815/

Contributing to Oasis

Like all organizations, it takes money to keep Toronto Oasis running! (Volunteering is also extremely helpful.) Expenses include room rentals, honorariums to musicians when we have them, and some web expenses.

We welcome donations at each Sunday event, and can even take them by credit card with the Square app on one of the leadership group’s cell phones.

You can also sign up for monthly donations to Toronto Oasis on Patreon. Go to https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4361700, then sign up to “BECOME A PATRON”. Please note that donations via Patreon are in US$. We can also set up monthly donations with the Square app.

Our thanks for any contributions of time or money!

Toronto Oasis is not currently a charitable organization, so you can’t claim these donations as tax deductions, but we are hoping to become a registered charity in the future.

Welcome to Toronto Oasis

Toronto Oasis is a community that meets regularly to create a place for freethinkers to celebrate the human experience. Each week we gather to discuss real-world principles based on reason, not tradition, which are supported by evidence, not scripture or revelation. Launching in February 2016, Toronto Oasis is fundamentally different from a church; we could be described as a freethought oasis, where we welcome all people who want to be part of a community exploring life through reason.

We are guided by core values which define our community. They shape our interactions with each other, society, and the world.

  • People are more important than beliefs.

  • Reality is known through reason.

  • Meaning comes from making a difference.

  • Human hands solve human problems.

  • Be accepting and be accepted.

Everyone is on their own journey–Agnostic, Atheist, Secular Humanist, or Questioning Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or Hindu–we look to provide a community that accepts you as you are on your journey: as long as you accept others for where they are on their journey. We aspire to be a community where people come together, celebrate the human experience, and not let faith get in the way.

Toronto Oasis meets every Sunday at 10:30 am. The community gets together to enjoy coffee, live music, and to learn something new about the world, to draw strength from the power of human community, and to engage in service projects for the betterment of the human condition. Our hope is that you leave each Sunday with a desire to reflect or make a positive change within yourself or the community at large. We invite you to join us to make new meaning in life by making a difference and doing great things.

“Regardless of theological orientation, there is some kind of deeply ingrained basic human need for community. Homo sapiens are a tribal species that need support from others; that cannot be denied.”

– Mike Aus, Executive Director, Houston Oasis

Sunday Gathering – Discussion on Religious Accommodation

This week Toronto Oasis is pleased to have our own Tania Akon lead a group discussion on religious accommodation.  So please bring your thoughts, stories and inquisitive open minds!  (Also please feel free to bring snacks!  Coffee and tea will be provided.)

As usual, we are meeting at the Multifaith Centre at the University of Toronto, 569 Spadina Ave., in our summer room: the 2nd floor multipurpose room beside the elevator.

Sunday Gathering – Oasis Brunch

This week we will meet for brunch and discussion at the Bedford Academy, 36 Prince Arthur Ave.

We will meet at the restaurant, so please go directly there (take the Bedford exit from St. George Station, if you are coming by TTC). The reservation is under “Oasis”. Please RSVP on our Meetup page for it, https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/241328797/, so we can be sure of the numbers!

Looking forward to some more lively conversation and the chance to get to know each other better.

Sunday July 30: To Tell the Truth

This week Dan will facilitate a group discussion with these questions: When and why do we tell the truth, tell partial truths or “little white lies”, or lie outright? When are those decisions difficult for us? Are we concerned about lack of truthfulness in society, and what, if anything, can we do about it?

We are meeting in the 2nd Floor Multipurpose Room of Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave.

July 23 – Hopefulness

The theme of this week’s meeting is Hopefulness. The world can seem like it’s slipping backward at times, but there are many reasons for hope, and progress continues to be made in many ways. It’s good to focus on hope from time to time.
We will show a TED Talk, one with a very hopeful message, and we will follow it with a group discussion about our own reasons for hope.  Please bring any personal examples, and any evidence you have that the world is getting better. Active participation is encouraged but not required, you are welcome to come and listen.
We will be meeting as usual at Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave.
The meeting is in our summer location, the 2nd Floor Multipurpose Room beside the elevator.

July 16 – The Oasis Community in the Community

This week we will explore the different ways we see the Oasis Community making a difference in our broader community.  Please come with your ideas, and as always snacks for us to share while we discuss.

The meeting is in the 2nd Floor Multipurpose Room beside the elevator (a new room for us) in our usual building – Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave.

July 9 – Brunch and Visiting!

Please join us for a brunch and discussion focused on the core values of the Oasis Network which are:

People are more important than beliefs.
Reality is known through reason.
Meaning comes from making a difference.
Human hands solve human problems.
Be accepting and be accepted.

This week we will meet at Koffler House by 11:15 and then walk over to Madison Avenue Pub (14 Madison Ave. – it runs North from Bloor, 1 block East of Spadina) for brunch at 11:30.

You  can meet us there if you prefer – the reservation’s under “Oasis”. It would be best to RSVP on Meetup so we can be sure of the numbers!

Looking forward to some more lively conversation and the chance to get to know each other better.