WHY A FORUM?

When the Romans established a city they built it around an open area called a forum - "place outdoors". This forum was the central marketplace where goods were bought and sold. Naturally, as a place where large numbers of people gathered on a daily basis, it also became a place where ideas were regularly exchanged and discussed. The forum would become a place where public debate was held on current issues and, on occasion, the debating ground for politics of the day.

While we may not have called them "forums", the town squares of cities throughout America served a similar function in our own history. In addition to being the hub of market activity, town squares became the center of activity for public discourse, whether it was about the latest news or politics of the day, some new invention or new-fangled idea that had come along, or religious faith.

Public discourse was such an integral part of the forum (and later the town square) that the word took on a new meaning and was used to refer to a public meeting or lecture involving audience discussion (Webster's). The marketplace became a "marketplace of ideas".

Today we find our "forums" often take place in the new "town square", the media; driven by a fast-paced culture that expresses and seeks new information at ever increasing speed. As such, we often miss the opportunities to exchange ideas and engage in the personal discourse afforded by the Roman forums and the American town squares. With this in mind, 2nd Avenue Forums was established.

Through our organization, those interested are able to engage in small group discussions about faith, religion, and spirituality in today's culture; sharing points on which we agree and disagree. Participants have the opportunity to actually share their own thoughts as well as hear those of others.

Periodically, 2nd Avenue Forums also offers community conferences, seminars, and workshops with the purpose of stimulating one's thinking regarding the topic at hand. It is our hope that these discussions lead participants to further meaningful interaction with others.

To learn more about current opportunities offered by our staff, click FORUMS.