By Paul Rupp
They say it’s the most wonderful time of the year, and despite what I’m often told is the “real” meaning of Christmas, I find myself drawing the most meaning from this season through reflection. As I’ve reflected this year, I’ve noticed how many of the stories we associate with this time revolve around themes of change, redemption, and transformation.
Over the past year, I have moved frequently between exasperation and motivation. In the morning I’m adjusting to a new work role, and by afternoon I’m trying to make sense of the latest political catastrophe. During this time, I have also spent considerable energy thinking about meaning, hope, and purpose. At times these have been hard to see amid the chaos, and I often found myself wondering why I was struggling while others were facing far worse outcomes. It was during one of those moments that my wife recommended I read Viktor Frankl.
By Paul Rupp
Over a recent weekend, I attended a wedding where several friends I hadn’t seen in years were also in attendance. There was a moment when I felt a deep sense of euphoria — simply being in community with people I care about, no matter how much time has passed.
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By Paul Rupp
When I first joined HumanistsMN, one of the most exciting things I noticed was how quickly the organization was growing. It didn’t take long to understand why: I saw firsthand the hard work and dedication of our incredible volunteers. Planning one event might not seem difficult, but doing it …
By Paul Rupp
When I joined HumanistsMN a little over two years ago, I did not suspect I would be in the position that I am today as the newly installed president. I joined because I was looking for community among like-minded people, but I found so much more. I found people …
By Ellie Haylund
I write this piece with sentimental contemplation at the close of my presidency and my eighth and final year on the HumanistsMN Board. And a dash of confusion at how fast time seems to go by! Surely I’m still young and brand new…
While we all hold many …
By Ellie Haylund
As we in the United States grapple with the growing influence of Christian nationalism within our government, I think about humanism and the nonreligious globally. Historically, I have felt relatively safe here being an open humanist. But the increasing threats to that comfort remind us that in many places in …
Happy New Year! As we look ahead to 2025, I am filled with a combination of hope, inspiration, and uncertainty. Reflecting on where we’ve come from and where we want to go, I see vast opportunities to grow our community, advocate for our values, and make a meaningful impact in the world. One of my greatest hopes is to see HMN continue to grow as a robust and welcoming community for like-minded people.
As we strive to see humanism flourish, become a widespread worldview, and continue as a force for common good, our partnerships and networks become increasingly critical. When it comes to issues that matter to us, it’s partly about numbers — our voice is stronger and our reach is greater. Whether it’s teaming up with Christians Against Christian Nationalism to advocate for the separation of religion and government or collaborating with Open Arms to maintain gardens that provide food for critically ill Minnesotans, our organizational relationships are essential to putting our values into action.
Happy Summer, fellow humanists! I hope you’ve been able to enjoy the weather and perhaps have even found the silver lining in the excessive rain (less garden maintenance?). At May’s annual meeting, we dedicated time to group table discussions to gather feedback and suggestions. As we grow, we want to grow in the right direction.
Humanism as we know it is certainly not a new concept, but I’ve often felt that it lived in relative obscurity. Relatable, but requiring an explanation; simply not a household name. And while one might argue that it is still not a commonplace term amongst the general public, humanism has become increasingly applicable in society – both with the rising numbers of the religiously unaffiliated as well as the palpable need for reason and compassion in our society.
By Ellie Haylund
No matter how corrupt, greedy, and heartless our government, our corporations, our media, and our religious & charitable institutions may become, the music will still be wonderful.
― Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country
How much does music orchestrate your life? Do you create it? Do …
Hello, humanist friends! In January, we kicked off 2024 with a phenomenal speaker at our Community Gathering – author, scholar, and podcast host Bradley Onishi. His presentation focused on white Christian nationalism and authoritarianism. It was compelling, informative, and motivating.
Happy New Year, HumanistsMN members and friends! I’ve never been big on resolutions. I tend to set personal goals for myself arbitrarily throughout the year to varying degrees of success. But I appreciate the benefit of structured goals — whether that means a distinct timeline with a beginning and an end, or something collaborative with accountability.
Hope Over Troubled Waters
February 3, 2026
By Paul Rupp
At January’s Religious Freedom Forum, I said I wished we were coming together in less dire times. We were gathering as Minnesota was under an anti-immigrant siege that had already claimed the life of Renee Good, who was shot while simply observing the activities of federal agents in her …
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