HumanistsMN sponsors monthly gatherings for our community at 3 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month. Everyone is welcome at these free get-togethers. We host engaging speakers on humanism, social issues, political affairs, science, and other topics of interest to world citizens. And we catch up with our friends and meet newcomers at a social hour with drinks and snacks. We take a break in June, July, and August, when we hold outdoor picnics with other secular groups.
Fish Stark, executive director of the American Humanist Association, spoke to the HumanistsMN Religious Freedom Forum about the importance of separation of church and state to America’s democracy and the fight against tyranny. The text of his remarks appears below.
Fish Stark addresses the HumanistsMN Religious Freedom Forum on Jan. 17, 2026.
Two …
HumanistsMN acknowledges Rep. Freiberg’s powerful actions and vital commitment to our country’s foundational principle of separation of religion and government.
Scholar and Christian extremism expert Matthew D. Taylor discussed the threat to democracy of a network of Christian extremists known as the New Apostolic Reformation. Speaking at our November Community Gathering, Taylor, author of The Violent Take It by Force and creator of the “Charismatic Revival Fury” podcast series, proposed building nonviolent, diverse, secular …
By Audrey Kingstrom, Program Coordinator
As we start a new program year at HumanistsMN, you can expect increased programming and some great speakers! Also a few tweaks: starting this month, our first and third Saturday afternoon programs at First Unitarian Society will both be billed as “Humanist Community Gatherings.”
We are …
Krystal Jackson, a nonresident research fellow at the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity, AI Security Initiative, spoke at our March Community Gathering about the challenges facing us as the use of artificial intelligence mushrooms.
AI in the wrong hands can be misaligned with humanist values, she said.
She described growing concern over the …
Fish Stark, executive director of the American Humanist Association, discussed ways the growth of humanism can benefit society, for example by offering a sense of identity to the growing number of people who are religiously unaffiliated at a time when the United States is experiencing a “deep wellness crisis.”
“Having a strong …
Tane Danger, an improvisational performer and workshop facilitator, spoke to our November Community Gathering about the power of improv to foster greater understanding and civility in our dealings with others. He described his company’s civic improv show, the Theater of Public Policy, and “Sketches of Minnesota” tour, a collaboration with the Minnesota …
Patrick Coolican, editor-in-chief of the Minnesota Reformer, editor-in chief of the Minnesota Reformer, discussed what’s at stake in the November election in Minnesota and nationally at our October Community Gathering. He explained why we can expect Minnesota to remain “blue” and discussed the work of the Reformer, a nonprofit news outlet that covers Minnesota politics and business.
A big crowd — 113 people — gathered for our September Community Gathering to hear Hemant Mehta of FriendlyAtheist.com talk about the dangers of Project 2025, the authoritarian blueprint for a Republican administration.
HumanistsMN members elected a president, vice president, and four at-large members to its Board at the May annual meeting. See their profiles here. We also said thank you to Seth Engman, who left the Board after seven years of service.
In an Earth Day presentation, Jason Lukasik, associate professor of education at Augsburg University, spoke about cultural changes and shifts needed to bring about broader ecological change.
Valerie Tiberius, author and professor of philosophy at the University of Minnesota, told our March Community Gathering about her research into the factors that contribute to well-being. Author of the recent What Do You Want out of Life?: A Philosophical Guide to Figuring Out What Matters, she discussed the importance of achieving goals based …
Three education experts at our February Community Gathering discussed challenges facing public schools as they grapple with the rise of groups waging culture wars in areas like critical race theory, transgender rights, and social-emotional learning.
A record crowd of 130 people attended our January Community Gathering featuring Bradley Onishi, co-host of the podcast Straight White American Jesus and author of the book Preparing for War: the Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism — and What Comes Next. A “Humanists and Friends” reception and book signing followed.
HMN Members Offer Appreciation, Advice at Annual Meeting
July 6, 2024
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.
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