Tag: secular values

NEW HUMANIST VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: FOOD PACKING AT THE FOOD GROUP WAREHOUSE

By Nathan Curland

Last month, Humanists of Minnesota launched a new monthly volunteer opportunity for its members. We secured a two-hour monthly slot at the Food Group’s Warehouse in New Hope to  pack food boxes for the secular nonprofit’s 170 statewide food-shelf partners.

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Board Endorses Resolution to Fight Big Money in Politics

By Sharon Tornes

The Humanists of Minnesota board has agreed to endorse a resolution aimed at curbing the influence of wealthy special interests in our elections.

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Let’s Build the Power of Secular Voters

By Suzanne Perry

Want to help counter the political influence of the Religious Right? Humanists of Minnesota has a deal for you! Several of us met in August with representatives of the Secular Coalition for America, which is working to build the power of secular voters across the country. We agreed to follow up by organizing a voter-registration drive and encouraging our members to sign up for the coalition’s Rapid Response Network.

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How to Find Meaning in Our Short, Finite Lives

By Nathan Curland

In his latest book, Michael Shermer — publisher of Skeptic magazine, author, and Scientific American columnist — offers a comprehensive review of what science can (or cannot) say about the afterlife, immortality, and the past and present searches for possible future utopias.

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Enlightenment Now: Steven Pinker Does It Again

By Michael Anderson

I’ve been a fan of Steven Pinker since 1994 when I came across his book The Language Instinct. I have read everything he’s written since then, with my favorite being The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature. His newest book is Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress — and as usual he blows me away with his intellect, wit, and distinctive writing style.

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Homo Sapiens Have Conquered the World; Now What?

By Nathan Curland

Homo sapiens have, in the last few millennia, filled every corner of the planet and—in less than 100 years—have for all practical purposes conquered plague, famine, and war. How did this happen? 

What sets Homo sapiens apart from other species? What is the mind? Or consciousness? Do we have free will or are we just algorithms? 

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Book Review: Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

By Mary McLeod

Few would call Jodi Picoult a literary author, that is a Nobel- or Pulitzer-quality writer. She does not experiment with the art form, but primarily writes straightforward novels about social issues many are still puzzling over or up in arms about, long after publication.

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A Book on Humanism for Kids

By Paul Heffron

When we were in Florida in January, my wife, Peg, went to a garage sale and snapped up a colorful paperback book in mint condition for a dollar. The book is Humanism, What’s That?: A Book for Curious Kids (Prometheus Books, 2005) by Helen Bennett. The author has impressive academic and professional credentials and does an excellent job of presenting humanism for kids ages 10 and up.

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