By Nathan Curland
More than 60 humanists and friends attended our first chapter meeting of the new season on September 16 to hear Chris Stedman give an impassioned speech on “Why We Need Humanism Now.” He has been a humanist chaplain at Harvard University, is the founding executive director of the Yale Humanist Community, and has moved to the Midwest to build a new Humanist Center of Minnesota. Stedman started by reminding us that a world without religion is not necessarily “good.”
By Molly Wilbur-Cohen
The East Side of St. Paul is host to a unique community gathering place. Four years ago, the Arlington Library—one of the historic Carnegie library buildings in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood—closed.
By Audrey Kingstrom
Humanism as a worldview serves as that kind of moral compass. It doesn’t offer perfection through its method or in its results. As a life stance, it doesn’t turn its adherents into saints. But it functions as a very useful and time-tested guide—to lead us toward a better life for all.
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.
Social Action Team leaders met in late August to kick off Humanists of Minnesota advocacy activities under a new captain. Meline Juarez, a former union organizer with lots of advocacy experience, has agreed to head the team, taking over from Suzanne Perry.
Thanks to Governor Mark Dayton, Minnesota is one of 13 states in the US Climate Alliance, which also includes mayors from non-member states. The Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce is having discussions with utilities around the state to move toward renewables.
By Audrey Kingstrom
The concept of “justice” itself seems elusive – especially in a police shooting of an innocent man. So many people are unsatisfied by the outcome of the Yanez trial because given the harm done to Philando Castile and his family, justice seems not to have been fairly or proportionally rendered.
By Audrey Kingstrom
The “wall of separation” between church and state grew out of the First Amendment – as most any student of American history knows. But like so many other constitutional issues, the anti-establishment clause remains open to interpretation even today.
The annual meeting featured reports by HumanistsMN board members. Topics included Camp Quest and activities of the Membership Team, Treasurer, Social Action Team, and Technology Team. The membership also elected a new board. The meeting wrapped up with presentations on the future of the organization, as well as a proposed Humanist Center in Minnesota.
The Supreme Court confirmation process for Neil Gorsuch is currently underway. As an engaged citizen, I have listened with great interest to much of the Senate hearings. As a former civics teacher, I shudder to think what little understanding of judicial philosophy, the role of the Supreme Court and our history as a nation is brought to bear on these hearings.
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Observations of an Occasional Traveler
October 7, 2017
By Audrey Kingstrom
Recently I traveled abroad for the first time in my life. My trip to Germany and Amsterdam with my husband as companion was wonderful! I can now better understand why so many are smitten by the lure of travel.
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