Posts by Maria Greene

The Business of Government -- Prayer and Pledge Go Hand-in-Hand

[Editor's note: This post is by Ellery Schempp, plaintiff on the 1963 Abington v. Schempp Supreme Court case against school prayer and soon-to-be recipient of the UU Humansts' 2014 Religious Humanist of the Year award. The graphic is by member Brian Lofgren.]

I am extremely disappointed in today's Supreme Court decision (Greece v. Galloway) affirming that sectarian prayers at city council meetings do not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.  The 5-4 decision severely diminishes the non-establishment principle and effectively endorses majoritarian displays of public piety. Read more about The Business of Government -- Prayer and Pledge Go Hand-in-Hand »

Join the UU Humanists at the UUA General Assembly in Providence, RI this June

We hope we will see you at the UUA GA next month. We have a big presence planned:

  • Come visit us in the Exhibit Hall, booth 416.
  • Attend our program, "Reaching Out to the Nonreligious" and find out how to make your congregation welcoming to non-theists.
  • Join us at our Annual Meeting for some brief but important business items, including:
    • officially changing our name to the Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association,
    • adopting new bylaws that allow for more modern forms of voting in the future.

      Make sure your UU Humanist membership is up-to-date so you will be included in the quorum.
  • Express your support for the Separation of Church & State at the "Schempp Schindigg".

Our GA Program: "Reaching Out to the Nonreligious"

Friday, June 27, 5:00 -- 6:15 pm, RICC -- Hall D

People (especially young people) who profess no formal religious affiliation make up one of the fastest growing segments of our population. Three approaches to carrying our message to a large fraction of these so-called "NONEs" will be described and celebrated: The Humanist Congregation, The Humanist Service, and the Humanist Community. Read more about Our GA Program: "Reaching Out to the Nonreligious" »

Ellery Schempp Accepts the "Religious Humanist of the Year" Award

Friday, June 27, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, RICC – Hall D

Come celebrate the lifetime achievements of UU Humanist Ellery Schempp during the "Schempp Schindigg" immediately following our Annual Business Meeting. We will honor Ellery with our 2014 Religious Humanist of the Year Award, hear from prominent leaders in the secular movement who are fighting to maintain the wall of separation between church and state, then hear from the man himself.

This meeting will be open to the public and invitations are being sent to secular local groups throughout the New England area. The evening will include light food and much laughter as we celebrate past Supreme Court victories, like Abington v. Schempp, that determined that school prayer was unconstitutional, while we network with each other to increase our resolve to continue the fight! Read more about Ellery Schempp Accepts the "Religious Humanist of the Year" Award »

Journal Article: Brave, Clean, and Reverent?

By Dave Hunter, originally published in the journal "religious humanism", Vol. 44, No. 1. 

 

In which Pooh and Piglet explore the 100-acre wood and the meaning of reverence. (apologies to A.A. Milne)

Pooh and Piglet are out for a walk.

Pooh: Christopher Robin wants me to join the Cub Scouts.

Piglet: What’s that?

Pooh: It’s sort of a club for young bears; they do things together.

Piglet: Sounds like fun.

Pooh: But you have to learn stuff.

Piglet: Like what?

Pooh: Like what is reverence.

They continue walking, quietly, then Pooh says:

Pooh: Piglet, we’re in the 100-acre wood.

Piglet: Why, so we are. Look at those trees.

Pooh: They’re so tall, I can’t see the tops of them.

Piglet: How do they make you feel?

Pooh: I don’t know. They’ve always been here. They’ll always be here. They’re awesome. I’m humbled. I’m speechless.

Piglet: Did you know that the trees provide homes for birds and bumble bees and badgers?

Pooh: What good trees. I just want to say thank you.

Piglet: How would you feel if someone wanted to cut them all down? Read more about Journal Article: Brave, Clean, and Reverent? »

New Lower-Cost Membership Level Available

If you support Humanism in the Unitarian Universalist Association, please join the UU Humanists. If you would like to receive the electronic edition of the journal, the cost is now only $35 per year. You can receive the print journal for $60 per year. Your paid membership or donation will help us continue to expand our projects and reach and is greatly appreciated! Read more about New Lower-Cost Membership Level Available »

Brilliant Videos About Humanism from the British Humanist Association

The British Humanist Association has put together four fantastic "sketch-art" videos in a series called That's Humanism!, narrated by the great Stephen Fry, which clearly and elloquently answer four important questions from the Humanist perspective.

How can I be happy?

"Why I Am a UU Humanist", by Richard M. Renfro

Editor's note: this is another essay in the "Why I Am a UU Humanist" series. What is your story? Contact us and let us share it. (Please note that the essay content deadline is May 26, 2014.)

The question is: "Why are you a Unitarian Universalist Humanist?"

The answer is: not so easy.

I don't know why I am a Humanist. I just am. Rather late in life I learned that "Humanism" defines my personal outlook. (I think "worldview" is just a bit pretentious.) Read more about "Why I Am a UU Humanist", by Richard M. Renfro »

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