Part of a Series: American Humanist Retreat Center

“If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when? — Rabbi Hillel

“Life used to be so hard. Now everything is easy ’cause of you.” Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

When you’re down and troubled, or lonely, or just looking for life’s answers and you are a Humanist, where do you go?

If you are very very very lucky and you live in Charleston or one of the other cities where there is a Humanist Group that meets once a month or so, you can go to that community and hopefully find what you are looking for. If you are super duper lucky and you live in Phoenix, where there is a Humanist Group-owned full time Community Center, you can go there. Otherwise, you may have to look to a book, or the Internet or wait for an Annual Gathering of a national organization of Humanists.

I’ve been writing for several months now about my dream of a Humanist Retreat Center where people from all over the country could come.

For what, you ask? And even if you didn’t ask, let me give you some examples of the types of people who need the place I am dreaming of:

Luke is a 21 year old recent graduate of a large university in the Southeast. He has a degree in History and took coursework in Religion, Psychology and Sociology leading him to rethink his career plans. Does he want to teach high school history? Does he want to go to law school and enter politics? And if his newfound belief that there is no god continues, will that affect his career choice and plans? He wants to take some time to study and think this through.

Anita is a 40-something software analyst, active in the Atheist Meet-Up group in her small Midwest city. She has recently found herself taking a leadership role with a core group of young people who would like to grow the Meet-Up group into something more… more… they are not even sure what. She has read a few books on Humanism and recently attended the Annual Gathering of a national organization. She needs to find structure and take advantage of the experience of others so that her group doesn’t have to re-invent the wheel any more than necessary.

Carole and Mike are recently retired physicians. They grew up on the East Coast, had careers on the West Coast where they were active in a small Humanist group that has aged out and fizzled recently. They have two grown children . Their daughter lives in Miami, Florida and their son lives in Milan, Italy. They would like to create retirement roots for themselves somewhere that they will have interests and values in common with their neighbors. They want to come together for a few weeks with some other retirees with similar goals.

Luke, Anita, Carole and Mike (and maybe you) could use a Humanist Retreat Center. If we are not for ourselves, who will create it for us? If not now, when?

Join me in forming a committee, a Board, a group (call it what you will) to start moving toward my possible dream. If not now, when?