What is Humanism? What do Humanists believe — or better yet, what are Humanist values? (Download our facebook banner and proudly display one possible answer for your friends, here.) What does it mean to create a community of and for atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, skeptics, and the nonreligious?
Join us for a discussion of these topics and more this Sunday, Sept. 16; facilitated by Harvard Humanist Chaplain Greg Epstein. At the end of the session, join Greg in one of his favorite rituals for this season: in Jewish culture, “tashlich” (literally, casting off) is a Rosh Hashana/new year practice of casting “sins” from the previous year, usually in the form of bread crumbs, into the water. For Humanists, the concept of “sin” is, at best, a metaphor, and not necessarily a helpful one from a psychological point of view. The ritualized timing and wording of such a tradition are not particularly important, and certainly prayer would not be involved.
However, as we enter a new fall season, we all have aspects of the year gone by that we want and need to say goodbye to, even cast off. There may be apologies to be made, regrets to cope with, growth to be acknowledged.
You’re invited — regardless of your cultural background! — to join us for a walk down to the Charles and a brief reflection on our hopes for the year ahead. And feel free to bring a few bread crumbs!
Sunday, September 16, 1:30pm. 12 Eliot Street (3rd floor).
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This Sunday, September 16 we will be visiting the First Church in Boston, a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation. The service starts at 11 AM and lasts for an hour, after which we will be able to speak with the leaders of the church and members of the congregation during their “coffee hour.” We will meet at 12 Eliot Street at 10 AM so that we can travel in a group. Click here if you would like more information on the location of First Church. (Note: HCH’s “What is Humanism?” community meeting will take place at 12 Eliot St. at 1:30 PM on this Sunday, but those interested in participating in both should have enough time to make it back for the meeting.)
