Each semester, we strive to provide a diverse series of programs for our students and community. Below is a sampling of what we have in store for Spring 2012. Keep your eye on the website for more information about these programs as we begin the new semester!

Mary Johnson – An Unquenchable Thirst (January 29, 2012)

HCH is pleased to welcome Mary Johnson, author of the bestseller An Unquenchable Thirst.  Johnson’s memoir tells the story of her time as a nun in Mother Theresa’s order, Missionaries of Charity, and the reasons that led her to leave the order, become a professor of creative writing, and get married. Johnson is now the Creative Director of Retreats for A Room of Her Own Foundation, an organization offering financial and moral support, and professional guidance to independent, creative women who are committed to their art. This event is free and open to the public! (1:30pm, 12 Eliot St.)

David Javerbaum (God) – The Last Testament: A Memoir by God (February 5, 2012)   

It turns out that we were wrong. God does exist. And he’s coming to the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard to right some wrongs and expose some truths, “taking us behind the scenes of Genesis, setting the record (un)straight on the real first couple, Adam and Steve, and challenging long-held notions about the viability of containing a phylogenetically complete double bestiary within a 450,000-cubic-cubit watercraft.”[1] God’s literary vessel, David Javerbaum, is the 11-time Emmy Award-winning former head writer and executive producer of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Doors 1pm. Reading/discussion 3pm. (1:30pm, 12 Eliot St.)

Darwin Day! (February 12, 2012)  

Join the Harvard Humanists, along with Harvard Professor Joshua Greene and Brown Professor Fiery Cushman, and other very special guests, for an evening of evolutionary psychology, rational revelry, and skeptical socializing in honour of Charles Darwin! Keep your eyes on the Harvard Humanist website for details. (Sunday evening, Feb. 12)

Sean Faircloth – Attack of the Theocrats (February 26, 2012)

Americans are under siege from conservative religious forces that want to overturn the principle of Separation of Church and State and turn American in to a theocracy. Fortunately, we have Sean Faircloth, former Maine state legistlator, and former Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for America, fighting for our rights. Whether it be the assault on the teaching of evolution in public school, or the harassment of secular members of our armed services under the guise of evangelism, thank God the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science has Sean Faircloth on the case! Sean’s first book, Attack of the Theocrats! will debut on bookshelves in early 2012–Join us for an energetic discussion of the problems at the intersection of religion and politics. (1:30pm, 12 Eliot St.)

Miriam Jerris – Humanist Celebrant Training (March 2-4, 2012)

The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard is bringing Rabbi Miriam Jerris, President of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, to our community to give a three-day intensive Humanist Celebrant training course on weddings, funerals, baby-namings, and more! Greg Epstein describes Professor Jerris, his former instructor, as the foremost authority on Humanist ceremonies in the United States today. If you want to perform Humanist ceremonies, but are unsure of how to proceed, this event provides you a great chance to learn the skills necessary. Details including (relatively modest) registration costs, syllabi, etc. coming soon. Book your travel today if you’re from out of town! (Public lecture on Humanist ceremonies, 1:30pm March 4, 12 Eliot St.)

A Humanist/Intercultural/Same-Sex Wedding Ceremony, courtesy of Ginny Collins, British Humanist Association

Paul Fulton and Rick Heller (March 25, 2012)

This spring, we’re planning an increased offering of programs around Humanism and mindfulness. One in particular to look forward to, if you’ve been curious about topics like meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction, will take place on March 25 at 1:30pm. Greg Epstein and HCP volunteer leader and journalist Rick Heller will interview and facilitate a meditation/mindfulness workshop with Harvard Humanist alumnus Paul R. Fulton, EdD. Paul Fulton is a clinical psychologist and founding member of Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. He is the former Director of Mental Health for Tufts Health Plan, a large managed care organization in Massachusetts. He is also a forensic psychologist.