Greg M. Epstein serves as the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University, and is author of the New York Times Bestselling book, Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe. He sits on the executive committee of the 36-member corps Harvard Chaplains. In 2005 he received ordination as a Humanist Rabbi from the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, where he studied in Jerusalem and Michigan for five years. He holds a BA (Religion and Chinese) and an MA (Judaic Studies) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Masters of Theological Studies from the Harvard Divinity School.

Epstein was the primary organizer of “The New Humanism,” an international conference in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Humanist Chaplaincy of Harvard University. He blogs for CNN.com, Newsweek magazine and The Washington Post, and his work as a Humanist rabbi and Chaplain has recently been been featured by ABC World News with Diane Sawyer; ABC News Network; Al Jazeera; Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and numerous other programs on National Public Radio; BBC Radio; NYTimes.com; USA Today; Newsweek; US News and World Report; The Boston Globe; The Jewish Daily Forward, The Christian Century; The Guardian, and many more. He is an adviser to two student groups at Harvard College, the Secular Society and the Interfaith Council, and to the Harvard Humanist Graduate Community. He also chairs the Advisory Board of the national umbrella organization the Secular Student Alliance, joining such renowned nonbelievers as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens.

Greg grew up in Flushing, Queens, New York as an assimilated and disinterested Reform Jew. He studied Buddhism and Taoism while at Stuyvesant High School in New York City and in college went to Taiwan for a semester aiming to study Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism in its original language and context. Finding that Eastern religions do not necessarily have greater access to truth than Western ones, he returned to the US and shifted his focus to rock music, recording and singing professionally for a year after college. Soon thereafter, he learned of the movement of Humanism and the possibility of a career as a Humanist rabbi and chaplain.

Get the latest updates and information from Greg on Facebook at facebook.com/gepstein.

Support Greg's Work!

The sole financial support of the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard comes from those who value the student gatherings, individual meetings with Chaplain Greg Epstein, and public meetings with people like Lt. Dan Choi, Stephen Batchelor, Salman Rushdie and Josh Whedon. If you are among those who value these programs, let us know with your kind support.

We would also be pleased to discuss ways in which you can make your greatest impact on HCH. One way is to name the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard in your will. Other ways include life income gifts and a variety of tax-saving gift opportunities. For more information, contact Maureen George, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

There are several opportunities for students to meet with Greg Epstein.

Thirty-minute meetings may be scheduled on Wednesdays between 2:00 and 5:00.  Meetings are in the Chaplains’ Office of Memorial Church.  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Every Thursday at lunch at Dudley House, noon to 2:00, enjoy lunch cafeteria style.  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Chaplaincy will try to accommodate the request of others for a meeting.  Please send an email, briefly stating the reason for the meeting, to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .