A couple days before the historic People’s Climate March in New York City, I was approached on the street by a woman who was putting up fliers about the march and who asked me if I was planning on … [Read more...]
Interbelief
Let’s Talk About Volunteering Abroad
Before I left for my yearlong Humanist service trip with Pathfinders Project, I gave the impression that I was most looking forward to traveling—visiting other countries, seeing cultural sites, and … [Read more...]
Moving Past the First Date: Three Contributing Scholars Reflect on Honesty, Offense, and Interbelief Dialogue
I recently participated in a conversation with two other State of Formation Contributing Scholars in the wake of our attendance of the NAIN Connect annual conference. What follows is part of the … [Read more...]
#monthofmeaning
Pathfinders is over. It's was a life changing year. I fear I cannot begin to relate the hundreds of encounters, experiences, and moments that contributed to that change. But I can relate the lessons I … [Read more...]
Why Are There So Many Secret Atheists?
Recently I attended a meeting for atheists and agnostics. The primary purpose of the group, as I understand it, is to function as a community of support. To start the meeting everyone was asked to … [Read more...]
Questioning the Standard Life Cycle of an Atheist
I’ve been an atheist all my life, but I didn’t notice until I was in high school. I didn’t notice because it never felt like a big deal. I didn’t feel discriminated against. I didn’t feel excluded or … [Read more...]
The Pathfinders in Uganda: Humanism, Science, and Colonialism
At Kasese Humanist Primary School (KHPS) in Uganda the students have a formal debate once a week. One debate I witnessed as a teacher there had the proposition: “Science has done more harm than good … [Read more...]
Interbeliefs Under One Roof
Rarely am I hesitant to answer the question, “what is your denomination?” (or some variation of the question). I realize I am quite lucky in this regard. (Not to mention how lucky I am that this a … [Read more...]
Unreconcilable Beliefs: Humanism, Witches, and Human Rights
Before I went to Ghana I had no idea there were witches there. For me witchcraft accusations were of historical interest, not a contemporary concern. How wrong I was. Witchcraft accusations are … [Read more...]
Serving Water
Today I spent two hours washing all my clothes by hand. All my clothes except the ones I was wearing. That’s five shirts, two pairs of pants, one pair of shorts, four socks, five pairs of underwear, … [Read more...]
From Just Us To All Of Us
I am not sure if awe inspiring authentic communities can be defined, but recent travels lead me to believe that I might know them when I see them. To truly witness such community is to become a part … [Read more...]