What we’re about
This group is sponsored by HumanistsMN, which brings together people who, without supernatural beliefs, aspire to lead lives of personal fulfillment and contribute to the greater good of humanity and the planet through reason, science, compassion, and creativity.
If you believe in those principles or are interested in learning about them or want to help others learn about humanism join us for our meetings, events, and social times.
We usually have a regular Humanist Community Gathering on the 3rd Saturday of the month but will send out a reminder to members when the topic/speaker is set (or check the calendar!).
In addition, there are many other smaller meetups during the month.
Meetings are open to anyone who is interested in humanism and wants to meet other humanists. But please considering joining HumanistsMN to help support us financially and build the power of humanism in our society. Join here!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- THINK! Book Club: Yascha Mounk, "The Identity Trap," Second SessionLink visible for attendees
The next Think! Book Club will continue our discussion of Yascha Mounk's 2023 publication, "The Identity Trap." Subtitled "A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time," Mounk's book considers the origins and rise of the "identity synthesis," a 21st century ideology that regards group identities involving race, gender, and sexual orientation as keys to understanding our world and achieving social justice. Mounk points out serious flaws in the identity synthesis--its reliance on standpoint epistemology and obsession with "cultural appropriation," among others. He concludes that its excessive focus on group identities is counterproductive in our quest to remedy social injustices, and that the universalism embodied in liberal democracy (and in humanism) is far more likely to promote human flourishing.
"The Identity Trap" has 290 pages of text and is available at Amazon for $28. The first session covered the first eight chapters, about half the book. This next session will begin with Chapter 9 on cultural appropriation, before addressing such topics as freedom of speech, microaggressions, progressive separatism, and identity-sensitive public policy. If you cannot acquire or read "The Identity Trap," you can familiarize yourself with its contents by reading reviews and commentary on the book and by watching various YouTube, TedTalk, and other videos featuring its author. Whether or not you have read the book or attended the first session, feel free to join us if these matters are of interest and concern to you.
You are welcome to make a copy of the discussion topics and questions for this event, which can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FQ3Z99KOs7GFgOtph72e9xrG_hEaynlR/edit
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted. Donate or join here.
- Humanism in Action: Pack Food at the Food GroupFood Group Warehouse, New Hope, MN
Join fellow humanists and freethinkers to help sort and pack food at the Food Group Warehouse. The food we sort and pack will eventually be distributed to the nearly 200 food shelves/Fare-for-All Centers that the Food Group services. The Food Group is a secular, NON-faith based non-profit organization whose mission is to "serve the hunger needs of our changing communities".
Warehouse Volunteers assist with projects including:
· Bulk repacking of items such as oatmeal, rice, beans, or pasta
· Assembling boxes for food distribution
· Sorting donated goods
· Cleaning and sanitation of the workspaceMinimum volunteer age is 12, and all minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
The following is from the The Food Group:
Thank you for signing up to volunteer at The Food Group! All new participants MUST fill out a volunteer waiver at sign-in.
We will begin promptly at the scheduled shift time- please try to arrive 5-10 minutes early to wash hands and get settled so we can begin right at 1:00!
Please wear comfortable work clothes and note that closed-toed shoes and pants are required. For safety in the warehouse, please wear tops that cover the torso to the waistline. You are welcome to bring snacks (keep in mind that snacks may only be enjoyed in the volunteer orientation room). (P.S. Some snacks are usually provided by the Food Group.)
If for any reason you are uncomfortable or unable to do a certain duty, please let the staff know when you arrive.
We look forward to hosting you as we complete this important work for our community!Hope to see you there!
P.S.: Please remember to keep your RSVP up to date, so that people on the wait-list can sign up and we can show up with a full crew!
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted! Join or donate on our website.
- Western Suburbs Social Humanists Get-Together3556 Winnetka Ave N, New Hope, MN
The Minnesota Humanists’ "Western Suburbs Social" is for connecting with like-minded people and making new friends. This is not a singles group or a professional networking group, just a fun way to socialize with fellow humanists.
In March, the next “Western Suburbs Social Humanists” get-together will be Wednesday, March 20, 6 – 8 p.m., at Frankie's, in their private room, 3556 Winnetka Ave N, New Hope, MN 55427,
Please only sign up if you commit to attending and be sure to change your RSVP if your plans change. If there's interest from more, please sign up for the wait list.
The event is open to all, but with a focus on engaging existing HumanistsMN members as well as potential new members in the western suburbs of Mpls.
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a dues-paying member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not yet ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted. Donate or join us at humanistsmn.org.
- Secular Grief Support Group ONLINE: Writing Together through GriefLink visible for attendees
Guest Speaker: Rox Sadovsky will speak on Writing Together through Grief. Roxanne Sadovsky, MA, MFA, is a Twin Cities freelance writer, teacher, and therapist. At 19, she fled her hometown in LA to study writing and psychology at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington (1993). She later earned her master's in counseling psychology from Antioch University Seattle (1999) followed by an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of Minnesota (2004). She has taught and published widely, both locally and nationally. She has extensive training in treating trauma through several creative modalities, including psychodrama, sociometry, memoir and poetry therapy, with over 20 years of experience working with groups and individuals. She lives and works in St. Louis Park where she writes almost every day with others and is infinitely grateful to call this her life.
This grief group is for secular people who have experienced a recent or not-so-recent loss. For those who want a place to process that loss and their on-going grief. A place to remember a loved one and to express difficult emotions -- or a place to process "ambiguous" grief. A place to share with and support others in a life riven with grief.
Currently, we meet on-line on the first and third Thursdays of the month.
This is a peer-led group for people with no belief in a higher power or consciousness and for those who have no belief in an afterlife. We offer no professional grief counseling. Participants are encouraged to speak to their own loss and share their current challenges with grief.
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN and First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, a humanist congregation. Please consider supporting one or both of these associations to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Click on the embedded links above to donate or join.