About us
Do you believe in Science and Reason, but also understand that its the connections we form with other people which make our lives truly meaningful? Are you looking for a god-free spiritual community, where you can learn about yourself and the natural world, grow deeper and more meaningful relationships and cultivate a greater sense of wonder? Do you like having fun?
Check out Connections, a Humanist spiritual community where we create hope, connection, and try to understand what makes out lives meaningful. If you would like to learn more sign up for one of our on-line or in-person events.
Upcoming events
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FTI: Happiness, Habits, and Science: What Positive Psychology Gets Right
·OnlineOnlinePositive psychology is often associated with ideas like happiness, gratitude, and “living your best life.” But what does the actual research say—and how useful is it in real life?
In this event, we’ll explore the field of positive psychology from a grounded, practical perspective:
- What is positive psychology, and how is it different from traditional psychology?
- What does the research say about happiness, meaning, and well-being?
- Which practices (if any) actually improve people’s lives?
- Where does the field fall short or get oversimplified?
This is not about feel-good slogans. It’s about understanding what holds up under scrutiny—and what we can realistically apply.
Expect a thoughtful, open discussion focused on evidence, lived experience, and honest reflection.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.4 attendees
FTI: Emotional Intelligence (EQ): The Hidden Driver of Success and Impact
·OnlineOnlineIQ can open doors—but EQ determines what happens once you walk through them.
In this session, we break down what emotional intelligence really is, why it plays a critical role in leadership, relationships, and decision-making, and how improving it can dramatically increase both personal success and collective outcomes.
We’ll cover:
- The core components of EQ (self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skill, motivation)
- Why high EQ individuals consistently outperform in leadership, negotiation, and team environments
- How EQ influences trust, influence, and long-term relationship building
- Practical ways to measure and improve your EQ in real-world situations
- How stronger EQ at scale leads to better organizations, communities, and outcomes
This isn’t just about being “nice”—it’s about building the awareness and control needed to navigate complexity, align incentives, and create win-win outcomes in every area of life.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.5 attendees
FTI: What Makes America Great? A Cross-Perspective Dialogue
·OnlineOnlineAmerica means different things to different people—and that’s exactly why this conversation matters.
This Free Thinker Institute event brings together individuals with diverse political perspectives to explore a simple but powerful question: What truly makes America great—and where are we falling short?
We’ll examine:
- Core strengths: opportunity, innovation, freedom, community, resilience
- Real challenges: inequality, polarization, trust in institutions, global role
- How different groups define “greatness”—and where those views overlap
- What we should preserve, improve, or rethink moving forward
- Practical ideas to bridge divides while strengthening the country
The goal isn’t to debate winners and losers—it’s to understand, challenge assumptions, and find common ground where progress is possible.
Expect a respectful, candid discussion focused on learning, not labeling—and on building a clearer, shared vision for America’s future.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.2 attendees
FTI: Listening to understand Trump Supporters
·OnlineOnlineToo often, conversations about politics turn into debates instead of understanding. This session flips that dynamic.
In this Free Thinker Institute event, we focus on listening first—creating space to understand the perspectives, values, and experiences that shape support for Donald Trump.
We’ll explore:
- What motivates support beyond headlines and stereotypes
- How economic, cultural, and institutional factors influence viewpoints
- Where misconceptions exist on both sides
- What concerns and priorities are most often overlooked
- How better understanding can lead to more productive conversations and solutions
This is not about agreement or persuasion—it’s about gaining clarity, reducing polarization, and building the ability to engage across differences in a way that leads to better outcomes for everyone.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.2 attendees
Past events
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