When the Veil Grows Thin: Humanist Reflections on Death, Memory, and Meaning
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As autumn deepens, Halloween approaches and the days grow shorter, we find ourselves in a season of reflection — a time when cultures across the world pause to honor what has passed and to listen for the lessons hidden in silence, in story, and in grief.
Join us for a Humanist afternoon of thought and conversation as we explore how death — and the stories we tell about it — can help us live with deeper purpose and compassion.
We’ll share two moving TED Talks:
Kevin Toolis – What the Irish Wake Teaches Us About Living and Dying
What if death wasn’t something to fear or hide, but a moment for community, remembrance, and love?
Coya Paz – Hauntings, Histories, and Campfire Tales: What Ghost Stories Tell Us About Ourselves
Why do ghost stories endure, even for those who don’t believe in the supernatural? What truths and memories do they carry for us all?
Through guided discussion, we’ll uncover what these traditions — wakes, ghost tales, harvest rituals — reveal about our need to connect, remember, and find meaning in the face of mortality.
Come to listen, to share, and to reflect on the beauty of a life fully lived — and the stories that remain when we are gone.