Ethical Humanism

Since 1961, Amnesty International USA has fought to protect human rights as the world’s largest grassroots human rights organization. Our local group generally meets the second Wednesday of every month at the Cleveland Park Library. Each month, we do letter writing actions, discuss human rights issues in the news, and plan for hosting or participating in occasional events area events. For more information, email Mike Duffy at michaelbernardduffy@gmail.com.

Join us for a deep dive into Christian doctrine through the lens of the Bible. This evening sessions will provide a unique opportunity to explore key theological concepts, discuss spiritual growth strategies, and enhance your understanding of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Whether you are new to Christianity or a seasoned believer, this event is designed to enrich your faith journey and strengthen your relationship with God. This meetup is open to all members of the DMV Bible Study Meetup Group, regardless of age or background. Come prepared to engage in meaningful discussions, ask questions, and connect with fellow Christians in a supportive and welcoming community. Let's grow in faith together as we delve into the timeless wisdom found in the scriptures.

This is a regularly held in-person integration circle and a supportive container that centered on psychedelic experiences. We co-create a space of inclusivity, compassion, and care for all. We gather to help each other integrate our journeys, find "the others", and or seek wisdom about altered states of consciousness. Arrive ready to share honestly, openly, and from the heart. Bring your insights from journeys to unpack or your questions about plant medicines and psychedelic experiences to ask the more experienced journeyers. At 7 pm we will do a short grounding exercise and a brief check-in/ice breaker. At 7:15 pm we will begin the integration circle with honest and open processing of psychedelic experiences. Your facilitators are trained in psychedelic integration and or other coaching/facilitation modalities but we are not mental health professionals, we are community members called to service in mutuality. The event is by donation as we do need to pay for the space and supplies used. The suggested donation is $10-$20/person (cash, Paypal or Venmo). Surplus above and beyond covering costs will go towards future community event facilitation and or materials.

Curious about DSA? Thinking about joining but want to hear more info first? Attended a few of our events already and ready become a member? Already a member and want to get more involved? If so, this event is for you! You'll learn about DSA, what we do, and how you can get involved in the fight for a brighter future. We'll outline our chapter's structure and our campaigns, working groups, and branches. Our chapter covers the DMV area, including the district, Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland. Unable to join in person? Considering joining [our next virtual orientation](https://actionnetwork.org/events/why-you-should-join-dsa-new-member-orientation-169/) on Wednesday, April 15! Please RSVP on [Action Network](https://actionnetwork.org/events/why-you-should-join-dsa-new-member-orientation-178/) to receive further updates on this event. \* \* \* This event is open to both DSA Members and supporters. Not a Member? Please consider [becoming a Member](https://dsausa.org/join?source=Metro%20DC). Fees are on a sliding scale according to what you feel you can afford.

Time to get exotic! Ethiopian is a 'hands on' experience (but they also have forks just ask). Dinner menu: http://www.shebarockville.com/menus/dinner/ If you aren't familiar with Ethiopian food, try a sampler platter. SAMPLERS $15.95 BEEF SAMPLER Sheba Tibs, Tibs Wot, Minchet abish alicha, Gomen with side of house salad $15.95 BEEF/CHICKEN SAMPLER Tibs Wot, Doro Wot, Minchet abish Alicha, Gomen with side of house salad $15.95 CHICKEN SAMPLER Doro Be spinach, Doro Wot, Doro Minchet abish, Cabbage with side of house salad $13.95 VEGAN SAMPLER Bergeden, Key misir, beet Salad, Gomen, Ater Kik and Cabbage, served with side of house salad $14.95 VEGETARIAN SAMPLER Egg Wot, Key misir, Gomen, Cabbage, Ater Kik served with side of house salad All Aboard, Mates!

**The Inner Path: Meditation, Wisdom, and Spiritual Guidance** **Wednesdays, 7:00pm-8:00pm** **With various Kadampa Teachers** True happiness and freedom comes from training the mind in meditation and wisdom. In this series, based on The New Meditation Handbook by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, we will explore essential meditations that lead us to lasting inner peace and spiritual realization. We begin with the meditation on Tranquil Abiding, learning how to develop strong mindfulness and concentration and overcome the obstacles that prevent inner calm. We then turn to Emptiness, Buddha’s profound wisdom that reveals the true nature of reality and frees us from ignorance and self-grasping. Finally, we conclude with the meditation on Reliance on a Spiritual Guide, the foundation of all spiritual attainments. Each class includes guided meditation, practical advice, and discussion. Everyone is welcome — from beginners to experienced meditators. **Schedule** March 4: Learning to Meditate: Finding Focus and Peace March 11: Mindfulness and Concentration: The Tools of Tranquil Abiding March 18: Overcoming Obstacles to Meditation March 25: Abiding in Stillness: The Joy of a Concentrated Mind April 1: What Is Emptiness? Understanding the True Nature of Reality April 8: Emptiness of the Body: Letting Go of Attachment *April 15: No Class: Celebration of Buddha’s Enlightenment Day- Special Prayers* April 22: Emptiness of the Self: The Key to True Freedom April 29: The Power of Spiritual Guidance **REGISTRATION** Standard: $12 \| Financial Hardship $6 \| Free for [Members](https://meditation-dc.org/membership/) [Pre-Register Here](https://meditation-dc.org/lamrim-meditation/) Each class is available by drop in. Everyone is welcome to attend, no previous experience is required. **LOCATION** Kadampa Meditation Center DC 1200 Canal St\. SW \| Washington\, DC 20024 **Metro Stop:** Waterfront or Navy Yard

What Happened to the Energy Transition? To land a ship on a moving target, the moon, for example, from a moving object, the earth, requires an enormous attention to facts and a mastery of detail. Getting any of these wrong can lead to disaster. Climate science tells us we must transition to a zero carbon society—and fast. But are climate-deniers the only obstacle to that transition? We will discuss the work of economic historian Jean-Baptise Fressoz who suggests that even as we move to solar panels and electric vehicles, rather than “transitioning” to a zero carbon world we will continue to consume more, and more, and more and produce more carbon dioxide. Is there a way out of here? As harrowing as it sounds, its best to pay attention to the facts and master the details so we can discuss real solutions. Perhaps, a solution that depends on a transition in our ethical thinking. In-person and available on Zoom When: Sunday, April 12, 2026 Coffee available at 10:45 AM, Speaker begins at 11:00 AM Where: Green Hedges School 415 Windover Ave NW, Vienna, VA It's more fun in person (and the coffee is free), but you can participate by Zoom at [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83422695892](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83422695892) Jim Ball and his family are longtime members of Ethical Culture. In his retired life he writes, gardens, and rewilds his small corner of the world with native plants.

This will be our second (and possibly last) meeting on *Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic*, by Matthew Stewart. For this meeting, please try to read chapters 4 and 6. (You can skim chapter 5, which is particularly confusing). **Where did the ideas come from that became the cornerstone of American democracy?** America’s founders intended to liberate us not just from one king but from the ghostly tyranny of supernatural religion. Drawing deeply on the study of European philosophy, Matthew Stewart brilliantly tracks the ancient, pagan, and continental ideas from which America’s revolutionaries drew their inspiration. In the writings of Spinoza, Lucretius, and other great philosophers, Stewart recovers the true meanings of “Nature’s God,” “the pursuit of happiness,” and the radical political theory with which the American experiment in self-government began. [LINK](https://a.co/d/bkTWJNb) This book is not always an easy read. You may want to make use of AI tools such as ChatGPT. You can ask it questions like: "What does Matthew Stewart say about happiness in his book Nature's God?" OR: What does Matthew Stewart say about Spinoza? This may be our last meeting on this book. If you want to have a third meeting later, on the last two chapters, let me know. I hope to see you there! Fred

Join me for a culinary adventure at The Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe. Burmese cuisine sits deliciously between Thai, Indian, and Chinese cuisine — bold spices, cozy curries, fresh herbs, and that famous tea leaf salad everyone ends up fighting over. We’ll keep the group intimate so we can share dishes and try a little bit of everything. Please RSVP accurately so I can lock in the reservation. New cuisine. Great company. Zero regrets. Who’s in? 😄 \*\* Please bring cash. The restaurant can only do 4 checks for the table. [https://www.mandalayrestaurantcafe.com/](https://www.mandalayrestaurantcafe.com/) Here's the menu : [https://www.mandalayrestaurantcafe.com/about-1-1](https://www.mandalayrestaurantcafe.com/about-1-1)

**Looking to** \- Help out neighbors in the DC area? \- Support a secular charity? \- Connect with other atheists and humanists? Join Atheists Helping the Homeless DC at our monthly distribution event! Atheists Helping the Homeless is a 501(c)(3) charity that distributes items like backpacks, socks, gloves, and toiletries to people in need throughout the Washington, DC region. We meet up on the second Saturday of every month outside of a homeless shelter in Silver Spring, MD, called Progress Place, and pass out whatever items we have to whoever is there. Each month we serve between 60 - 100 people. Afterwards, we usually go out for breakfast. Our goal is to provide a way for people to help each other without affiliating with a religion. Our method is to go straight to those in need, and create a welcoming and fun atmosphere to effectively create an environment where secular community can grow and thrive. If this sounds fun, see you there!

Compassion is a profoundly peaceful mind that arises when we observe the suffering of others and sincerely wish for them to be free from pain. Authentic compassion never exhausts or discourages us. It transforms our heart, strengthens our inner qualities, and empowers us to respond to suffering with wisdom and courage. When we allow discouragement, anger, or hopelessness to dominate our response to pain in the world, we unintentionally add more suffering to an already difficult situation. Compassion provides a new way to relate: a positive, resilient, and deeply meaningful response that protects our own peace of mind while guiding us to help others effectively. Explore how to cultivate a pure compassion that uplifts rather than overwhelms, and how this inner change becomes the real solution to both personal and collective suffering. Through practical meditations and teachings from the Kadampa tradition, participants will learn how to develop a compassionate heart that brings lasting peace, confidence, and purpose to daily life. Join us to discover why compassion is not a burden, but the source of our greatest inner strength. **COST** $12/Financial Hardship: $6 Members: Free Dinner Included (Donations Appreciated) **LOCATION** Kadampa Meditation Center DC 1200 Canal St\. SW \| Washington\, DC 20024 **Metro Stop:** Waterfront or Navy Yard

How can a spiritual perspective help us make sense of the times in which we live? Despite efforts by many well-intentioned people, it seems more true now than ever that the problems humanity is facing sometimes seem to be getting worse not better. Divisions appear to grow deeper day by day, social relationships can feel strained, our institutions often appear unable to meet the needs of the world today, and even the viability of the natural environment around us seems threatened. So in the midst of these turbulent times, where can we turn to for sources of hope? In times of crisis, are there actually new opportunities for a more peaceful, just, and sustainable way of life? How can we help build those new patterns in our communities? Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on how to promote constructive change in these difficult times. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the role spirituality can play in our efforts to construct a new, more meaningful path forward in the midst of social turmoil. *“The world of mankind is in the throes of evolutionary activity indicating the passing of the old conditions and advent of the new.”* – Bahá’í Teachings **\*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.**

* **Are you seeking your own answers to everyday questions?** * **Would you like to connect more deeply with the source of life?** Join us for the **Friday HU Chant** and discover how this simple, sacred sound can bring **love, happiness, and inner stability**. **What to Expect:** * 20 minutes of chanting HU, either aloud or silently, whichever feels right for you * Gentle contemplative time afterward * Friendly conversation with others of like heart Everyone is welcome—whether you’re new to chanting or have been practicing for years. Come and experience the uplifting sound of the HU!

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. We will be hearing from Becca Powell, Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Unchained At Last, an organization whose mission is dedication to ending forced and child marriage in the United States through direct services and systems change. Unchained At Last's mission clearly meshes and addresses several of our Humanist Ten Commitments. Becca will educate us about an issue many of us may not be familiar with--but should be. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Main Library, Meeting Room 3B Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. All backgrounds are welcome.

Interested? Contact Preston Moore k.preston.moore@gmail.com 614-300-5989 ———————————— Engaging in men’s work is the new way to forge friendships while being open-minded to personal growth. Many men experience healthier relationships, personally and professionally, by engaging in this work. Open Men’s Group is a container for men to share vulnerably without receiving judgment or feedback. We believe that emotionally mature, powerful, compassionate, and purpose-driven men will help heal some of society’s deepest wounds. We support the powerful brilliance of men and we are willing to look at, and take full responsibility for, the pain we are also capable of creating – and suffering. We care deeply about men, our families, communities, and the planet. Visit ManKind Project USA to discover more. https://mkpusa.org/