UU Humanist Association

[Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of Local Group profiles that we are doing in order to give members an idea of the variety of types of groups out there and to help share ideas. If you are associated with a local group, please share your profile!)

Humanists of UUCF is based at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Virginia.

When was the group founded?  We had our first regular meeting in September 2012.

When and how often do you meet?  We meet monthly on Monday evenings for 90 minutes.

What is your average attendance?  It varies greatly from about 15 to 40 attendees. Read more about A Local Group Profile: Humanists of UUCF »

I've been "running" the HUU booth at General Assembly, with an able assist from Jack Reich and each year, a rotating cast of enthusiastic others, since 2002.  I take some pride in the fact that we are usually among the largest and most energetic displays in the exhibit hall.  I take pride in the fact that we share our space with other humanist and social justice organizations - this year the Channing-Murray Campus Ministry, the Humanist Institute, Secular Student Alliance, and a Gun Control group called "Change the Conversation," were all on board.

Greg Epstein of Harvard Humanists and Kevin Watson of The Humanist Institute Read more about Big, Bad Booth? »

A collection of two dozen fabric arts panels made by humanist and UU artists around the country, began its fall tour during the last weekend of September, with a showing at a Michigan community event and a UU Fellowship Sunday service.  "Ribbons Not Walls" (a project of HUUmanists) invites people to create yard long representations of immigration related events and themes.  The collection includes a starkly poetic rendering of a portion of the "wall" between the US and Mexico by 13 year old Illinois UU Alayna Vesto, two panels featuring the primitive quilting style of Linda Lee, lead artist of the well known Farmworkers Memorial quilt out of Florida, and the HUUmanists "Librotraficante" (Book SmUUggler) Iogo, stitched and be-ribboned by Michigan secular humanist Sherron Collins.   Read more about Ribbons on the Road »

Michael Werner gave an excellent talk at the Concord Area Humanists meeting on October 23, 2013 about Humanist Ethics. Mike and his wife Susanne were in the area as part of Mike's book tour to promote his new book "Regaining Balance: The Evolution of the UUA". Here is the video of Mike's talk. (If the video does not appear below, try this link.)

And here are the slides:

Read more about Ethical Dilemmas and Humanist Ethics »

Here's to the goal of not taking ourselves too seriously!

Sung by J.T. Bakes & Max Gibson Read more about "You Are Theist, I Am Humanist" »

Michael Werner is going to be touring the New England area in October, speaking about his new book "Regaining Balance: The Evolution of the UUA". If you are in the area you can see Mike speak at the following events:

• Michael Werner in Concord, MA, Sunday, October 20

• Michael Werner in Cambridge, MA, Sunday, October 20

• Michael Werner in Worcester, MA, Monday, October 21

• Michael Werner in Worcester, MA, Tuesday, October 22

HUUmanists president John Hooper and Mike Werner, author of "Regaining Balance: The Evolution of the UUA", were guests on "The VUU", the weekly video talk show by the Church of the Larger Fellowship about all things Unitarian Universalist. They talked brilliantly about Humanism in the UUA and about Mike's book. Enjoy!

Read more about Humanism with a VUU »

[Editor's note: This text was first presented as a sermon at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, MA, 10/21/12. An shortened version of it appeared in the Fall 2012 issue of the journal, Religious Humanism.]

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (I Corinthians 13:11)

I’ve come to realize that this simple description of the necessary transition from childhood to adulthood applies not just to individuals but also to cultures and societies, and ultimately to the human species itself. Read more about Religious Humanism Comes of Age »

One of the pleasures I had at the HUUmanists' yearly meeting a the 2013 UUA General Assembly was naming David Schafer our President Emeritus. David has been a friend and mentor for many years and I am personally grateful for all he has given the HUUmanists Assocation, including the years he spent as president from 2003 - 2010 and his on-going service on our Board.

Here is a David's abbreviated biography: Read more about Celebrating David E. Schafer, President Emeritus »

Editor's note: this is an entry in a series of essays on this topic. Please, share your story.

FREEDOM DEPENDS ON FREETHINKERS! Read more about "Why I Am a UU Humanist", by Mehl Renner »