Congratulations to Harvard College Sophomore Dan Robinson, an officer in our Harvard Secular Society, who recently published an essay on Humanism and Christmas in the Harvard Independent. An excerpt:

Much like we can enjoy participating in bizarre rituals that celebrate Harry Potter without believing the stories are true, we can celebrate Christmas, sing religious Christmas carols, and engage in truly irrational rituals without betraying our secular beliefs. I enjoy Christmas because it is a point of commonality I share with a vast community. Secular holidays simply cannot compete with the enormous subculture developed around Christmas — including hundreds of movies, songs, and traditions. Ultimately, Christmas and almost all other religious holidays are about other people, not about God.

Dan and his fellow students will be celebrating Christmas and other Winter holidays from a Humanistic and secular point of view on Saturday Dec. 15, at Harvard’s Lowell House, in an “All-Out Holiday Party,” a multicultural winter holiday composite celebration where Harvard students and friends will be bringing out the secular in all the season’s holidays, as well as creating new Humanist traditions. For more information, see the event’s page on facebook.

UPDATE: The Harvard Secular Society Holiday Party was featured on NPR’s extremely popular show, “Weekend Edition”, and the story was in NPR’s top ten “Most Emailed Stories” for over 2 days! 

For more info and to hear the story, click here.

The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard University is delighted to announce a new scholarship that will sponsor one or two North American students for independent travel to India for 3 to 4 weeks this Winter, to work with humanitarian and Humanist organizations. S

The scholarship recipient(s) would receive a full transportation grant from anywhere in the continental United States or Canada to one or more of the selected sites for humanitarian work in India (see below).

SITES (scholarship recipients will be required to spend three weeks volunteering at one or two of the sites below):

• One or more schools associated with The Atheist Centre in Vijayawada, in Andhra Pradesh, India. Atheist Centre is a social change institution founded in 1940, which currently maintains a wide range of programs in fields including the removal of untouchability and Caste; promotion of ecology and environmentalism; secular and Humanist education; sex education and family planning; secular social work and comprehensive rural development; and irradication of the “Jogini” social system which exploits poor, untouchable women.

• The School for Humanitarian Thoughts and Practice in Kurukshetra, approximately three hours from New Delhi. This is a Humanist school for 40 orphans, former street children, and survivors of the Kashmir earthquake. The mission of the school is to spread secular and rational education and develop scientific tempre among global people so that a sane, healthy, war-free, nonviolent and just social order can be evolved. School programs include the usual elementary and grammar school-level curricular subjects, including English.

• The Gignyasa School in Hyderabad (Capitol of the Andhra Pradesh State). Gignyasa, which means “spirit of inquiry” or “thirst for knowledge” is a Humanist elementary-middle school with a mixed curriculum. Foreign volunteers regularly work at the school, with responsibilities including teaching, organizing events for students - camps, excursions. Teachers and volunteers sometimes attend training programmes, exposure visits, and conferences, in coordination with Resource Institutions, administrators in the Government and community leaders.

EXPECTATIONS for scholarship recipients: teaching English and any other area of special knowledge the recipient is able convey.

Requirements: Excellent English skills; good diction is also important for teaching. Interest in improving society through the educational system. Good health status. Interest in working with teams of people. Simple living habits or the ability to adjust well to them for a few weeks.

Description of accommodations: Simple accommodation (a single room) with one of the Centres above or with a host family is arranged. Simple vegetarian food will be provided.

Additional travel in India: After 3 weeks of volunteering at one or two of the sites above, grant recipients would be eligible to spend an additional week traveling on their own in India.

Female students and students of color are particularly encouraged to apply for scholarships as part of the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard University’s efforts to create an inclusive and diverse Humanist community. Applicants should inform us of any significant disablilties so we can determine which site might be most accommodating.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS consists of a short essay– no more than 500 words– on why the applicant is interested in this scholarship. It is suggested, but not required, that essays would focus on one of the following topics:

*Humanism and humanitarian work
*Humanism and India
*Humanism and education

Essays should discuss Humanism in terms of the American Humanist Association’s definition: “Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.”

Those selected as finalists will then be granted an interview, in person or by telephone if necessary.

Applications will be selected and reviewed on a “rolling” basis. Only Harvard University students will be permitted to apply until November 21, 2007. On that date, if one or both scholarships remains unfilled, students from any North American College or University may apply.

Application essays must be sent by email to thenewhumanism@gmail.com. The email should include three attached files: the essay of up to 500 words; a biographical sketch of the applicant of 200-500 words or a resume or CV; and a digital photo of the applicant that could be used for publication.

**Scholarships may be offered for Summer 2008 as well. Those interested may apply now, however awards for summer travel will not be made until February-March 2008.

RISKS: Travel in India involves risks that are typical of travel in many developing nations, including risks relating to poor sanitation, disease, and ill-maintained travel facilities and other infrastructure. Scholarships will be provided only once an applicant has consulted with his or her doctor to confirm that the applicant is physically fit to travel to India and has all necessary vaccinations. The Chaplaincy assumes no responsibility for any illness, injury, or other harm suffered by any scholarship recipient.

LIABILITY: The Chaplaincy does not assume any responsibility for any action or omission of any institution in India with which a scholarship receipient works or any other person in India or for any airline or other travel provider.

*The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard extends very special thanks to The Roxbury Foundation for providing funding and support for these scholarships.

Here it is! A preview of the video of Humanist/nontheist Congressman Pete Stark’s historic talk at Harvard:

Would you like to purchase a copy of the DVD? Please sign up on our “DVD Purchase Waiting List” mailing list via the signup box below. If you are already on one of our regular mailings lists, click on “Update Your Profile” to join this new list.

After a huge kickoff week in the media, the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard, our students and activities continue to make the news.

Recent days have brought this feature, entitled “For Congressman, Humanism Matters” in the Boston Globe, on our 9/20 program with Congressman Pete Stark.

Also don’t miss two consecutive days of NPR discussing us: Humanist Chaplain Greg Epstein was on the national program “Here and Now” with host Robin Young on Sept. 20. And on Sept. 21, Here and Now spoke to Congressman Stark about his appearance as our ‘Harvard Humanist of the Year’ Lincoln Lecturer.

And you can also read about Greg discussing Humanist Baby Naming Ceremonies with the Salt Lake Tribune, and discussing the rise of Humanist and secular services and celebrations on college campuses, with the Daily Free Press of Boston University.

Don’t miss this historic occasion: for the first time in US political history, a sitting Congressman will give a public speech about his values as a Humanist and nontheist. Here are directions to Emerson Hall (room 105), Harvard Yard.

Can’t attend? Unable to gain admission to this free event due to lack of space? Look for video of Rep. Stark’s speech here at http://harvardhumanist.org Friday or Saturday at the latest. Tell your friends!

The Boston Globe Magazine’s 9/16 Cover Story on Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain of Harvard, was the Globe’s #1 most popular story Sunday! It has been holding steady in the globe’s top 5 most-recommended stories of the week ever since.

Read the story now, and then click on “Email to a friend” to keep the story’s uplifting message about Humanism going around and reaching new people.

Also check out the transcript of Greg’s chat with Boston Globe readers on Monday 9/17.

Greg will be on NPR’s “Here and Now,” a national program with host Robin Young, on Thursday Sept. 20 at noon.

Also see Greg’s recent essay, “The Rabbi Who Believed in Good” at “On Faith,” an online discussion on religion produced by Newsweek Magazine and the Washington Post.

Please join the Harvard Humanist Community for the Harvard Day of Service, Saturday September 29. Our Humanist Values in Action group will be organizing community service opportunities throughout the year for Humanist, agnostic, atheist and non-religious undergraduates, grad students, alumni, faculty, and friends; this unique opportunity will be an excellent beginning to our year, complete with morning kickoff meeting and afternoon BBQ.
If you want to attend the Day of Service and volunteer alongside fellow Humanists, please email humanist@hcs.harvard.edu with the subject “Day of Service” so we can register you as part of our party! We’ll send you a confirmation email within a day or two letting you know you’re all signed up.

The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard and the Harvard Humanist community extend a huge welcome to Humanist, agnostic, atheist, and non-religious members of the class of 2011. We have a wonderful year of activities in store, including a very exciting September.

Please mark your calendars for our kickoff event:
Wednesday Sept. 12 from 5:30-7pm, we’ll hold our annual Freshmen Dinner, at the CGIS Building room 050. This will be a great opportunity to meet other Humanist and non-religious students, and to get to know more about our dynamic community and the many opportunities you’ll have in it for leadership and service. For more info or any questions email humanist (@) hcs.harvard.edu. Here is the flyer below, pass it on to any freshmen you know. Hope to see you soon!

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of one of the greatest Humanist leaders of the 20th Century: Sherwin T. Wine, the 2003 American Humanist of the Year. Rabbi Wine and his longtime partner, Richard McMains, were vactioning in Morocco. Returning from dinner Saturday evening in Essaouira, their taxicab was hit by another driver. Both Rabbi Wine and the taxi driver were killed instantly. Richard survived the collision and currently is hospitalized in stable condition.

For a press release with more detailed information, including regarding the memorial service currently being planned, click here: press-rel-7-22-07-rabbi-wine-killed.doc or visit the Society for Humanistic Judaism. To hear Rabbi Wine speak on Humanistic Judaism, click here for an interview recorded at Harvard in April 2007.

UPDATE: Sherwin Wine did another interview during the weekend of the Harvard Humanist conference, on a nationally syndicated radio program called the Todd Feinburg. On that program, Wine was asked how Humanists deal with tragedies such as the Virginia Tech shootings, which happened shortly before the conference. Wine’s response was not only compelling and challenging, it has also been inspiring to those grieving his loss today. To listen, click here. Wine’s initial contribution to the program in its first hour also generated an additional two hours of passionate on-air discussion after he had hung up. You can also listen to hour two and three.

VIDEO UPDATE: Below, in six parts, is the exclusive video of Wine’s stirring presentation at Harvard University on April 21 2007, as part of The New Humanism, a conference in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard.

Myrna Baron’s introduction of Rabbi Wine:

Sherwin Wine Congratulates Salman Rushdie and Discusses the Humanist Alternative to Worship:

Framing the question:

Sherwin Wine tells his story:

Explaining the principles of Humanistic Judaism:

Cultural Humanism: Balancing Continuity and Integrity:

The June 18 issue of Newsweek Magazine (on newsstands
now) features Harvard Humanist Chaplain Greg M. Epstein discussing the vision for our recent 30th Anniversary Conference, “The New Humanism,” in its “Beliefwatch” section.

This topic was also the focus of a recent feature by the Religion News Service: see it here at it appeared in the Washington Post.