However you keep track of what’s going on in the world today, things have happened in the last week, the last month, in terms of science, economics, art, government, education, and, yes, religion. Each of these events involved human beings who had to make decisions on how to act, based on their deeply-held values. Each will have consequences over time, with impacts ranging from trivial to substantial. Each of us will be affected in one way or the other. Each of us thinks about what these things mean to us and to others.

Some of us use a system called “Humanism” to serve as a foundation for this work. Humanism came into existence in Europe in the sixteenth century, and has continued to shape societies since then; although, having been altered by its practitioners and by events, it may or may not resemble the Humanism of Renaissance Europe. However we define or describe it, Humanism is one of the sources Unitarian Universalists look to for guidance and wisdom. What does Humanism mean for us today? How do these teachings help us to consider how the world’s needs intersect with our own passions? In a congregation strengthened by our relationships with one another, how do we consider the limits of Humanism in today’s world? Dr. Helen Bishop will talk about one of the sources of Unitarian Universalism.