Sunday Morning Programs
Our Sunday morning programs alternate weekly between a guest speaker and one of our Community Days, which are designed to foster community engagement and social action. From June through August, all of our programs will be in-person only and will not be livestreamed, unless otherwise noted below. Some of these programs will be recorded and posted on our YouTube channel for later viewing.
Our Sunday morning programs alternate weekly between a guest speaker and one of our Community Days, which are designed to foster community engagement and social action. We hope you can attend these programs in person, and we’ll also continue livestreaming our guest speakers to our YouTube channel for those who can’t make it to our building. All of our Community Days programs are in-person only.
Sunday, September 13, 10:30 am
John Camardella
“Belief, Nonbelief, and Everything in Between: Living Ethically in a Religiously Plural World”
What does it mean to live ethically in a society shaped by religious, secular, and nonreligious worldviews? Drawing from his work as a public school and university educator, John Camardella will introduce a framework for understanding religion as a dynamic, culturally embedded force. Rooted in the Cultural Studies Method developed through Harvard Divinity School, this approach invites reflection not only on religious traditions, but also on humanism, agnosticism, atheism, and the many ways people make meaning in a pluralistic world. Attendees will gain practical tools for engaging across lines of difference and explore how religious literacy can promote mutual respect, critical thinking, and civic responsibility in a diverse and often divided society.
Sunday, September 20, 10:30 am
Examining the Role of Humanism in Society
What does it mean to be a humanist in a religiously diverse society? For this Community Day, we will build on ideas discussed in our September 13 program, “Living Ethically in a Religiously Plural World,” by exploring perceptions of humanism and asking questions about the role humanism plays in the world today. How do we promote religious literacy without endorsing religious practice? Is humanism a religion? How do our answers to these questions impact the way the humanist movement functions in society? We’ll explore these topics and search for answers in facilitated group discussions.
Our Community Days are programs designed to bring us together to learn, grow, and volunteer. They are open to the public, in-person only, and will not be livestreamed.
Sunday, September 27, 10:30 am
Deborah Carroll
“Public Money, Private Teams: The Stadium Funding Debate”
Should taxpayers be on the hook to help finance stadiums for privately-owned sports franchises? UIC professor of Public Policy Deborah Carroll joins us to discuss the high-stakes battle over a new home for the Chicago Bears. She will outline this larger national debate, including the public incentives that Illinois and Indiana are weighing to offer the team.
Sunday, October 4, 10:30 am
“News or Ruse? Staying Informed in the Misinformation Era”
Where do we get our news? How do we avoid fake news and disinformation online? In this microconference, we will break into small groups to talk about how we navigate the complicated modern media landscape. We will compare favorite news sources, discuss traditional vs. new media platforms, and talk about developing critical thinking skills that help us spot deepfakes, scams, and misinformation.
Our Community Days are programs designed to bring us together to learn, grow, and volunteer. They are open to the public, in-person only, and will not be livestreamed.
the views of our speakers do not necessarily represent those of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago.
Covid Policy for Attendees
For our in-person audience, we will be adhering to the following policy:
- ALL attendees must be FULLY VACCINATED.
- A face mask completely covering the nose and mouth is required for all audience members during the program whenever the CDC rates Cook County at High Risk for Covid transmission.
- A mask-optional social hour will follow the program.
Have you missed some of our recent programs? You’re in luck!
Recordings of many of our programs from the last several years reside on our YouTube channel. Click this button to see a list of our broadcasts from the past year with links to the videos.
FAQ
Here are answers to some common questions, but feel free to contact us if you have any others!
We welcome you to join us for any Sunday morning program! No RSVP necessary–just drop in. There will be greeters at the door to direct you to our auditorium and answer any questions you may have.
If you can’t make it in person, we livestream most of our Speaker Series programs so you can watch live from home! Just hit the “Join the Livestream” button under any of the programs listed above at the appointed time, or go directly to our YouTube channel.
All our Sunday programs are free and open to the public. No reservations are needed.
Although attendance is free, we do offer an opportunity during the program for freewill donations. We suggest $5, or whatever you’re comfortable with.
Yes! Our Humanist Kids program runs concurrently with the adult program from September through May. Your children, from infants to 8th grade, can enjoy stories, discussions, crafts, and social action projects designed to encourage living life ethically and joyfully.
Our children’s program is closed during the summer, but you’re welcome to have your children sit with you in the auditorium main floor or in the balcony.
For more information see our Humanist Kids page, or contact the Humanist Kids Program Director.
Yes! See our Activities page for other ways that we get together, or our Social Action page (Coming Soon), for upcoming projects that you can help with.
