What struck me about the article is what it said about how to approach people. It reinforced the Humanist Chaplaincy’s view that humanists/atheists will get more cooperation from religious people if we show some respect and humility rather than confront them aggressively. If our objective is, as I think it should be, peace and mutual tolerance with the religious, then this tells us how to proceed rationally to achieve that objective.

Sincerely,

Gary Brill

Even if you don’t know what ‘Tabling’ is, you’ve likely already seen it.  The Chaplaincy sets up a fold-able table, among sometimes dozens of others for other organizations, and then sets up poster boards, pamphlets and other information about the Chaplaincy.  In past events we’ve also had games, like Guess the Humanist.

We could always use help setting up for events or you could come by just to keep us company.  If you are already familiar with the Chaplaincy, please come and talk to students that stop by to ask questions.  If you are an incoming Rutgers student, please stop by as well!  We would love to have conversation.

From the Reason Rally in DC with 20-30,000 participants – in the rain! – to billboards and massive fundraising projects, Greta describes how non-theists are getting active and getting noticed in the US.

To add to this list I’d like to note the huge growth in Humanist Chaplaincies.  Only a few years ago there was a single Humanist Chaplaincy in the US at Harvard.  Today there are five of us.  And at least two being planned as I write this.  Not to mention the Tufts Freethought Society, whose students have been advocating for one for a while.

To read the article check it out at Salon.com Atheism’s New Clout.

For the second year in a row, I’m speaking at the “All-Alumni Interfaith Chapel Service,” which is Saturday, May 12, at 9am in Kirkpatrick Chapel.  I hope to present our perspective by reading a poem I think of as a Humanist and a universal human affirmation.

The poem is called “I Will Not Die an Unlived Life.”

Afterwards, from about 10:30 until 2pm, I will be at a table with some humanist alumni on Voorhees Mall.

PLEASE CONSIDER ATTENDING THE SERVICE AND THEN STOP BY THE TABLE AND SAY HELLO.

Thank you very much,
Barry Klassel

We had a Guess the Humanist game where enjoyers of the  day’s events could win a candy bar.  In order to win, players had to correctly match all four quotations with the individuals that said them on at least one of the 8 large poster boards we had.

We also got a special shout out with an article written by Rutgers University:  Finding God – Or Not – On Rutgers Day.

The reasons for this are unclear, but one lesson that can certainly be taken is that Atheism doesn’t mean you are necessarily a stone cold individualist and selfish oppurtunitist.

There are Nihilists, yes.  But there are also Humanists!

One can be Good without God.

If you are feeling compassionate, please considering donating to Foundation Beyond Belief.

The Chaplaincy doesn’t conclude that theists are not motivated by compassion.  That is obviously an incorrect assumption to make.  However, as we have been trying to arguing all along:

Compassion, in practice as well as theory, is a central value of Humanism

Please check out our What is Humanism?, Meet the Chaplain, Why a Chaplaincy?, Contact Us, and Join sections.

Also, a Subscribe feature was added.  So now you can get email digests of Events & Updates posts from the website!

More edits to these sections as well as tons more content for everything else will be coming shortly.

It was sponsored by other campus chaplaincies, the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of Student Life.

Barry spoke about his own father’s death in the previous year.  He suggested that human relationships are among the greatest treasures in our lives, and that even after someone close is lost, something shining from that life still remains.  Then he read a poem by M. D. Hughs called THE TIDE RECEDES:

The tide recedes, but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand.

The sun goes down but gentle warmth
still lingers on the land.

The music stops and yet it lingers on
in sweet refrain.

For every joy that passes
something beautiful remains.

After the service, Barry stayed to counsel some of the parents who seemed distraught.

For the next week(s) we will be adding content to the website, as well as other major changes in format and appearance.  For those familiar with the old website, we will be adding a variety of new features.

Please make a note to visit us in the near future!

Thank you so much for your patience,
Paul Chiariello