More releases and statements
Mar. 6, 2007
For Release: IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT
Contact: Greg Epstein 617-495-5986
Harvard's God-Free Chaplaincy Turns 30
Salman Rushdie, others honored by the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A group of renowned Humanists, atheists and agnostics will gather at Harvard in April, to take on an unlikely opponent: atheist "fundamentalists."
The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard has long been among the most distinct institutions serving the non-religious community, and this April 20-22 it marks its 30th anniversary with an international conference asserting humanism is a non-theistic philosophy that allows for understanding and respect between believers in God and atheists.
"Vocal atheist authors such as Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris have recently publicized the notion that atheists must defeat religion and that science is all we need to understand the world. The press dubbed this phenomenon 'the new atheism,'" said Humanist Chaplain of Harvard University Greg M. Epstein.
But Epstein said "Humanism", which encompasses but does not end at atheism, is the philosophy that best represents the diverse, emerging population of 1.1 billion non-religious people around the world. And so the Chaplaincy is calling its upcoming conference "The New Humanism."
"Humanism takes science seriously, but is more than just science!" Epstein said. "Humanists love life here on Earth, find inspiration in human creativity, and respect all human beings."
The Humanist Chaplaincy has quietly committed itself to interfaith dialogue at Harvard for three decades, said Epstein, who has headed the Chaplaincy since 2005.
"The time has come to say to the world that inclusiveness is the best approach, for non-religious and religious people alike," Epstein said.
The April 20-22 conference at Harvard will include some of the greatest thinkers of our time, including novelist Salman Rushdie, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, two-time Pulitzer Prize winning scientist E.O. Wilson, and renowned psychology professor and author Steven Pinker. Humanist Congressional lobbyist Lori Lipman Brown, of the Secular Coalition for America, will speak about how humanists can become more active in politics. Singer-songwriter Dar Williams will perform a private concert.
The conference will emphasize humanism's positive values, connections among humanists from many cultural traditions, and how humanist thought can contribute to global peace.
"Humanists and theists must promote cooperation between science and religion, the two most powerful forces in the world, to protect the Earth and its environment, however we believe they came into existence," said E.O. Wilson, who is slated to speak at the conference on April 22.
This January, New York-based think-tank the Institute for Humanist Studies awarded the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard a grant to provide a full-credit course on modern, organized Humanism. At the conference, Epstein, along with retired founding chaplain Tom Ferrick, a former Catholic priest, will unveil plans to create this program and establish Humanist chaplaincies at other universities.
For information about the conference, visit: http://www.thenewhumanism.org. For information about the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard, visit http://harvardhumanist.org.
To contact Greg Epstein, call 617-495-5986.
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