Author: Doug

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Secular Humanists Make The Newspaper

screenshot Front of the Religion section Toledo Blade 06/02/2018

The Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie had a nice write up in the religion section of the Toledo Blade. The print version took up nearly half a page and was above the fold. We could never afford advertising that good.

To question whether morals and values can exist apart from theology cuts to the heart of secular humanism. While atheism simply denotes that an individual does not believe in God, secular humanism “kind of takes that a step further,” Ms. Meagley said; it answers the “now what” question that, for some, follows when a person comes to terms with a disbelief in God.

Secular humanism’s affirmation of an ethical life suggests parallels between the ways that a conscientious religious adherent and a conscientious humanist would live. But a humanist, significantly, would do so without tying these views and values to theism or the supernatural.

“Good Without God“

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First Meeting A Success

Nice Crowd at first meeting

Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie (SHoWLE) met for the first time officially on May 5th. We had a dozen humanists interested in the group and moving forward.

The interest was so great that we were able to have enough AHA members to sign our chapter application and we had several people interested in serving on the steering committee. This committee will help develop the formal structure of the group as we become a chapter.

“I think it shows how needed a group like this is in Toledo and our PR campaign helped get the word out,” Co-founder Doug Berger said. “I am over the moon at the number who attended today without any previous history.”

Berger led the meeting and gave a presentation about the group and what he would like to see happen in the future. There was a good discussion period where the consensus was that there needs to be a group that can help protect the 1st amendment and concern that our group is too small to be effective.

“I understand the concern,” Berger said later. “We need to start small and grow into some of the ideas I have for the group. I have no problem with that.”

The next meeting will be on June 16th 2018 at 11 am at The 577 Foundation 577 East Front St.  Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 (just west of East Boundary St.)

Berger will also being doing a presentation about church and state issues in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan area.

All meetings of SHoWLE are free and open to the public.

Here is a clip from the Toledo Blade on May 5th:

Meeting announcement in the Blade
Religion Section Toledo Blade 05/05/2018
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A New Dawn For Humanism In Toledo

A new day is dawning over Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. From Monroe to Findlay and from Sandusky to Defiance, a new group is forming to give a safe space and community to people who are secular humanists.

Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie (SHoWLE) values people, emphasizes reason, and focuses on this world. Our purpose is educating the public about Humanism and building a Humanist community in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Membership is open to all Humanists in substantial agreement with our principles and values. Our regular meetings and scheduled events will be free and open to the public.

SHoWLE will be having an organizational meeting on May 5th, 2018 at 1 PM in the meeting room at the Washington Branch of the Toledo Public Library 5560 Harvest Lane Toledo OH 43623. The plan is to hold regular monthly meetings and become a chapter of the American Humanist Association.

Humanism is a democratic and ethical lifestance which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethics based on human and other natural values in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.

For most, humanism is an alternative to religion. In many cases and situations there is a humanist alternative to problems we see in the world. We feel that in the Toledo area, that alternative isn’t being heard. or at least being addressed.

We are looking to build a strong core of individuals who share Humanist values and who want to build a vibrant community for Humanists

If you have any questions, or for media inquiries, feel free to use our contact form.

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