Welcome

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
Humanism and Its Aspirations

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting - Fighting Invasive Plants in Connecticut is a Job for Humanists

Monday, October 21, 2024, 6:30PM

In 2024, Connecticut designated several new plants as invasive, posing a threat to our state’s biodiversity. Member Giulia Gambale, UConn Certified Master Gardener and member of the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG), will help us understand how we can responsibly address this issue.

Giulia will share the latest research, provide identification tips, and share effective management strategies to help combat the spread of these invasive species. In addition, you will learn how to choose native and near-native plants to preserve our ecosystems. Discover how you can participate in this ethical effort to protect the environment!

Join us for half an hour of coffee and conversation at 6:30 PM, followed by the main program after brief announcements at 7:00 PM.

USNH, 700 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden CT

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Board Meeting

Sunday, October 20, 2024, 7:00PM

All members of the Humanist Association of Connecticut are welcome to attend. If you have something to bring to the board or wish …

Online event

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Northern Social Dinner

Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 7:00PM

We’ll be meeting again in Wallingford at Pacific Buffet & Grill (https://pacificbuffetandgrill.com/) (Buffet Prices:…

Pacific Buffet & Grill, 20 Ives Rd # 301C, Wallingford CT

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Humanist Explorations

Saturday, November 2, 2024, 2:30PM

This is our monthly Humanist Explorations meeting. We meet at 700 Hartford Turnpike in Hamden for a presentation followed by a…

USNH, 700 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden CT

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Social Dinner

Monday, November 4, 2024, 7:00PM

Join us for our monthly Social Dinner, and discuss a wide range of topics with like-minded people. (We’re holding these…

It's Thai Time Restaurant, 181 Orange St, New Haven CT

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Book Discussions

"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Saturday, October 19, 2024, 2:30PM

Our book for October is The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Dutch psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk.

From Amazon: Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments – from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga – that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal – and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

“War zones may be nearer than you think, as the 25 percent of US citizens raised with alcoholic relatives might attest…In a narrative packed with decades of findings and case studies, he traces the evolution of treatments from the ‘chemical coshes’ of the 1970s to neurofeedback, mindfulness and other nuanced techniques.” – Nature

Wilson Branch Library, 303 Washington Ave, New Haven CT

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"The Gospel of Wellness" by Rina Raphael

Saturday, November 16, 2024, 2:30PM

Our book for November is The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care by former…

Wilson Branch Library, 303 Washington Ave, New Haven CT

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"Sync" by Steven Strogatz

Saturday, December 21, 2024, 2:30PM

Our book for December is Sync: The Emerging Science of Spontaneous Order by mathematician (and Loomis Chaffee alumni) Steven…

Wilson Branch Library, 303 Washington Ave, New Haven CT

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You can download the New Haven Free Public Library’s flyer for the 2024 book discussions at the Wilson Branch.

Our Calendar

Be sure to sign up for our e-mail list to get advance notification of events.

You can RSVP for most HAC events via meetup.com.

Newsletter

Titles selected for our book discussions can be found in most local libraries or ordered from bookstores such as Barnes and Noble.

HAC is a chapter of the American Humanist Association, a member of the Connecticut Coalition of Reason, and a UU Humanists local group.