Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville

Social Justice, Personal Growth, Community

  • Home
  • Online Live!
  • Who We Are
    • Statement of Purpose
    • Ethical Humanism
    • Membership
    • Board & Committees
      • Jackie Simms
      • Jim Tobin
      • Andy Reed
      • Martha Marshall
      • Karen Ziff
      • Joy McConnell
      • Steve Obremski
      • Rich Wasch
    • History
    • National Leaders Council
    • Tax Exempt Organization
  • What We Do
    • Colloquy (1st Sunday)
    • Presentation Meeting (3rd Sunday)
    • Ethical Education for Children
    • Past Meeting Topics
  • Ethical Action
    • Social Justice
  • Ceremonies
    • Weddings
  • Resources
    • Post Archives
    • Newsletters
    • Links
  • Events
  • Contact
    • EHSA Contact
    • Join Our Mailing List
You are here: Home / Archives for Rich Wasch

Freethought Caucus letter re: Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s alarming record on state-church separation and religious liberty

September 11, 2018 By Rich Wasch

The Freethought Caucus of the US Congress sent a letter to Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Feinstein to highlight Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s alarming record on issues of state-church separation and religious liberty – core American principles.

“The thriving and diverse religious marketplace in America is a result of a robust separation between state and church.  As America becomes both less religious and more religiously diverse, the importance of keeping state and church separate is more vital than ever.  Judge Kavanaugh has indicated a clear desire to betray this American ideal.”

Click Here for a link to the letter signed by 15 Members of the US Congress

Filed Under: News

Jackie Simms – featured in UCOBSERVER (Ethical Living, Justice and Faith) Newsletter

September 11, 2018 By Rich Wasch

Jackie Simms – featured in UCOBSERVER (Ethical Living, Justice and Faith) Newsletter 

 

The Humanist Society offers certification to celebrants who perform wedding ceremonies for secular and humanist couples. Humanists believe in critical thinking over dogma and the agency of humans over their own lives.

Jacquelyn Simms is a humanist celebrant based in North Carolina. She meets with engaged couples to discuss a wide range of topics, like each person’s concept of marriage, work-life balance and children — both having them and the possibility that biological kids are not in the cards.

She says that it’s important that two people share a commitment to building a life together and have similar and realistic expectations of the partnership.

“I do not tell the couples that theirs is a marriage ‘made in heaven,'” she says. “I do tell them that their marriage will be made by the decisions they make each day.”

 

Filed Under: News

First-ever Congressional Freethought Caucus Established

May 11, 2018 By Rich Wasch

(Washington, DC, April 30, 2018)–The Center for Freethought Equality (CFE) and the American Humanist Association (AHA) are proud to announce the establishment of the first-ever Congressional Freethought Caucus as a Congressional Member Organization of the 115th Congress.

Founded by Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), and Dan Kildee (D-MI) , the Congressional Freethought Caucus will:  promote public policy formed on the basis of reason, science, and moral values; protect the secular character of our government by adhering to the strict Constitutional principle of the separation of church and state; oppose discrimination against atheists, agnostics, humanists, seekers, and nonreligious persons; champion the value of freedom of thought and conscience worldwide; and provide a forum for members of Congress to discuss their moral frameworks, ethical values, and personal religious journeys.

“The American Humanist Association (AHA) and the Center for Freethought Equality were honored to be participants in the organizational meetings held to create and define the objectives for this caucus,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of AHA. “The very existence of this Congressional caucus for freethinkers and humanists is a marker of how far the movement for secular and nontheist equality has come. This significant step is also a new beginning for our country as both religious and non-religious leaders work to better the nation.”

In November, Rep. Huffman was endorsed by the Freethought Equality Fund Political Action Committee as he identifies as a humanist, as nonreligious, or as agnostic. Humanism, as defined by the American Humanist Association, is “a progressive lifestance that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead meaningful, ethical lives capable of adding to the greater good of humanity.”

“Establishing the Congressional Freethought Caucus is an historic step in normalizing the participation of atheists and humanists within American politics,” said Ron Millar, Political and PAC Coordinator at the Center for Freethought Equality. According to research from PRRI, the percentage of Americans who identify as “religiously unaffiliated” increased from 16% in 2006 to 24% in 2016. The Pew Research Center found that the change in the Democratic Party is even more dramatic with the percentage of the “religiously unaffiliated” increasing from 9% in 1997 to 33% in 2017.

“Our democracy is impoverished, said Millar, “and the quality of our political candidates is diminished, if a quarter of the population is effectively banned from the electoral arena. This caucus will help end discrimination against nontheist candidates and elected officials, allow candidates and elected officials to be authentic about their religious beliefs, and encourage atheist, agnostic, and humanists to run for political office.”

Read Representative Huffman’s press release here.

Filed Under: News

Put An End to Big Money In politics

November 11, 2017 By Rich Wasch

The board of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville endorses the Move to Amend campaign.

Click to go to the Move to Amend website!.

Filed Under: Ethical Action

NC We The People – Put An End To Big Money In Politics

September 19, 2017 By Rich Wasch

The board of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville endorses this campaign.

Click to go to the NC We the People web site!.

Send a personal message to the NC House and Senate rules committees asking them to pass H453/S354 through to the floor for a vote!

Filed Under: Ethical Action

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2

Thursday, January 14 – Online! at 7:00 PM

“Research-Based Perspectives on Police Reform”

Sunday, January 17 – Online! at 2:30 PM

“The Only Way From Here is Up”

Sunday, January 31 – Online! at 11:00 AM (Hosted by Washington Ethical Society)

Replacing Magical Thinking with Rational Discourse

How the Congressional Freethought Caucus is Fighting to Restore the Intellectual Foundations of American Democracy

Sunday, February 7, 2021 – Online! at 2:30 PM

Colloquy

Click "Please Contact Me" to request Zoom meeting ID

Sunday, February 21 – Online! at 2:30 PM

“Racial Justice Coalition”

CONTACT US!

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on Meetup

During the pandemic, we meet by Zoom.  Otherwise at the Asheville Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC

Copyright © 2021 · Outreach Pro · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in · Images & Design by Rich Wasch