Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago

09/08/2026

Our fall season opens on Sunday, Sept 13! Come to hear exciting speakers like world religions expert John Camardella and UIC professor of public policy Deborah Carroll. You’re also invited to participate in our engaging Community Day programs, which will include a discussion on the role of humanism in society.

Our Sunday morning programs are free and open to the public, and are followed by a social hour. Join us!

Click the link in our bio for more information on our community, programs, and activities.

Welcome to the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago An open and welcoming humanist community Sunday Programs Humanist Kids Secular Ceremonies Host your event here!Our newly renovated building is available for small meetings or for large events like weddings, parties, or performances. See our event sp...

07/29/2026

Most of what we hear about artificial intelligence comes from two camps: the frontier labs promising a transformed world, and the rest of us wondering what it means for our jobs, our kids, and our daily routines. On Sunday, August 2, EHS member Jared Lorince will talk about his work developing AI products, along with his perspective on AI use as a parent trying to make sense of the world his own children are growing up in. While sharing what AI looks like from that middle ground, he’ll tell us what he finds genuinely remarkable, what's overhyped, and why the real story isn't Skynet or magic, but a technology moving faster than our institutions and families can adapt.

Our Sunday morning programs run from 10:30am to noon, are free and open to the public, and are followed by a coffee hour. Join us!

07/22/2026

This Sunday, July 26, EHS member Rick Guthmann, MD, MPH, will talk about the many ways AI is being used in clinical medicine. The presentation will include a look at a project he has been working on that compiles and summarizes recent research in medical science. Rick is a faculty member at Advocate Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Residency and clinical associate professor of family medicine at University of Illinois Chicago, where he has taught and mentored residents since 2001.

06/26/2026

Join us for the next installment in our Lightning Talks series this Sunday, June 28. A few members of our community will share short, prepared talks on a common theme, "The Best Three Photos I’ve Taken."

06/10/2026

Join us as we kick off our summer program series on Sunday, June 14th.

Julia Julstrom-Agoyo will present "The Contemporary West Bank: Witnessing Life Under Occupation."

What does daily life look like for Palestinian families living under occupation in the South Hebron Hills? Julia will tell us about the three months she spent in the fall of 2025 in Masafer Yatta, a collection of 19 Palestinian hamlets in the southern West Bank. Julia will combine historical background on Palestine and the West Bank with her personal observations of settler intimidation, military incursions, and struggles over land, community, and survival.

05/15/2026

Dana Cole, professor of sociology at Harold Washington College, will explain how to foster inclusive and affirming environments by understanding and valuing diversity through an LGBTQIA+ lens. We will gain a foundational understanding of current terminology, identities, and inclusive language, while exploring how these concepts apply in a range of settings. Dr. Cole will offer tools for effective allyship, including strategies for addressing bias, supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals, and creating equitable spaces for all. Expect to leave with actionable resources to continue learning and advocating for LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

04/22/2026

Professor Eric Oliver returns to tell us about his new book, How to Know Your Self. For more than 20 years, Oliver has taught a legendary course—The Intelligible Self—that students routinely describe as life-changing. Now, in How to Know Your Self, he brings the best of that classroom experience to readers everywhere, guiding readers through the most profound and meaningful journey of all: understanding who we really are.

Oliver draws on insights from neuroscience, psychology, physics, and ancient philosophy to explore the mystery of the self. What is this thing we call “me”? How does it take shape? Oliver tackles these questions and shows us that the answers we’ve inherited—and even the ones we’ve come to ourselves—are often more illusion than truth.

04/09/2026

All are welcome to join another free webinar hosted by the Secular Student Alliance on April 29!

“This session is for students and supporters who are curious, cautious, or already feeling AI’s impact—and who want clearer tools for asking better questions and pushing back.”

Chris introduces key ideas from "The Psychology of AI Decision Making" and argues that AI governance is not just a technical issue, but a human one.

04/08/2026

This Sunday, author Josephine Ferorelli will join us to discuss her recent book The Conceivable Future: Planning Families and Taking Action in the Age of Climate Change. The book explores the ways in which the climate crisis is affecting our personal decisions about family planning, parenting, and political action. Josephine will offer fresh, timely answers to questions such as: How do I decide to parent a child amidst climate uncertainty? How do I talk to the kids in my life about the climate crisis? What can I actually do to help stop global warming?