Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago

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?