The Humanist Advocate

Paradise Lost

Several months ago I made a resolution to break out of the echo chamber that all of us get into–and some never leave. Just being honest with oneself you have to admit getting into a bubble is a way to learn and appreciate the thoughts and beliefs of those in your tribe—up to a point, at which it then starts repeating itself, offering nothing new.  My project is to seek out the literature of public theologians, clergy, and even a …

On Moving Out and Moving Up

Probably many of us that have been with NOSHA for a while are living the curious wisdom of the unforgettable and more counterintuitive of Shakespeare’s quotations: Parting is such sweet sorrow.  William Gautreaux’ friendship with NOSHA began in the mid-2000s, and evolved into a relationship of dedicated participation in all things NOSHA, including writing articles for this blog, volunteering for any project that needed bodies (and minds!), including the  planning and organization of social events and banquets, leading the discussion…

New Book from our NOSHA Friend in Brazil!

Hugo Dart, NOSHA’s longtime friend in Rio de Janeiro, has just published the book Making Connections: A Practical Guide to Online Intercultural Exchanges, based on an ongoing project he coordinates. Here’s a short description: Online collaboration can be a powerful means of encouraging language learners to make connections between their local community and people from other cultural backgrounds. In doing so, learners develop their language skills while exploring different attitudes, values and beliefs. The authors of this book draw on…

The Unexpected Mexico: The Status of Women

We have a new dispatch from NOSHA friend, Bob Patience, who resides in Mexico. He offers a highlight of what he thinks are important changes to Mexico’s society.   A liberal, progressive Mexico may be counterintuitive. Crime and corruption get the headlines and there is homophobia and misogyny in rural areas. However, Mexico is more progressive than I ever realized. I live in a city of 5.4 million people, Guadalajara. It is a prosperous, modern and progressive city with deep…

Dear Mr. Speaker

…….An open letter to The Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives Dear Mr. Speaker, Your recent election to Speaker of the House of Representatives can and probably should stir a sense of modest pride and gratitude among our fellow Louisianans, and deserves the sincerest offerings of congratulations. Your hard work and dedication has been well rewarded with this honor. I am sure that you are prepared in every way to take on the challenges this job will present,…

Pot, Meet Kettle. And Play Nice

        The Castine Center is one of the largest indoor event centers in St. Tammany Parish, located a couple of miles east of Mandeville and directly across Hwy 190 from Fontainebleau State Park. During the weekend of September 29-October 1, it will be showcasing the first annual FearFest 2023 New Orleans. This latest version of fear festing includes booths, demonstrations, and other presentations by a host of “paranormal luminaries, cosplay competitions, paranormal investigators, demonologists, automatic writers, authors,…

Adventures in a more secular Mexico

Bob Patience reports on the history of Mexico that has been steeped in the Catholic Church, but that is changing!   I was a member of NOSHA when I lived in New Orleans and I have followed NOSHA since I moved to Mexico, seven years ago. I’m particularly interested in the program about aging (September 2023). I was 75 years old when I bought a one-way ticket to Mexico. I didn’t know anybody in Mexico and I didn’t speak Spanish….

BOOK REVIEW: A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Review by Dean Bedekar, September 2023   This is a unique book.  It will turn upside down everything you learned in your high school history class.  It’s about people who are never mentioned in traditional history books – workers, women, Blacks, Native Americans, immigrants, LGBTQ, the lower classes and residents of third-world nations.  By 2015, the book sold over 2 million copies and was translated into 20 languages.  In the Oscar-winning movie Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon says the book…

Another Sign of the Times

This week, NOSHA received a media inquiry from Louisiana Record, which describes itself as a legal journal covering Louisiana’s legal system. Its goal is to provide an objective view of the legal landscape in Louisiana, as well as an active forum for both sides of the argument. They asked if we see House Bill 8 as problematic or as an illegal injection of religion into the state’s classrooms, since the law requires all classrooms in public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools post signage…

Here’s to Your Health

There are vastly different interpretations and styles of expressing foundational principles of Christianity and other religions. One such message is that the value of human life on earth takes a back seat to the reunification of the soul with the creator, or gods —be it in Heaven, Valhalla, the Garden of Eden,  or some other divine destination. Critics have claimed that this idea is ultimately a death wish—if the Promised Land was so great, what is the point of sticking…

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