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
Anniversary Meeting - Agency, Autonomy, and Empowerment in Recovery
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 6:30PM
Join us for a compelling talk by Pete Rubinas, Executive Director of SMART Recovery, on how recovery can—and must—honor individual agency over paternalistic control. Drawing from lived experience and deep organizational insight, Pete will explore how traditional addiction frameworks often erode autonomy under the guise of help.
Rather than pathologizing struggle, Pete advocates for recovery rooted in choice, dignity, and mutual respect. He challenges the idea that care requires control, arguing instead for ethical, evidence-based support that trusts people to lead their own change.
This isn’t a feel-good recovery story—it’s a call to rethink how power operates in helping relationships. Pete will explore how language, systems, and even good intentions can strip people of agency, and how we can build communities that empower rather than prescribe.
With a background in counseling and social theory, and as someone who still volunteers locally with SMART Recovery, Pete brings both philosophical depth and practical wisdom. His work aligns with core humanist values: respect for individual autonomy, a commitment to evidence over dogma, and the belief that growth is possible through compassion—not coercion.
Pete’s mantra—“You are enough”—is more than reassurance. It’s a challenge to shift from deficit-based thinking toward human dignity and capability.
Come engage in a transformative conversation about recovery, power, and what it means to truly support one another.
Join us for our 36th Anniversary cake, coffee and conversation at 6:30 PM followed by Pete’s talk at 7:00 PM.
Board Meeting
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 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
Annual Picnic
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 4:00PM
Please join us at our annual picnic!
We will be outside on the front lawn at USNH.
Please bring your own refreshments and/or a…
Northern Social Dinner
Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 7:00PM
We’ll be meeting again in Wallingford at Pacific Buffet & Grill (https://pacificbuffetandgrill.com/). (Buffet Prices:…
Humanist Explorations
Saturday, July 5, 2025, 2:30PM
This is our monthly Humanist Explorations meeting. We meet at 700 Hartford Turnpike in Hamden for a presentation followed by a…
Book Discussions
"The Light Eaters" by Zoë Schlanger
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 2:30PM
Our book for June is The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by science journalist Zoë Schlanger.
From Amazon: It takes tremendous biological creativity to be a plant. To survive and thrive while rooted in a single spot, plants have adapted ingenious methods of survival. In recent years, scientists have learned about their ability to communicate, recognize their kin and behave socially, hear sounds, morph their bodies to blend into their surroundings, store useful memories that inform their life cycle, and trick animals into behaving to their benefit, to name just a few remarkable talents.
The Light Eaters is a deep immersion into the drama of green life and the complexity of this wild and awe-inspiring world that challenges our very understanding of agency, consciousness, and intelligence…We need plants to survive. But what do they need us for – if at all? An eye-opening and informative look at the ecosystem we live in, this book challenges us to rethink the role of plants – and our own place – in the natural world.
“Animals are something invented by plants to move seeds around. An extremely ‘yang’ solution to a peculiar problem which they faced.” – Terence McKenna
"Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus
Saturday, July 19, 2025, 2:30PM
Our book for July is Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel by Bonnie Garmus.
From Amazon:
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average…
"Determined" by Robert M. Sapolsky
Saturday, August 16, 2025, 2:30PM
Our book for August is Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will by neuroscientist and primatologist Robert M….
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.