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Building Community Beyond Belief, Exercising Progressive Values, and Defending Separation of Church and State

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No Kings on President’s Day Protest

No Kings on President’s Day Protest

SHL participated in a nation wide protest on President's Day 2025 to oppose the illegal and immoral actions of the Trump administration. We joined concerned citizens from around the state at the SC State House in Columbia. This protest is part of the #50501 movement: 50 protests in 50 states on 1...

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President’s Day Protest

President’s Day Protest

Join your humanist friends for a national day of protest on at noon on President’s Day, Monday, Feb 17th at the Statehouse grounds in Columbia. Be a part of history, as a protest is happening at every state capitol in the country!   If you want to carpool, send a message with your address and...

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Activist Sunday

Activist Sunday

We had 41 people come out to our first Activist Sunday. We wrote 137 postcards to our SC state senators and representatives asking them to oppose bills that violate the separation of church and state, and are inconsistent with our humanist values.

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The Good News

The Good News

This blog post is republished from the February 2025 issue of The Separationist.The Good News by Tucker Lentz The news is dark—so very, very dark. My mind keeps returning to the Night on Bald Mountain scene in Disney’s 1940 spectacle Fantasia. As night falls, the mountain’s peak transforms into a...

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The February issue of The Separationist is out now!

The February issue of The Separationist is out now!

In this issue: The Good News To offset the darkness of the daily news, we will highlight good news stories.   Activist Sunday: Take Action! Announcing the first monthly organizing meeting for secular activists.   Activist Corner There are some bad bills coming through the SC legislature....

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Intergenerational Organizing with Marcus McDonald

Intergenerational Organizing with Marcus McDonald

For our February member gathering we welcome Marcus McDonald for a discussion of the importance of intergenerational organizing. Many of us feel frustrated by societal issues but are unsure how to contribute effectively. Marcus will share insights from his work with Charleston Black Lives Matter...

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The 2nd Sunday is now Activist Sunday

The 2nd Sunday is now Activist Sunday

Starting February 9th, the 2nd Sunday of each month will be Activist Sunday.  Wondering what to do about democracy slipping away? Join SHL for our first monthly Activist Sunday. Monthly, secular activists will gather with community activists and those who want to take action. We’ll bring together...

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SHL Board Game Day

SHL Board Game Day

Come to Game Day with the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry, hosted by Chuck and Ann Hammond. Get ready for an afternoon of fun, laughter, and a little friendly competition playing board games! This is the perfect chance to connect with fellow members, enjoy some lighthearted rivalry, and show...

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Special Election on Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Special Election on Tuesday, January 21, 2025

We want to raise awareness of the special election for SC House District 113 happening on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. District 113 covers most of North Charleston and parts of Lincolnville, Ladson and Summerville. This particular election is the Democratic Primary for the seat, but there are no...

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Q1 2025 Charity of the Quarter: Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S.

Q1 2025 Charity of the Quarter: Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S.

For Q1 2025 we are raising money for Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. Sexual Assault Center (TCS, formerly People Against Rape). TCS is a sexual assault advocacy program offering free support and services for adult survivors of sexual assault in Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley counties of South...

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American Atheists’ State of the Secular States Report

American Atheists’ State of the Secular States Report

Our friends at American Atheists have launched the 2025 State of the Secular States Report, which you can download at https://states.atheists.org/ If you’re on their mailing list you may have already gotten an email about it but here is the press release if you missed it! They are having a webinar...

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Last Call for Donations to Park Circle Cares

Last Call for Donations to Park Circle Cares

So far we have raised $740 for Park Circle Cares, our Q4 Charity of the Quarter. There is a little more than one day left in the quarter, so it isn’t too late to contribute!We are going to continue to support Park Circle Cares with volunteer service at their monthly food distributions on the 3rd...

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Solstice Party and Potluck

Solstice Party and Potluck

Let's gather to enjoy food, drink, good friends and the coming of longer days at the SHL 2024 Winter Solstice Celebration, hosted by Susie Adams at the Overture apartment community on Daniel Island. All are encouraged to bring drinks or a dish to share. Ugly sweaters are also encouraged. 5:30 pm...

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New Article by Herb Silverman: Values and Purposes

by Herb Silverman What is the number one purpose of human existence? The primary biological purpose of every living thing, including humans, is to replicate so the species will survive. This is as true today as it was in prehistoric times. Charles Darwin showed that human are animals in a long...

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New LTE by Herb Silverman: Don’t Put Ten Commandments in Schools

https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/opinion-letters-isle-of-palms-parking-ten-commandments-vets/article_39a2af66-a2ca-11ef-800a-9346268759a6.html Ten Commandments An Associated Press article by Sara Cline and Kevin McGill, published last month, was about Louisiana wanting to...

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What do we do now? A Group Discussion

What do we do now? A Group Discussion

Join your humanist friends at the Charleston Public Library, Main Branch (68 Calhoun St), for a group discussion about what we do now. There is no speaker, or pre-planned program. This will just be a group of concerned humanists getting together to support one another, and to discuss our feelings...

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Comfort Food Potluck

Comfort Food Potluck

Many of us are feeling anxiety about the upcoming election, and while we remain committed to working hard in the fight to uphold the separation of church and state, we also need to take time for self-care. So let’s celebrate the beauty and resilience of our unique community with comfort food and...

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Media Literacy: Critical Thinking for the 21st Century

Media Literacy: Critical Thinking for the 21st Century

Join your humanists friends for our September member gathering where Frank W. Baker will be leading an interactive workshop on Media Literacy: Critical Thinking for the 21st Century. Frank W. Baker is highly lauded in the field of media literacy. He is a former Educational Consultant at SCETV, and...

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Train to Register Voters

Train to Register Voters

If the November election is a turn toward fascism, will you regret what you didn’t do? Only about half of registered voters in SC typically vote in national elections between presidential election years, and only about 6% vote in state and local elections. We need more voters to vote in those...

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Good Without God….but How?

Good Without God….but How?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This is a foundational idea of American culture and society, but what if you don't...

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Spring Potluck Picnic & Election

Spring Potluck Picnic & Election

Join us Sunday, May 19th for SHL's annual spring picnic at Wannamaker County Park at 11:30 am, and enjoy food and fellowship with your humanist friends. We have created an optional sign-up sheet where you can see what other people are bringing and list what you will be bringing. This may be...

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Capers Island Wildlife Exploration

Capers Island Wildlife Exploration

Join your friends from SHL on a nature adventure to Capers Island Heritage Preserve. Capers Island is a pristine barrier island just north of Charleston that is only accessible by boat. We will cruise through winding tidal creeks to find diverse wildlife living in this salt marsh ecosystem. A...

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March Member Gathering featuring Dr. Lisa Ross

March Member Gathering featuring Dr. Lisa Ross

March is Women's history month and for our member gathering we are excited to welcome Dr. Lisa Ross. Dr. Ross is a professor of social psychology at the College of Charleston. In addition to psychology classes, she teaches in the Women’s and Gender Studies program as well as the Environmental and...

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SHL group trip to the International African American Museum

SHL group trip to the International African American Museum

Join your humanist friends on an outing to the International African American Museum in Charleston. Dedicated to honoring the untold stories of the African American journey at one of our country's most sacred sites, the museum documents the journey that began in Africa centuries ago, and still...

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SHL 30th Anniversary Party!

SHL 30th Anniversary Party!

2024 marks 30 years since the founding of the The Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry, and we are throwing a party to kick off a year honoring our 30 years of being Good Without God in the Lowcountry! Please join us at 4 pm at Gage Hall on Sunday, January 21st. Maggie Ardiente, president of the...

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Yule have fun at the Humanist Solstice Celebration!

Yule have fun at the Humanist Solstice Celebration!

Let's gather to enjoy food, drink, good friends and the coming of longer days at the SHL 2023 Solstice Celebration, hosted at the home of Deb & Rob Britt. Members and nonmembers are welcome, and all are encouraged to bring drinks or a dish to share.We will also be holding a white elephant gift...

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Separation of Church and State Month SHL Member Gathering

November is Separation of Church and State month! The Separation of Church & State Week falls in the week of Thanksgiving Day as a secular response to National Bible Week, from November 19 to 25 this year. The Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU) and the Institute for...

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Free Thought Month SHL Member Gathering

Free Thought Month SHL Member Gathering

October is Free Thought month! A month that encourages people to be free thinkers and base their opinions on facts, science, logic, and reason. Let's raise awareness about independent thinking. Every free and democratic citizen must be allowed to enjoy the freedom of political, educational and...

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SHL Discussion: Intellectual Freedom is Under Attack

SHL Discussion: Intellectual Freedom is Under Attack

Authoritarians and cult leaders limit knowledge to control the populace. It's happening now, right here in our own community, with attempted book and curriculum bans. How will Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry take action to advocate for intellectual freedom? Banned Books week is around the...

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Panel Discussion: Public Education as a Building Block of Democracy

Panel Discussion: Public Education as a Building Block of Democracy

From the early days of our nation, public education has played a vital role in American democratic society. In addition to preparing young people for productive work and fulfilling lives, public education has also been expected to accomplish certain collective missions aimed at promoting the...

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Spring Potluck Picnic & Election

Spring Potluck Picnic & Election

Join us Sunday, May 21st for SHL's annual spring picnic at Wannamaker County Park at 11:30 am, and enjoy food and fellowship with your humanist friends. If you've never been to an SHL event, we'd especially like to welcome you. We invite you to bring food and drinks to share, but we always have...

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Franklin D. Williams on “The Other Charleston”

Franklin D. Williams on “The Other Charleston”

February is Black History Month, and so for our member gathering we will feature a talk on the hidden and under appreciated history and contributions of Black Americans in Charleston and the surrounding areas. The talk will be given by Franklin D. Williams, owner of Frankly Charleston Black...

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