Humanists of Topeka

05/17/2026

What a beautiful way to spend a Sunday morning. A group of us from Humanists of Topeka gathered for brunch at Chama Venezuelan Cafe, and it did not disappoint! Warm atmosphere, bright space, Venezuelan music setting the mood, genuinely amiable service, and food and beverages that earned every bit of a 5-out-of-5 from me. Highly recommend!

Huge thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a great time. It was genuinely lovely to share a few tables, chairs, and sofas with all of you.

This is what secular humanist community looks like in the real world: people showing up for each other, no theology required, just good food and good company.

If you've been curious about Humanists of Topeka but haven't made it out yet, I want you to know — you are welcome here. Our events aren't always formal. Sometimes it's a restaurant. Sometimes a bar. Sometimes somebody's living room. The point is the people and the conversation. Come as you are.

05/17/2026

This Sunday, an all-day event will be held at the United States capitol called “Rededicate 250” with the purpose of rededicating all Americans as “one nation under god.”

In response, our friends at the Atheist Community Of Austin are hosting an all-day livestream to fundraise for the atheist, secular, and humanist community. Our director Fish, and board president Candace, will both be making an appearance - don't miss out! You can join the livestream at the link in our bio (also in the comments)!

05/17/2026

Humanists of Topeka stands with Leavenworth Family Pride on their fourth anniversary celebration.

Secular humanism isn't a spectator philosophy. We believe in the dignity and worth of every person — not in the abstract, but in practice, in community, in showing up. Events like the Leavenworth Pride Picnic are exactly the kind of human flourishing we talk about in our colloquia and our book discussions. This is what it looks like in real life.

If you can make it out to Leavenworth for their picnic, I'd love to see some of our members there. And I'm genuinely exploring whether we can set up a table to represent secular humanism — to let folks know there's a community here that grounds its values in reason and human solidarity, not religious authority.

More details as I have them. In the meantime, go show some love on their page and wish them a happy fourth anniversary. 🏳️‍🌈

05/17/2026

Leavenworth Family Pride is celebrating its 4th Anniversary Leavenworth Pride Picnic in June. As secular humanists, we support such events. Hoping some of us can join.

05/16/2026

05/16/2026

Tomorrow, the Trump administration is hosting a nine-hour prayer festival on the National Mall — organized under White House partnership, funded through public 250th anniversary dollars, and featuring a speaker list that is almost entirely conservative Christian evangelical, with the White House Faith Office adviser explicitly stating the event would not include leaders "praying to all these different Gods."

That's not a paraphrase. That's a direct quote.

The First Amendment doesn't just protect your right to worship. It protects every American from their government deciding which religion gets the stage, the funding, and the symbolism of a national celebration.

This is a live, concrete example of what the church-state debate actually looks like in practice — not abstract, not hypothetical. It's happening tomorrow.

"The Las Vegas Sun" did the best journalism I've found on how we got here. Worth your time.

[LINK:] lasvegassun.com/news/2026/may/06/from-patriotic-milestone-to-revival-meeting-how-fr

What's your read? Does this cross the Establishment Clause line for you, or do you see it differently?

What began as a government-backed celebration of 250 years of American independence has evolved — some would say morphed — into something that looks less like a national birthday party and more like a state-sponsored evangelical revival.

05/15/2026

Daily Dose of Humanism

"You play the hand you're dealt. I think the game's worthwhile." - Christopher Reeve

As humanists, we believe a meaningful life isn't about waiting for the perfect conditions, but showing up for the ones you have. - American Humanist Association

05/14/2026

🚨 URGENT: This Sunday, the National Mall is being turned into a government-sponsored worship service.

They're calling it "Rededicate 250." Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffress, Paula White — standing alongside cabinet secretaries on federal land, using your tax dollars and military bands to tell non-religious Americans we don't belong here.

This is Christian Nationalism wearing a patriot costume. And it's exactly what the American Humanist Association exists to fight.

Since January, AHA advocates have contacted lawmakers over 1,000 times. Six Christian Nationalist bills have been defeated in Maryland, Kansas, and Nebraska. That work is funded by people like us.

If you can give — even $15 — please do it before Sunday.

👉 https://secure2.convio.net/ahuman/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20027a?mfc_pref=T&7020.donation=form1&df_id=7020&set.custom.Appeal=ea2605-b&NONCE_TOKEN=8B8541DE62C64B6E4C646F810CE767E5

America belongs to all of us. Not just to their theology.

The American Humanist Association advocates progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, freethinkers, and the non-religious across the country.

05/13/2026

Daily Dose of Humanism

"Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin

Honesty with yourself is where every meaningful shift begins. - American Humanist Association

05/12/2026

On International Nurse’s Day, we remember Alex Pretti. An ICU nurse who worked with veterans, Pretti spent his last moments the way he spent his career - helping, caring, and protecting.

Healthcare workers like Pretti show up when it’s hard. In hospitals and on the streets, they show us that caring isn’t just something that happens internally, or behind the scenes. It’s something that’s lived every day, in every action.

Thank a nurse today - the world can feel pretty dark, but nurses make it brighter.