On Being with Krista Tippett Greg Epstein — Exploring a New Humanism
Mar 27, 2008
Greg Epstein, the Humanist chaplain at Harvard, passionately advocates for modern humanism as a positive, ethical identity distinct from religious beliefs. He shares insights from his secular Jewish upbringing and how he found community in humanism. Epstein discusses the moral case for nonbelief, emphasizing autonomy and ethics without faith. He addresses the historical stigma of atheism and highlights the growing non-religious community's commitment to compassion and service, all while exploring life's big questions through a humanist lens.
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Roots In A Diverse, Secular Jewish Home
- Greg Epstein grew up in diverse Flushing, Queens, with friends from many religious and cultural backgrounds.
- His mother was a Jewish refugee from Cuba and his upbringing mixed joy, art, and questioning of religion.
Inherited A Library, Not Belief
- Greg inherited his father's extensive religion and spirituality library after his father died when Greg was 18.
- He realized his father had a religious personality without religious belief and likely would have resonated with humanism.
Finding Humanism Through Ordination
- Greg discovered humanism through a former teaching fellow and then studied at the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism.
- He trained under Rabbi Sherwin Wine and was ordained after five intense years of study.
