Dale McGowan, 2008 Harvard Humanist of the year, will speak on Saturday, March 14 at 6:45 pm at The Unitarian Church in Westport and on Sunday, March 15 at 9:30 am to The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (CHJ) (RSVP for directions). Mr. McGowan is the author of Parenting Beyond Belief:  On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion, a book Newsweek Magazine calls “a compelling read.”

The Saturday event is a two-hour practical parenting seminar on raising ethical kids in a nonreligious environment. The Sunday morning breakfast and talk is a discussion about alternatives to traditional religious education and how parents and children can present their own beliefs to the wider community.

Parenting Beyond Belief is quickly becoming an important resource for nonreligious parents, who want to raise moral and ethical children without reliance on a “higher power.” Studies indicate that this unaffiliated group of parents is concerned about teaching children responsibility, tolerance, and how to make the world a better place, and they are doing it without any religious context to fall back on. Through his book and speaking engagements, Mr. McGowan offers guidance and hands-on tools for parents to communicate these challenging and complex issues to children.

CHJ is a cooperative congregation run exclusively by members, who plan educational programs, social events and holiday observances throughout the year. CHJ offers a full-service Sunday School program for children from kindergarten through Bar/Bat Mitzvah. We aim to develop the critical thinking skills of our students, give them appreciation of Jewish culture, history and values, and instill kind, generous behavior and a love of learning, all in an environment free of preaching and dogma. Because it is a warm and welcoming community, many interfaith couples find it to be the right place for their families.

Humanistic Judaism is the most recent group recognized as a major branch of Judaism by the United Jewish Communities. The Fairfield County CHJ Congregation was founded in 1967. Humanistic Judaism is now active in many countries throughout the world. Learn more about CHJ at www.humanisticjews.org.

To RSVP for Saturday or Sunday, call 203-226-5451 or email info@humanisticjews.org. Coffee and dessert served Saturday; bagels & coffee on Sunday 9:30; program begins 10 am. Admission is $12/person or $20/couple on Saturday to cover seminar materials. Register at 6:45 pm. Sunday morning is free and babysitting is available.

In his book, Mr. McGowan  covers such topics as how to encourage religious literacy without indoctrination, helping kids develop active moral reasoning, addressing sensitive issues with religious relatives, helping kids develop a healthy understanding of death, and building a family atmosphere of fearless questioning and boundless wonder. “Some of these challenges haven't been addressed directly before,” says McGowan. “Nonreligious parents have been experimenting in isolation for years. I hear a combination of excitement and relief in every audience when they learn that so many others are dealing with the same questions and finding some good answers.”

In addition, the book includes contributions from doctors, psychologists, educators, and numerous nonreligious luminaries such as noted author Richard Dawkins, actress Julia Sweeney, and entertainer Penn Jillette.