The Humanist Union of Madison
Coming Events Page

Past and Coming Events for 2026
When	Topic	Location
Mondays, 10 am and 5 pm	Humanism Today, a series of programs from the Humanist Union of Madison and other sources on west Madison's progressive low power FM radio station, WIDE-LP. See the Monday program schedule.	WIDE-LP 99.1 FM west Madison
Last Thursday of month	Atheist Lounge discussion sponsored by Madison Skeptics.	online
Sunday January 4, 2026, noon to 1:30 PM	Authentic Identities: Understanding and supporting transgender and nonbinary family members, a panel presentation and discussion. The 4 panel members, each representing a family with a transgender or nonbinary member, are Ken Skog, Barb Park, Andy Garst and Beth Zurkowski. This follows a Prairie UU Society potluck starting about 11:30 AM in the Meeting House. Those of us joining the potluck will head next door to the Annex around noon. Recommended resources are: Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families, © UUA 2023 (382 pages), and Guide to Being An Ally to Trans and Nonbinary People from PFLAG, 2024 (50 pages). Photo that went viral online. Audio recording of most of the meeting is available here (1 hr. 8 min.).	In the Annex*
Sunday February 1, 2026, noon to 1:15 PM	How Can we Find Other Life in the Universe? will be the topic of our speaker, UW astronomy professor Thomas Beatty. Join the Prairie UU Society potluck lunch in the Meeting House starting about 11:30 AM and then come next door for our program in the Annex. The program audio recording is available here (1 hr. 16 min.).	In the Annex*
Sunday March 1, 2026, noon to 1:15 PM	Frances Harper: Poet, Orator, Activist will be our topic for Black History Month, presented by Robin Proud. Join the Prairie UU Society potluck lunch in the Meeting House starting about 11:30 AM and then come next door for our program in the Annex. The program audio recording is available here (1 hr. 8 min.).	In the Annex*
Sunday May 3, 2026, noon to 1:15 PM	John Dewey and the Humanist Manifesto I, presented by Ralph Tyksinski. John Dewey was one of 28 signers of the Humanist Manifesto I in 1933. We will explore this document and Dewey’s views on "a religion" and "the religious". As he was a thorough going atheist, we will also discuss if he would find the current notion of "spiritual but not religious" attractive and meaningful. All are welcome to join the Prairie UU Society potluck lunch in the Meeting House starting about 11:30 AM and then come next door for our program in the Annex.	In the Annex*
Sunday June 7, 2026, noon to 1:15 PM	How the erosion of the separation of church and state threatens the teaching of evolution, a Q&A session with Glenn Branch, Deputy Director of the National Center for Science Education, following his presentation on the above topic at the Prairie UU Society 10 AM service. Since the Scopes "monkey" trial of 1925, controversies over the teaching of evolution in the public schools have sporadically rocked the nation. Despite a steady stream of victories for the integrity of science education, recent decisions by the Supreme Court eroding the separation of church and state may encourage a renewal of challenges to the teaching of evolution. In his presentation, Glenn Branch will discuss the history of these controversies, with a special emphasis on events in Wisconsin -- and suggest that along with the reasons for concern, there are also reasons for hope. Following the morning presentation, all are welcome to join the Prairie UU Society potluck lunch in the Meeting House starting about 11:30 AM and then come next door for our program in the Annex.	In the Annex*
Events with a gray background are not sponsored by the Humanist Union of Madison but are likely to be of interest to humanists.

* Directions to Prairie Meeting House and Annex
2010 and 2006 Whenona Dr, Madison WI 53711

Past Events Since 2004 a large table with links to meeting recordings, photos, and related web pages