Title of Presentation: Why I Write Secular Columns for a Religion Page
Summary: Where is the rational voice of secularism/humanism being heard in our hyper-religious world, especially in our local communities? Can that voice be expressed in an inclusive manner that builds bridges instead of walls? In this talk we will hear from one secular writer whose weekly columns appear on the religion pages of a local paper. He will share stories from those essays and some of the responses from readers of faith and freethought.
Bio: Chris Highland is a freethinking humanist teacher and writer. He was a Protestant minister and interfaith chaplain in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years serving in churches, county jails, shelters and streets. After leaving his ministry and faith, Chris was a shelter director and housing manager.
He is the author of Simply Secular, From Faith to Freethought, Nature is Enough, Friendly Freethinker, Broken Bridges, A Freethinker’s Gospel, My Address is a River and other books.
Chris has taught courses on Freethought in California and, since 2016, at the UNCA Reuter Center and Blue Ridge Community College. He writes the weekly “Highland Views” column for the Religion pages of the Asheville Citizen-Times. Chris and his wife, Carol Hovis, a Presbyterian minister, live in Asheville.
His blog is “Friendly Freethinker” (www.chighland.com)
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