Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry

4.9•1099 ratings

Charleston, SC, USA

1,829 members · Public group

What we’re about

We are focused on (1) building community for non-religious people in the lowcountry, (2) practicing secular values through mutual aid and volunteer service, and (3) engaging in activism, particularly around defending the first amendment guarantee of separation of state and church. We are based in Charleston, South Carolina and are a chapter of the American Humanist Association.

Founded in 1994, our members are freethinkers of many kinds. We call ourselves agnostics, atheists, skeptics, secular humanists, rationalists and scientific naturalists. We are an all volunteer, member supported organization. We welcome you and all who are interested in participating in our friendly community. Our events are open to members and non-members alike.

For more information, check out our Webpage at http://lowcountryhumanists.org and sign up for our Mailchimp e-mail announcements.

You can also use our Linktree to find us on socials: https://linktr.ee/chshumanists

Upcoming events

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Wed, Oct 8 · 6:30 PM EDT
Freethinkers' Forum: Are some book bans justifiable?
Keith Summey Library, 3503 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC, US
Discussion prompt:
We're meeting during Banned Books Week (October 5–11) — a time when we celebrate the freedom to read and push back against censorship, especially when it targets books that address race, gender, sexuality, or other marginalized perspectives.

But what about books that we ourselves might find deeply harmful?
Books like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, The Turner Diaries, or The Anarchist Cookbook have been linked to real-world violence, terrorism, or hate. Other works, like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or certain Dr. Seuss titles, are classics that many now view as containing racist tropes or language — leading to their removal from school curricula or, in some cases, their own publishers pulling them from circulation.

This raises a challenging question for humanists and progressives: Are some book bans justifiable?

Let’s discuss:
- Where should we draw the line between protecting free expression and limiting access to harmful ideas?
- Is there a difference between a government ban, a school removing a book from the curriculum, or a publisher choosing not to reprint a title?
- Should we support the removal of certain books — like racist or violent propaganda — in the name of social responsibility?
- How do we stay true to humanist values of reason, freedom of thought, and ethical responsibility when those values come into tension?
As humanists, we value intellectual freedom — but we also believe in using our freedom responsibly. So the question is: Should we ever say "this book shouldn’t be available," or just "this book should be challenged, critiqued, and put in context"?

Let’s explore these tensions honestly and thoughtfully.

You can bring dinner! We are allowed to have food and drink inside the community room at the library (we just can't have heat sources). Since we are meeting around dinner time, we invite people to bring take-out dinner or snacks.

***All participants are asked to familiarize themselves with and agree to follow our code of conduct.

About the group:
The Freethinkers' Forum is a monthly gathering facilitated by the Secular Humanist of the Lowcountry to discuss topics of interest to freethinkers, atheists, agnostics and other non-religious people. The purpose of these gatherings is to foster respectful dialogue of interesting and intellectually stimulating topics. The focus is discussion and so we will not have speakers. We may have brief presentations to introduce topics, but those will be restricted to 15 minutes or less. There may be optional readings or television or film recommendations to stimulate discussion.
13 attendees
Sat, Oct 11 · 12:00 PM EDT
SHL Table at Charleston Pride Festival
The Refinery, 1640 Meeting Street Road, Charleston, SC, US
SHL will have a table at the 2025 Charleston Pride Festival! We participate in this event to show our support for the LGBTQIA+ community in the Charleston area and to represent Secular Humanism in the Lowcountry. We will staff our table to spread smiles, give away swag, and answer questions about SHL and Humanism. Come to the festival, and stop by our table to grab some swag, say hello and celebrate Pride with SHL.

We've got new t-shirts to show off your pride and your humanist values! 🎉 We’ve got two bold designs—“Gay the Pray Away” and “Straight But Not Narrow”—available in a wide range of colors and women's v-neck style so you can find the one that’s just right for you. Order by September 19th in order to get yours in time to wear loud and proud at Charleston Pride on October 11th. https://lowcountryhumanists.org/pride-t-shirts/

Join the party! We also need volunteers to represent SHL. No experience needed—just bring your smile (and trust us, smiling comes easy at Pride!). Volunteers work 2 hour shifts (or however much time you have to give).
Volunteer signups: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D44ACA72BA7F58-58232936-2025#/
8 attendees
Sun, Oct 12 · 2:00 PM EDT
Pop-Up Protest at City Hall
Charleston City Hall, 80 Broad St, Charleston, SC, US
Protest with SHL! ✊ in front of City Hall at 2 pm on Sunday, October 12th.

Join us as we stand up for First Amendment freedoms—including the separation of church and state, press freedom, and freedom of speech and assembly.

📢 Bring a sign if you’d like (we’ll have extras on hand if you don’t).

To comply with Charleston’s restrictive protest ordinance, we’re capping this action at 24 participants. When you RSVP please also email Bonnie Cleaveland (activism@lowcountryhumanists.org) with your phone and email so we can confirm your spot.

👉 Why the cap? The City of Charleston requires a permit for protests with more than 24 people and has been forcing permitted groups into out-of-the-way locations like Hampton Park. To make our voices heard in well-trafficked downtown spaces, we’re joining Silence Is Not an Option's (SINO) effort to hold pop-up protests every 2nd Sunday of the month, each in small groups of 24 or fewer.

Come make your voice heard!
9 attendees
Sun, Oct 12 · 2:00 PM EDT
Secular Kids' Play Date
Gahagan Park, 184 West Boundary Street, Summerville, SC, US
Join us for a fun, casual play date at Gahagan Park located at 184 W Boundary St in Summerville! Bring your kids to run, play, and make new friends while parents connect with other secular families. We’ll meet at 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 12—snacks and outdoor fun encouraged! All ages welcome.
Look for the SHL Flag!
14 attendees