More meaning.
More connection.
More wisdom.
Without religion.
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Learn and share wisdom
GUIDANCE: Bi-weekly, IRL facilitated living room discussions about wisdom curated from spiritual and non-spiritual sources—from the Torah to TED Talks and everything in-between. Plus reflection & meaningful ritual.
Assist and challenge one another
SUPPORT: Small-group, IRL check-ins with your peer circle for authentic, deep, consistent support.
Serve your community
SERVE: Monthly opportunities to give back, make a difference in your neighborhood, and ground yourself in service, together.
Have a good time :)
SOCIALS: Post-gathering happy hours & monthly parties across the city 💃
WHY HEARTH?
It's a mad world sometimes, and it's getting worse.
When times get tough, it can be easy without religion to sink into disillusionment or despair, and to retreat into ourselves. I know because I've been there.
I'm non-religious, and when I was a teenager, I fell into a severe existential crisis that sent me on a seven-year journey to find answers I needed.
Nearly one-third of Americans reject religious doctrine, yet when they look elsewhere, there's often a problem: Few, if any, satisfying alternatives to religion exist that help nurture the spirit and promote wisdom, especially for younger generations.
Hearth is an experiment to fight meaninglessness in society. If we succeed, not only do we improve our own lives, but also our communities, our nations, and our world.
I invite you to be a part of it. To gather, and grow, by the Hearth.
MEET RAY
Ray Batra is the founder of Hearth. He also co-founded the largest global community for leaders innovating in higher education. Ray loves to sing, and his candy of choice is Reeses.
Supported by
COMING SOON
What are the benefits of joining Hearth?
In short: Better mental, emotional, and spiritual health! While Hearth should not be considered a direct replacement for 1:1 therapy or coaching, for some members, Hearth supports their holistic well-being in ways that reduce their need for such services as frequently.
What exactly is the structure?
Hearth has three pillars. First, our monthly city-wide volunteering opportunities. Second, our monthly socials / mixers, also open to all members across the city. Third is our 75-minute, bi-weekly living room gatherings to discuss ideas about wisdom and support each other.
Each bi-weekly gathering with your "Circle" of 10-15 local members is facilitated by a trained host. All of these "anchor sessions" start with a short reflection, meditation, or song (at the hosts' discretion). At each month's first anchor session, your host will facilitate an exploration of an important life topic—for example, coping with grief & loss, how to cultivate stronger friendships, or how to love better—rooted in discussion about ideas from one or more curated sources of wisdom (e.g. a reading, video, and/or audio clip). At the second session each month, Circle members are invited to share recent highs and lows in their life; this is dedicated time to support one another. Second sessions also close with an exercise to help you take impactful ideas from the month and make a plan to consistently apply them in your life.
Both times, Hearth hosts a post-discussion happy hour at a nearby bar or restaurant, joined by members from other Circles in the neighborhood!
What is the cost to join?
Hearth offers a two-month free trial to anyone over age 18. After this period, you may sign-up for membership using a sliding scale structure of $65/$95/$125 per month, to maximize financial accessibility. We do not verify your income; we ask that you select the level you can reasonably afford at this point in your life.
How does Hearth define 'being spiritual'?
We consider being spiritual as the desire for and practice of creating meaning, connection, and depth in our human experience, beyond comfort or intellect alone.
How does Hearth define 'religion' and 'secular'?
We consider religion to be faith-based spiritual systems that ground meaning and morality in external or transcendent revealed scripture. We consider secular to be anything non-religious.
I'm in high school, and I would love to join something like this. Why can't those under age 18 join yet?
This should be a temporary restriction—we hope to open this up soon to at least older high school students!
May older adults join, too?
Yes! All ages (over 18) are welcome.
Can theists (or deists) join?
Yes.
What about atheists?
Yes.
Where can I join Hearth?
Hearth is launching first in New York City with plans to expand to other regions soon. Please join the waitlist to be notified once Hearth is available near you.
Is Hearth anti-religion?
No. Religions have done a lot of good and helped a lot of people. But religions have also hurt a lot of people, too, and religiosity requires leaps of faith that not everyone finds reasonable or necessary. Hearth believes being religious can be a fine choice for some people, as long as it is freely-chosen (including understanding alternative options) and leads to ethical action.
What is Hearth fundamentally about? Are there any underlying, unifying ideas I need to agree with?
Hearth is for those who share the belief—or who are at least open to exploring the belief—that an awesome, fulfilling, coherent, and ethical life does not require external or transcendent revealed scripture. Many of us have different starting points about fundamental truths (AKA "axioms") in our lives that work for us. Sometimes those axioms are simple to identify; sometimes they take many years to uncover. Part of the purpose of Hearth is to curate a variety of helpful, secular perspectives on these types of questions to make it easier for us to each define starting points and values and to challenge and support one another as we live out those values.
We accept that living non-religiously requires, at times, both courage and humility in the face of uncertainty. Hearth exists to help us take on this important work together.
Does Hearth have shared values or ground rules?
Yes. While the following values may arise from different sources for different people, all Hearth members freely choose to commit to:
1) Respect: The inherent worth and dignity of each person.
2) Reject: The temptation of arrogance or certainty.
3) Rejoice: There may (?) only be one life to live... so have fun with it!
Is Hearth politically left or right?
Neither. Reasonable people can and do disagree on a wide range of policy positions, even when sharing common starting values. While we welcome and encourage members to take political action in their private lives, Hearth intentionally does not do so itself, with rare exceptions.
What is Hearth's affiliation with the American Humanist Association?
The American Humanist Association formally supports Hearth and believes Hearth's offerings may benefit many humanists. However, Hearth is an independent entity with members from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives, including but not limited to humanists.
In short: Better mental, emotional, and spiritual health! While Hearth should not be considered a direct replacement for 1:1 therapy or coaching, for some members, Hearth supports their holistic well-being in ways that reduce their need for such services as frequently.
What exactly is the structure?
Hearth has three pillars. First, our monthly city-wide volunteering opportunities. Second, our monthly socials / mixers, also open to all members across the city. Third is our 75-minute, bi-weekly living room gatherings to discuss ideas about wisdom and support each other.
Each bi-weekly gathering with your "Circle" of 10-15 local members is facilitated by a trained host. All of these "anchor sessions" start with a short reflection, meditation, or song (at the hosts' discretion). At each month's first anchor session, your host will facilitate an exploration of an important life topic—for example, coping with grief & loss, how to cultivate stronger friendships, or how to love better—rooted in discussion about ideas from one or more curated sources of wisdom (e.g. a reading, video, and/or audio clip). At the second session each month, Circle members are invited to share recent highs and lows in their life; this is dedicated time to support one another. Second sessions also close with an exercise to help you take impactful ideas from the month and make a plan to consistently apply them in your life.
Both times, Hearth hosts a post-discussion happy hour at a nearby bar or restaurant, joined by members from other Circles in the neighborhood!
What is the cost to join?
Hearth offers a two-month free trial to anyone over age 18. After this period, you may sign-up for membership using a sliding scale structure of $65/$95/$125 per month, to maximize financial accessibility. We do not verify your income; we ask that you select the level you can reasonably afford at this point in your life.
How does Hearth define 'being spiritual'?
We consider being spiritual as the desire for and practice of creating meaning, connection, and depth in our human experience, beyond comfort or intellect alone.
How does Hearth define 'religion' and 'secular'?
We consider religion to be faith-based spiritual systems that ground meaning and morality in external or transcendent revealed scripture. We consider secular to be anything non-religious.
I'm in high school, and I would love to join something like this. Why can't those under age 18 join yet?
This should be a temporary restriction—we hope to open this up soon to at least older high school students!
May older adults join, too?
Yes! All ages (over 18) are welcome.
Can theists (or deists) join?
Yes.
What about atheists?
Yes.
Where can I join Hearth?
Hearth is launching first in New York City with plans to expand to other regions soon. Please join the waitlist to be notified once Hearth is available near you.
Is Hearth anti-religion?
No. Religions have done a lot of good and helped a lot of people. But religions have also hurt a lot of people, too, and religiosity requires leaps of faith that not everyone finds reasonable or necessary. Hearth believes being religious can be a fine choice for some people, as long as it is freely-chosen (including understanding alternative options) and leads to ethical action.
What is Hearth fundamentally about? Are there any underlying, unifying ideas I need to agree with?
Hearth is for those who share the belief—or who are at least open to exploring the belief—that an awesome, fulfilling, coherent, and ethical life does not require external or transcendent revealed scripture. Many of us have different starting points about fundamental truths (AKA "axioms") in our lives that work for us. Sometimes those axioms are simple to identify; sometimes they take many years to uncover. Part of the purpose of Hearth is to curate a variety of helpful, secular perspectives on these types of questions to make it easier for us to each define starting points and values and to challenge and support one another as we live out those values.
We accept that living non-religiously requires, at times, both courage and humility in the face of uncertainty. Hearth exists to help us take on this important work together.
Does Hearth have shared values or ground rules?
Yes. While the following values may arise from different sources for different people, all Hearth members freely choose to commit to:
1) Respect: The inherent worth and dignity of each person.
2) Reject: The temptation of arrogance or certainty.
3) Rejoice: There may (?) only be one life to live... so have fun with it!
Is Hearth politically left or right?
Neither. Reasonable people can and do disagree on a wide range of policy positions, even when sharing common starting values. While we welcome and encourage members to take political action in their private lives, Hearth intentionally does not do so itself, with rare exceptions.
What is Hearth's affiliation with the American Humanist Association?
The American Humanist Association formally supports Hearth and believes Hearth's offerings may benefit many humanists. However, Hearth is an independent entity with members from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives, including but not limited to humanists.