Introduction to the American Humanist Association

by

Fred Edwords, Editor of Humorist, former AHA Executive Director

This is the recap of a talk given at the January 13, 2002 CDHS monthly meeting.

Ever since September 11, we have been hearing that old worn-out phrase, "there are no atheists in foxholes." Fred Edwords, editor of The Humanist magazine and past Executive Director of the American Humanist Association, shared with us an insight provided by his brother, who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. There were no atheists in foxholes, he stated, because, if a recruit responded "atheist" when asked to designate his religion, he was issued a dogtag which read "Protestant."

Edwords shared with us the history of the American Humanist Association and then its philosophy and relationship with the Council for Secular Humanism. All of this material was presented in a style rich with amusing anecdotes.

1914 - A Unitarian minister began publicizing the term "Humanism."

1927 - Univ. of Chicago, Unitarian ministers formed The Humanist Fellowship which published The New Humanist and Humanist Manifesto I. The Humanist Fellowship became The Humanist Press Assoc. and then The American Humanist Assoc. in 1941. The publication became The Humanist.

In the 1940s & 50s, Humanists were involved in civil liberty, birth control and environmental causes. Corliss Lamont, an AHA leader, opposed the House Un-American Activities Committee and Senator McCarthy. Vashti McCollum, a past president of AHA, was responsible for the 1948 U.S. Supreme Court case, McCollum v Board of Education, establishing the religious neutrality of public schools.

1960s - AHA was the first national membership organization to endorse elective abortion and, during the Vietnam War, AHA and The American Ethical Union worked to establish the rights of non-theistic conscientious objectors. AHA was also establishing memorial societies to provide affordable alternatives to the mortuary-controlled burial services dominating the field. AHA created prison chapters and Ron Karenga advanced the tradition of Kwanzaa. Late

1960s-70s - Paul Kurtz, editor of The Humanist, addressed social issues in the magazine. Humanist Manifesto 2 was produced (at this point in his talk, Edwords mentioned that the AHA is currently creating HM3 which he good-naturedly says will not be "long and windy and unreadable" like Paul Kurtz' HM2000).

1974 - AHA started the National Commission for Beneficent Euthanasia and its ideas are now part of regular public discourse.

1975 Leading scientists signed the AHA's statement: "Objections to Astrology."

1976 - AHA's "New Bill of Sexual Rights and Responsibilities." AHA established the Committee for the Scientific Investigations of Claims of the Paranormal. Publisher of The Skeptical Inquirer, CSICOP later became an independent organization.

1977 - AHA issued a statement affirming evolution and sent it to school districts. AHA issued A Declaration for Older Persons, addressing age discrimination.

The 80s saw a resurgence in Christian fundamentalism. To combat creationism and improve science education, the AHA formed The Creation Evolution Journal (later merged with another journal, currently entitled Reports of the National Center for Science Education). In 1980, Paul Kurtz founded the Council for Secular Humanism and began publishing Free Inquiry.

Edwords pointed out that the AHA and the Council used different approaches to the problem of the Religious Right. Fundamentalists insisted that Humanism was a religion being force-fed to schoolchildren. The Council's response was that it was not a religion. Although some of Humanism's beliefs were to be found in schools, this was because western civilization shared many of the same values as Humanism (In earlier times, Kurtz did describe it as a religion and this has come back to haunt him. Opponents view it as a contradiction of earlier statements). The AHA's position was this: Humanism can be described as religious and secular. However, the ideas unique and specific to Humanism are not taught in schools, so Humanism is not a part of the curriculum.

Edwords noted the Religious Right's habit of labeling anything it didn't like as "Humanism." He related an experience on a radio program in the 1980s when a caller complained about Humanism being taught in schools. Her laughable "evidence" was to quote from a schoolbook which stated that divorce was becoming more socially acceptable. The accusation was particularly absurd given that previously-divorced Ronald Reagan was, at the time, President. By this logic, Reagan was a Humanist! Edwords noted that these attacks had the unintended effect of giving free publicity to Humanist groups which then grew in size.

The AHA's social policies could be summarized this way:

1. Encourage individual autonomy (the freedoms named in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) .
2. Be concerned with human suffering and inclusive of all groups when expanding democracy.
3. Preserve the environment.
4. Value new scientific developments and ensure their use is beneficial and inclusive.

Edwords stated that we deal with any feelings of uncertainty (caused by our view of the universe as a vast space with no god) by appreciating life as a great adventure. If success came easily it wouldn't be any fun. Biologically speaking, we have evolved to handle this uncertainty. Now that so many of our creature comforts are met, we turn to movies to experience adventure. Humanism provides life's intellectual adventure because, just as in a novel or a film, it's fun not to know the final outcome. Humanists don't stop having fun no matter what we do!

However, a Humanist meeting can sometimes be like an "anti-revival meeting". The needs of those just coming out of religion are different than those who have been free of religion for a long time.

Important issues for humanists to focus on, as Edwords sees it, are:

1. Increasing democracy and inclusion,
2. Human rights,
3. Civil liberties, free speech,
4. Environment,
5. Misuse of science,
6. Culture war,
7. Ethics (micro-ethics - what to do in a situation?; macro-ethics - why does the situation exist that causes the moral dilemma?).

Some Humanist groups are reluctant to cover these issues because they are divisive. However, they can handle disagreement, as evidenced in The Humanist which reflects many different viewpoints.

Edwords feels that it is important to apply humanism; not just talk a good fight. He listed beliefs that the AHA and the Council (who work together through the Coalition for the Community of Reason and the IHEU) share:

1. Free inquiry,
2. Reasoned decisions,
3. Use critical thinking skills to understand the world,
4. Remain uncritical of the source of ideas, but test, evaluate and assess them,
5. Human knowledge, both scientific and moral, is fallible,
6. Values should focus on the "here and now",
7. Base beliefs on human needs and concerns,
8. Practice ethics in a living situation and put ideals into effect through real world solutions.

The AHA's recent move to Washington DC reflects a desire to be at the center of power, to put values to work and interact with other groups. They have local chapters and affiliates, some of which are also Council affiliates.

Edwords summed up by stating that if we work together and accept diversity we will do just fine as a group of organizations and our membership will grow.

Fred Edwords was a radio announcer, filmmaker, and political activist before becoming involved in organized humanism in the 1970s. He founded the Creation/Evolution Journal, served on the boards of directors of International Humanist and Ethical Union and as VP of the North American Committee for Humanism, and has received awards from the American Rationalist Federation and other organizations.

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