American Humanist Association

The American Humanist Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that promotes and advocates for secular humanism. Founded in 1941, the AHA is one of the oldest and largest humanist organizations in the country.

Mission

The AHA's mission is to advance humanism, which is described as a life-affirming philosophy based on reason and science. It emphasizes empathy, freedom, and ethical principles without any belief in gods or supernatural forces. The organization advocates for equality and rights for humanists, atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers, promoting a secular society guided by reason, science, and human dignity.

History

The AHA's roots trace back to the Humanist Fellowship founded in 1927 by professors and seminarians at the University of Chicago. This group began publishing the New Humanist magazine in 1928. By 1935, it evolved into the Humanist Press Association, which was reorganized into the American Humanist Association in 1941 by Curtis Reese and John H. Dietrich. The AHA started publishing The Humanist magazine shortly after its formation.

In 1933, the Humanist Fellowship issued the Humanist Manifesto, which outlined the core principles of humanism. This manifesto emphasized reason, ethics, and social justice. The AHA later introduced the Humanist Manifesto II in 1973, further expanding its philosophical framework.

Activities

The AHA engages in various activities aimed at promoting humanism and protecting civil liberties. These include:

• Legal Advocacy: The AHA established the Appignani Humanist Legal Center in 2006 to ensure that humanists' constitutional rights are represented in court through litigation and legal advocacy.
• Community Engagement: The organization has more than 250 local affiliates and chapters across the U.S., which engage in social activism, community events, and educational programs.
• Publications: The AHA publishes several magazines and journals, including The Humanist and Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism, to promote humanist ideas and philosophy.

International Involvement

The AHA is a founding member of Humanists International (formerly the International Humanist and Ethical Union), which was established in 1952. This membership allows the AHA to collaborate with humanist organizations globally, promoting humanist values internationally.

Membership and Leadership

As of recent reports, the AHA has approximately 34,000 members. Key figures in the organization include its President and Executive Director.

Notable Actions

• Abortion Rights: The AHA was one of the first national organizations to support abortion rights in the late 1960s.
• Separation of Church and State: The AHA has been involved in legal cases advocating for the separation of church and state, notably supporting Vashti McCollum's case against religious instruction in public schools.
• Recognition of Humanist Celebrants: The AHA worked to secure legal rights for humanist celebrants to officiate weddings and other ceremonies on par with traditional clergy.

By operating as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) educational organization, the AHA seeks to advance the principles of secular humanism while supporting progressive societal values and protecting civil liberties.