American Humanist Association
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The American Humanist Association is an American Humanist group serving both secular and religious humanists. Since its founding in 1941, the AHA has served its members as an innovative organization that initiates social reforms and launches new programs. Many significant developments in the fields of human rights, the control of population growth, sexual equality, civil liberties, education, science, alternative technologies, and humanistic psychology—which are now commonly practiced—were first introduced and advocated by Humanists and the AHA. Over the years, many women and men who embrace Humanism and who have worked closely with the AHA have contributed greatly toward the betterment of our world. Among them are:
Novelists Margaret Atwood, Kurt Vonnegut, and Alice Walker Environmentalist Lester R. Brown Women’s rights proponents Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem Elder citizens advocate Maggie Kuhn Economist John Kenneth Galbraith Entrepreneur Ted Turner Evolutionary scientist Edward O. Wilson Abortion rights champions Faye Wattleton and Bill Baird Director Oliver Stone Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg.
Earlier Humanists included Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, Andrei Sakharov, Erich Fromm, A. Philip Randolph, Margaret Sanger, Gene Roddenberry, Julian Huxley, Brock Chisholm, John Dewey, Bertrand and Dora Russell, and Albert Einstein.
The American Humanist Association has honored these individuals as well as many others to recognize their contributions on behalf of humanity.
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Mission
The mission of the American Humanist Association is to promote the spread of humanism, raise public awareness and acceptance of humanism, and encourage the continued refinement of the humanist philosophy. The AHA works democratically to establish and protect the rights of humanists in a peaceful, sustainable world of hope, opportunity, and fulfillment for all. We welcome as members those who share the humanist quest and dream, and cooperate with others who seek to further these ends.
AHA's Definition of Humanism
As Kurt Vonnegut succinctly described: being a Humanist means trying to behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after you are dead.
Humanism is a progressive lifestance that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
AHA's Role in Humanism
AHA is the first and largest organization promoting Humanism in the US. In addition to being vocal on issues of major concern and regularly reaching out to media and opinion leaders, AHA has helped establish and foster several organizations that promote Humanist ideals, such as the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Americans for Religious Liberty, HUUmanists, Rational Recovery and others.
The American Humanist Association Currently has groups in 32 states and publishes The Humanist and Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism. The AHA is also the publisher of The Humanist Manifesto I (http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/manifesto1.html) II (http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/manifesto1.html) and III (http://www.americanhumanist.org/3/HumandItsAspirations.htm)
See also
External links
- The American Humanist Association (http://www.americanhumanist.org/)
- GuideStar - American Humanist Association (http://www.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_gsReport=1&npoId=396561) Information in GuideStar, national database of nonprofit organizations The AHA calls itself "religious" for tax purposes.