List of secularist organizations
Encyclopedia
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
should be based solely on concern for the good of humanity in the present life, without reference to supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
concepts, such as God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
or an afterlife
Afterlife
The afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
. The term secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
, as coined and promulgated by George Jacob Holyoake, originally referred to such a view. Secularism may also refer to the belief that government ought to be neutral on matters of religion
Secular state
A secular state is a concept of secularism, whereby a state or country purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion. A secular state also claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and claims to avoid preferential...
, and that church and state ought to be separate
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
. The term is here used in the first sense, though most organizations listed here also support secularism in the second sense.
Secularists, and their organizations, identify themselves by a variety of terms, including agnostic
Agnosticism
Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable....
, atheist
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, bright
Brights movement
The Brights movement is a social movement that aims to promote public understanding and acknowledgment of the naturalistic worldview, including equal civil rights and acceptance for people who hold a naturalistic worldview. It was co-founded by Paul Geisert and Mynga Futrell in 2003...
, freethinker
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
, humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, nontheist
Nontheism
Nontheism is a term that covers a range of both religious and nonreligious attitudes characterized by the absence of — or the rejection of — theism or any belief in a personal god or gods...
, naturalist
Metaphysical naturalism
Metaphysical naturalism, also called ontological naturalism and philosophical naturalism, or just naturalism, is a philosophical worldview and belief system that holds that there is nothing but natural elements, principles, and relations of the kind studied by the natural sciences, i.e., those...
, rationalist, or skeptic
Religious skepticism
Religious skepticism is a type of skepticism relating to religion, but should not be confused with atheism. Religious skeptics question religious authority and are not necessarily anti-religious but are those skeptical of a specific or all religious beliefs or practices. Some are deists, believing...
. Despite the use of these various terms, the organizations listed here have secularist goals in common. Note that, while most of these organizations and their members consider themselves irreligious
Irreligion
Irreligion is defined as an absence of religion or an indifference towards religion. Sometimes it may also be defined more narrowly as hostility towards religion. When characterized as hostility to religion, it includes antitheism, anticlericalism and antireligion. When characterized as...
, there are certain exceptions (Ethical Culture
Ethical Culture
The Ethical movement, also referred to as the Ethical Culture movement or simply Ethical Culture, is an ethical, educational, and religious movement that is usually traced back to Felix Adler...
, for example).
International
- Atheist Alliance InternationalAtheist Alliance InternationalAtheist Alliance International is a global network of atheist organisations around the world. AAI was founded in 1991.AAI's vision is "to transform society into one that understands and respects atheism; that supports and respects a worldview based on the values of reason, empiricism and...
- The Brights' NetBrights movementThe Brights movement is a social movement that aims to promote public understanding and acknowledgment of the naturalistic worldview, including equal civil rights and acceptance for people who hold a naturalistic worldview. It was co-founded by Paul Geisert and Mynga Futrell in 2003...
is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to "building a constituency" and "constructively address[ing] the marginalized situation of persons who have a naturalistic worldview." - European Humanist FederationEuropean Humanist FederationThe European Humanist Federation-Fédération Humaniste Européenne is an international association that federates numerous European humanist associations. It also has individual members. The members of its administrative board are elected for three-year terms by the general assembly of the member...
is a union of "numerous humanist organisations from most European countries" whose purpose is to promote humanism and secularism in Europe. - International Humanist and Ethical UnionInternational Humanist and Ethical UnionThe International Humanist and Ethical Union is an umbrella organisation embracing humanist, atheist, rationalist, secular, skeptic, freethought and Ethical Culture organisations worldwide. Founded in Amsterdam in 1952, the IHEU is a democratic union of more than 100 member organizations in 40...
(IHEU) is "the sole world umbrella organisation embracing Humanist, atheist, rationalist, secularist, skeptic, laique, [sic] ethical cultural, freethought and similar organisations world-wide." IHEU is a union of over 100 Humanist or secularist organizations in more than 40 countries. It is an international NGO (Non-governmental organizationNon-governmental organizationA non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
) with special consultative status with the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. - International League of HumanistsInternational League of HumanistsInternational League of Humanists is a non-profit international association of eminent humanists. Its headquarters are in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and its primary objective is promotion of worldwide peace and human rights...
- International League of non-religious and atheistsInternational League of non-religious and atheistsThe International League of Non-religious and Atheists, is an international association, founded in Berlin in 1976 as "International League of Non-religious" and renamed IBKA in 1982...
- Rationalist InternationalRationalist InternationalRationalist International is an organization with the stated aim to represent a rational view of the world, making the voice of reason heard and considered where public opinion is formed and decisions are made.- Rationalism :...
Australia
- Atheist Foundation of AustraliaAtheist Foundation of AustraliaThe Atheist Foundation of Australia, Inc. was established in South Australia in 1970, when The Rationalist Association of South Australia decided upon a name change to better declare their basic philosophy, namely atheism....
- Council of Australian Humanist SocietiesCouncil of Australian Humanist SocietiesThe Council of Australian Humanist Societies is the national umbrella organisation for Australian humanists. It is affiliated with the International Humanist and Ethical Union...
- Rationalist Society of AustraliaRationalist Society of AustraliaThe Rationalist Society of Australia promotes the interests of rationalists nationally in Australia. It is the operational arm of the movement in Australia...
- The Secular Party of Australia
Canada
- Freethought Association of Canada
- Humanist Association of CanadaHumanist Association of CanadaHumanist Canada is a national not-for-profit charitable organization promoting the separation of religion from public policy and fostering the development of reason, compassion and critical thinking for all Canadians through secular education and community support...
- Halton Peel Humanist Community
- Humanist Fellowship of MontrealHumanist Fellowship of MontrealThe Humanist Fellowship of Montreal was an organization of secular humanists founded in 1954 by Drs. R. K. Mishra, Ernest Poser, and Maria Jutta Cahn. Lord Bertrand Russell and Dr. Brock Chisholm, a psychiatrist and first Director of the World Health Organization were its patrons...
- Mouvement laïque québécoisMouvement laïque québécoisThe Mouvement laïque québécois or Quebec Secular Movement is a non-profit organisation whose goal is to defend and promote freedom of conscience, separation of church and state, and secularisation of public institutions....
- Society of Ontario Freethinkers
- Toronto Secular Alliance
- Centre for Inquiry Canada
- Humanist Association of Ottawa
Germany
- Central Council of Ex-MuslimsCentral Council of Ex-MuslimsThe Central Council of Ex-Muslims is a German association of non-religious, secular persons who were Muslim or originate from an Islamic country. It was founded on January 21, 2007 and has more than 100 members....
- German Freethinkers LeagueGerman Freethinkers LeagueThe German Freethinkers League was an organisation founded in 1881 by the materialist philosopher, and physician Ludwig Büchner, to oppose the power of the state churches in Germany. Its aim was to provide a public meeting-ground and forum for materialist and atheist thinkers in Germany.By 1885...
- Giordano Bruno FoundationGiordano Bruno FoundationThe Giordano Bruno Foundation is a Germany based non-profit foundation under public law that pursues the “Support of Evolutionary Humanism”. It was founded by entrepreneur Herbert Steffen in 2004 and was named after the Dominican monk Giordano Bruno who was convicted of heresy and burnt at the...
(Giordano Bruno Stiftung) - International League of non-religious and atheistsInternational League of non-religious and atheistsThe International League of Non-religious and Atheists, is an international association, founded in Berlin in 1976 as "International League of Non-religious" and renamed IBKA in 1982...
India
- Indian Rationalist AssociationIndian Rationalist AssociationIndian Rationalist Association is a voluntary organisation in India whose 100,000 members promote scientific skepticism and critique supernatural claims. It publishes books and magazines, organises seminars and lectures and its representatives regularly appear in TV and print media exposing...
- Atheist CenterAtheist CenterAtheist Centre is an institution founded by Goparaju Ramachandra Rao and Saraswathi Gora to initiate social change in rural Andhra Pradesh based on the ideology of Gandhism and Atheism...
- Bihar Buddhiwadi SamajBihar Buddhiwadi SamajBihar Buddhiwadi Samaj is a rationalist group based in Patna, Bihar, India. It is an affiliate of Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations and an associate member of International Humanist and Ethical Union...
(Bihar Rationalist Society) - Dakshina Kannada Rationalist AssociationDakshina Kannada Rationalist AssociationDakshina Kannada Rationalist Association is a well known rationalist group based in Mangalore, Karnataka which promotes skepticism. It was formed in 1976 at the initiative of a few individuals led by Dr. Narendra Nayak...
- Federation of Indian Rationalist AssociationsFederation of Indian Rationalist AssociationsFederation of Indian Rationalist Associations is an umbrella body of more than 75 rationalist, atheist, skeptic, secularist and science organisations in India...
- Hyderabad Rationalist ForumHyderabad Rationalist ForumHyderabad Rationalist Forum is an Indian rationalist group based in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh, India. It aims to spread rationalist, humanist and atheist ideas and to encourage intercultural marriages and to curb superstitious practices. HRF publishes...
- Indian Humanist UnionIndian Humanist UnionThe Indian Humanist Union is an Indian Humanist organisation established in 1960 by Narsingh Narain. The forerunner organisation, founded by Narain in 1954, was the "Society for Promotion of Freedom of Thought"....
- Kerala Yukthivadi SanghamKerala Yukthivadi SanghamKerala Yukthivadi Sangham is a well known rationalist group based in Kerala, India. It stands for rationalism and dialectical materialism. It is the initiator of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations....
- People's Science CenterPeople's Science CenterPeople's Science Center is an association of rationalist and science popularization activists based in the Indian state of Jharkhand. The center is an affiliate of The Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations . Saritha Anand is the convener of the association....
- Science and Rationalists' Association of IndiaScience and Rationalists' Association of IndiaThe Science and Rationalists' Association of India is predominantly a rationalist group based in Kolkata, India. It was established on March 1, 1985 by rationalist Prabir Ghosh, which happens to be the international rationalists' day...
Ireland
- Atheist Ireland
- Humanist Association of IrelandHumanist Association of IrelandThe Humanist Association of Ireland is an Irish organisation that was founded in 1993 to promote Humanism, which they describe as:an ethical philosophy of life, based on a concern for humanity in general, and for human individuals in particular. This view of life combines reason with compassion...
- HumaniHumani (organisation)Humani, or the Humanist Association of Northern Ireland, is a humanist organisation based in Northern Ireland. They publish Humanism Ireland in association with the Humanist Association of Ireland....
New Zealand
- Humanist Society of New ZealandHumanist Society of New ZealandThe Humanist Society of New Zealand is a New Zealand organisation that promotes secular humanist philosophy and ideals. The Society meets in Wellington with members throughout New Zealand....
- New Zealand Association of Rationalists and HumanistsNew Zealand Association of Rationalists and HumanistsNew Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists is an organisation, established in 1927 in New Zealand for the promotion of rationalism and secular humanism.The principal aims are stated as:...
Norway
- Human-Etisk ForbundHuman-Etisk ForbundThe Norwegian Humanist Association is currently one of the largest Humanist associations in the world, with 82,890 members. In relation to the size of the national population , it is by far the largest such association per capita.Founded in 1956, the HEF is a member of the International Humanist...
HEF has over 78,000 members, making it "the largest group [in Norway] outside the State ChurchChurch of NorwayThe Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
." - Norwegian Heathen SocietyNorwegian Heathen SocietyThe Norwegian Heathen Society is a non-partisan irreligious society that was established in 1974 and whose main focus is counteracting the Church of Norway and Christian influence in Norway....
United Kingdom
- British Humanist AssociationBritish Humanist AssociationThe British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
- Gay and Lesbian Humanist AssociationGay and Lesbian Humanist AssociationThe Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association is a democratic, membership-based, Humanist campaigning organisation that represents the many non-religious in the lesbian and gay community in the United Kingdom and beyond...
- Humanist Society of ScotlandHumanist Society of ScotlandThe Humanist Society of Scotland is a Scottish voluntary charitable organisation that promotes humanist views. It is a member of the European Humanist Federation and the International Humanist and Ethical Union.-History and aims:...
- Leicester Secular SocietyLeicester Secular SocietyLeicester Secular Society is the world's oldest Secular Society. It meets at its headquarters, the Leicester Secular Hall in the centre of Leicester, England, at 75 Humberstone Gate.-Founding of the Society:...
, founded in 1851, bills itself as the "oldest secular society in the world." - National Secular SocietyNational Secular SocietyThe National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
- North East HumanistsNorth East HumanistsThe Tyneside Group of the North East Humanists was founded on September 17, 1957, although organised secularism in the North East had been active from the 1860s...
- Rationalist AssociationRationalist AssociationThe Rationalist Association, originally the Rationalist Press Association, is an organization in the United Kingdom, founded in 1899 by a group of free thinkers who were unhappy with the increasing political and decreasingly intellectual tenor of the British secularist movement...
- South Place Ethical SocietySouth Place Ethical SocietyThe South Place Ethical Society, based in London at Conway Hall, is thought to be the oldest surviving freethought organisation in the world, and is the only remaining Ethical society in the United Kingdom...
, founded in 1793, identifies itself as "the oldest freethought community in the world."
United States
- American AtheistsAmerican AtheistsAmerican Atheists is an organization in the United States dedicated to defending the civil liberties of atheists and advocating for the complete separation of church and state. It provides speakers for colleges, universities, clubs and the news media. It also publishes books and the monthly...
- American Humanist AssociationAmerican Humanist AssociationThe American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that...
, according to its website, is the "first and largest organization promoting Humanism in the US." - American Secular UnionAmerican Secular UnionThe American Secular Union was a social movement from the 19th century in the United States.After the implosion of the National Liberal League, the Liberals reorganized as a nonpolitical American Secular Union...
- The Atheist AgendaThe Atheist AgendaThe Atheist Agenda is an organization founded in 2005 by a group of atheist and agnostic students and teachers from the The University of Texas at San Antonio...
- Atheist Community of Austin (TX) is a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, promote secular viewpoints, encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, and fight anti-atheist discrimination. It broadcasts and streams online The Atheist Experience, a weekly general-interest atheist television program and the Non Prophets online radio/podcast biweekly.
- Atheists for Humanity, a 501 c(3) charity non-profit dedicated to raising money for secular charities and the destigmatization of atheists and atheism."
- Baptist Joint Committee for Religious LibertyBaptist Joint Committee for Religious LibertyThe Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is an education and advocacy association in the United States with a number of Baptist denominations. It states that it seeks to promote religious liberty for all and to uphold the principle of church-state separation...
, "The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty" represents multiple Baptist groups (but not the Southern Baptist Convention) in supporting religious liberty and the separation of church and state. - Camp QuestCamp QuestCamp Quest, founded in 1996, is the first residential summer camp in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway specifically for the children of nontheistic or freethinking parents .-Purpose and identity:Camp...
, "The Secular Summer Camp", is the first residential summer camp in the United States for the children of those who hold a naturalistic world view. - Center for InquiryCenter for InquiryThe Center for Inquiry is a non-profit educational organization with headquarters in the United States whose primary mission is to encourage evidence-based inquiry into paranormal and fringe science claims, alternative medicine and mental health practices, religion, secular ethics, and society...
CFI is dedicated to promoting and defending science, reason, and free inquiry in all aspects of human interest. - City Congregation for Humanistic JudaismCity Congregation for Humanistic JudaismThe City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, founded in 1991, is the only Humanistic Jewish congregation in Manhattan, and the first Humanistic congregation in New York City to be led by a Humanistic rabbi. The aim of The City Congregation is to provide a welcoming, diverse community for cultural...
- Council for Secular HumanismCouncil for Secular HumanismThe Council for Secular Humanism is a secular humanist organization headquartered in Amherst, New York. In 1980 CODESH issued A Secular Humanist Declaration, an argument for and statement of belief in Democratic Secular Humanism...
is a non-profit educational association and, according to its website, "North America's leading organization for non-religious people." The Council aims to "meet the needs of people who find meaning and value in life without looking to a god." CSH publishes Free Inquiry. - Fellowship of Freethought "To create a positive impact on our shared world, our mission is to provide a community that values and promotes a freethinking life unencumbered by the biases of tradition, dogma, and authority and that encourages people to live a reason and evidence-based life characterized by close fellowship, ethical contemplation, critical thinking, community service, and the appreciation of scientific knowledge and understanding of the universe and our place in it."
- Fellowship of HumanityFellowship of Humanity-History:The Fellowship of Humanity was founded in 1935 by Reverend A. D. Faupell as one of a handful of "humanist churches" seeded in the early 20th century as part of the American Religious Humanism movement. It was the only such organization to survive into the 21st century and is the first and...
- First Humanist Society of New YorkFirst Humanist Society of New YorkIn 1929 Charles Francis Potter founded the First Humanist Society of New York whose advisory board included Julian Huxley, John Dewey, Albert Einstein, and Thomas Mann. Potter was a minister from the Unitarian tradition and in 1930 he and his wife, Clara Cook Potter, published Humanism: A New...
- Freedom From Religion FoundationFreedom From Religion FoundationThe Freedom From Religion Foundation is an American freethought organization based in Madison, Wisconsin. Its purposes, as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the separation of church and state and to educate the public on matters relating to atheism, agnosticism and nontheism. The FFRF publishes...
, according to its website, is the "largest group of atheists and agnostics in North America." The Foundation represents the interests of freethinkers, with an emphasis on gender equality and reproductive rights, and the separation of church and state. It publishes Freethought Today, "the only freethought newspaper in North America." - The Humanist InstituteThe Humanist InstituteThe Humanist Institute is a training program for leaders, created by the North American Committee for Humanism.-Board & Faculty:President: Charles Debrovner, Warren WolfTreasurer: Stephen MeskinDean Emeritus: Howard Radest-Curriculum:...
- Institute for Humanist StudiesInstitute for Humanist StudiesThe Institute for Humanist Studies is a think tank, a Washington, DC based organization committed to providing information and other resources useful in the promoting of humanism and humanism centered solutions to pressing socio-political, cultural and economic issues...
- Internet InfidelsInternet InfidelsInternet Infidels, Inc. is a Colorado Springs, Colorado-based nonprofit educational organization founded in 1995 by Jeffery Jay Lowder and Brett Lemoine. Its mission is to utilize the Internet to promote the view that supernatural forces or entities do not exist...
is a "a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to defending and promoting a naturalistic worldview on the Internet." - Military Association of Atheists & FreethinkersMilitary Association of Atheists & FreethinkersThe Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers is an independent 501 project of the . It is organized as a community support network with the goal of connecting atheist, humanist, and freethinking personnel of the U.S...
- North Texas Church of FreethoughtNorth Texas Church of FreethoughtThe North Texas Church of Freethought was founded by Tim Gorski and Mike and Marilyn Sullivan in 1994 to serve the psychosocial needs of atheists, agnostics, and other non-religious people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area...
- Rational Response SquadRational Response SquadThe Rational Response Squad, or RRS, is an atheist activist group that confronts what it considers to be irrational claims, most notably those made by theists, particularly Christians. The most visible member of RRS is co-founder Brian Sapient...
- The Reason ProjectThe Reason ProjectProject Reason is a U.S. 501 foundation whose main aim is the promotion of scientific knowledge and secular values within society.-History:In 2007, Sam Harris and his wife, Annaka Harris, founded Project Reason...
- The San Diego New Atheists and Agnostics is the largest and most active secular organization in San Diego, Ca."
- Secular Coalition for AmericaSecular Coalition for AmericaThe Secular Coalition for America is an advocacy group located in Washington D.C., representing atheists, humanists, freethinkers, agnostics, and other non-theistic people with a naturalistic worldview in American politics. Sean Faircloth, a five-term Maine state legislator, served as Executive...
- Secular Student AllianceSecular Student AllianceThe Secular Student Alliance , founded in May 2000, is an independent, democratically structured organization in the U.S. that aims to serve the needs of freethinking high school and college students. The Secular Student Alliance is based in Columbus, Ohio...
- United Coalition of ReasonUnited Coalition of ReasonThe United Coalition of Reason, or UnitedCoR for short, is a national organization in the United States that works to raise the visibility of local groups in the community of reason. Nationally this is done by conducting campaigns which highlight the fact that nontheists live in every community...
- National Atheist Party
See also
External links
- Organizations lists at the Secular Web.
- http://www.yakuwait.org Youth Association of Kuwait official website.