Resolutions

Adopted by the Board of Directors
November 2022 | Washington, DC/Teleconference
Res. 2022-001

The American Humanist Association recognizes that:

Bias and prejudice against nonbelievers continues to be a serious problem in the United States and around the world.  In the U.S., 40% of Americans say they would refuse to vote for a qualified atheist for president. A 2014 study by Pew Research found the 49% of Americans said they would be upset if an immediate family member married an atheist,

Few public officials in America openly identify as nonbelievers.  A 2020 study the University of Washington found that Muslims and atheists were the groups most likely to experience religion-based discrimination in America,

A 2021 study published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality found that people were supportive of Christians, Muslims and Jews who posted symbols of their faith in a workplace but were less likely to support an atheist’s right to post symbols,  Elsewhere, nonbelievers in some nations face prosecution, imprisonment and even death for blasphemy, apostasy and other “crimes” against religion,

The situation is all the more disturbing in light of the fact that the U.S. Constitution guarantees everyone the right to practice a faith or practice no faith and this right is also supported by the United Nations in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Therefore, the American Humanist Association proposes that:

Whereas, humanists oppose all forms of prejudice and bias and support every individual’s right to worship or not as guided by conscience and in conformity with U.S. law,

And whereas, the right to question religious dogma and bias, and frame one’s worldview free of theism and supernaturalism is a fundamental human right,

Be it resolved that the American Humanist Association actively and steadfastly opposes all forms of government-sponsored prejudice and bias against nonbelievers and pledges to work to eradicate social prejudice as well; the AHA calls on all governments on all levels to take steps to eradicate such biases in their official policies and actions and ensure that the freedom to be a nonbeliever is as protected as the right to believe.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
November 2020 | Washington, DC
Resolution 2020-004

In our efforts to create a more equitable economic future and better regulate our unjust economic system, humanists believe that the United States of America’s tax system must be reformed, with businesses and wealthy individuals taking on more responsibilities and economically disadvantaged people being unburdened. Given the complexity and breadth of our tax system—spanning all types and levels of taxation—this resolution begins to address these issues.

WHEREAS to our detriment, American corporations normally will not spend money to address social problems or to reduce their negative impacts without incentives or regulations, and

WHEREAS tax avoidance is harmful to an equitable tax system and yet, corporate income taxes comprise less than 10% federal tax revenue, and profitable American corporations generally pay an average effective federal income tax rate far below the statutory rate, and

WHEREAS international tax law ambiguities and insufficient international cooperation have sustained opaque corporate and individual tax havens abroad, and

WHEREAS wealthy individuals and corporations cooperate to limit their tax responsibilities, and

WHEREAS the wealthiest households have accrued vastly disproportionate percentages of total wealth over time while their tax responsibilities have decreased, which has exacerbated wealth hoarding and wealth inequities, and

WHEREAS tax responsibilities and tax shifting practices in the United States burden economically disadvantaged people, and are disproportionately shouldered by Black people, Indigenous people, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, immigrants, poor people, and women, and

WHEREAS the complexity of the United States tax code disproportionately penalizes the least financially literate and the most economically disadvantaged, and

WHEREAS individual and corporate tax deductions for charitable contributions and tax credits for private religious education effectively work to privatize public services and disproportionately divert funds away from secular and public services, and

WHEREAS religious nonprofits that are exempt from filing financial disclosures are able to evade public accountability and oversight, and are exempted from property taxes in almost every state, a privilege enjoyed by no other type of nonprofit.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in the pursuit of an equitable tax policy,

AFFIRMS support for tax incentives that lead individuals and corporations toward more humanistic practices, and

AFFIRMS support for a substantial corporate Alternative Minimum Tax and a surtax on reported corporate profits for the most profitable corporations, alongside measures to close corporate tax loopholes, and

AFFIRMS support for increased transparency of corporate financial information held internationally through filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and policies to disincentivize tax havens, and

AFFIRMS support for increasing capital gains and dividend taxes on the most wealthy, reining in companies’ reliance on executive stock options to reduce corporate tax responsibilities, and implementing other policies to eliminate tax avoidance collusion between corporations and wealthy individuals, and

AFFIRMS support for disincentivizing wealth hoarding via policies that increase tax responsibilities on the most wealthy individuals and families, such as new stratified tax brackets for the very wealthy, raising the individual Alternative Minimum Tax, instituting a graduated estate tax, and closing individual tax loopholes that disproportionately benefit the wealthy, and

AFFIRMS support for policies that shift tax responsibilities away from those disparately impacted by economic injustices, as well as tax credits to counter injustice in our economy, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, and

AFFIRMS support for simplifying the U.S. tax code in order to unburden economically disadvantaged individuals and families, and

AFFIRMS support for capping charitable contribution tax deductions with lower caps for corporations and the wealthiest individuals and families, and opposes tax credits that divert revenue to private religious organizations, and

AFFIRMS support for greater transparency in the finances of religious nonprofits, including policies that would require all nonprofits to submit 990 tax forms and hold religious nonprofits to the same tax responsibilities as their secular counterparts.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association calls upon all who are able and should be concerned about tax equity to do your part to make this a better world for us all now and in the future. Support, with your voice, vote, time, energy, resources, and participation, the legislation, candidates, and action groups that work toward an equitable and humanistic tax policy.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
August 2020 | Teleconference
Resolution 2020-003

Humanists have the responsibility to work in support of economic policies that live up to the American ideal of equitable treatment for all. In response to the growing economic inequality and specifically income and wealth inequality in the United States, the American Humanist Association makes the following affirmative resolution:

WHEREAS the wealth gap between upper-income and lower- and middle-income households has widened, and

WHEREAS in recent history the highest-earning twenty percent of U.S. households have steadily brought in a larger share of the nation’s total income than the bottom eighty percent combined, and

WHEREAS Black, Indigenous, and Latinx households have median incomes that are significantly less than that of White households, and

WHEREAS deeply-rooted structural and institutional inequities contribute to the growing disparities in wealth accumulations along racial, gender, and ethnic lines, and the Black-income and generational wealth gap has persisted over time, and

WHEREAS Women of color are more likely to bear the double burden of childcare/caregiving and wage work, while being concentrated in some of the lowest paid service sector jobs, and

WHEREAS LGBTQIA+ people of color have higher poverty rates than their same-race cisgender counterparts and experience widespread discrimination in the workplace, and

WHEREAS Disabled individuals have disproportionately high poverty and unemployment rates relative to non-disabled individuals, and

WHEREAS Seniors who are economically insecure struggle with rising housing and health care bills, inadequate nutrition, lack of access to transportation, diminished savings, and job loss, and

WHEREAS privatized healthcare often disadvantages impoverished citizens such that the primary cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. is an illness to oneself or one’s family member.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in the pursuit of reducing the wealth and income inequality gap,

AFFIRMS its support of a tax structure that reduces the tax burden for low-income earners and one that equitably taxes corporations and the wealthiest citizens, and

AFFIRMS its opposition to predatory subprime lending practices, and

AFFIRMS its support of an increase of the federal minimum wage to a livable wage, and

AFFIRMS its support of policies aimed at expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, and

AFFIRMS its support for policies aimed at eliminating residential segregation, and

AFFIRMS its support for policies aimed at the reduction in income disparities through wealth-building programs for low-income and working-class people, particularly people of color, and

AFFIRMS its support for policies aimed at investing in and desegregating education, and

AFFIRMS its support for policies aimed at decriminalizing poverty including eliminating legal and justice system related policies, practices, and procedures that unfairly perpetuate or worsen the harmful effects of poverty, particularly those that entrap the poor in the criminal justice system, and

AFFIRMS its support for high-quality healthcare, paid sick-leave and universal childcare as human rights and not privileges, and

AFFIRMS its support for policies that give workers the right to negotiate over wages and benefits and those that improve wages, including increasing the minimum wage to a livable wage, and calls on employers to halt their attacks on workers’ rights to engage in such negotiations, and

AFFIRMS its support for targeting and eliminating the root causes of economic inequality including structural underpinnings holding the racial and gender wealth gap in place, and

AFFIRMS its support for Social Security benefits that help to reduce the levels of poverty among American Seniors and especially important for women and people of color, and

AFFIRMS its support for financial compensation to those who have suffered years of income inequality such as government programs that subsidize home mortgages and tuition.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, calls upon all who are able and should be concerned about a more equitable society to do your part to make this world a better world for us all now and in the future. Support with your voice, vote, time, energy, resources, and participation—legislation, campaigns, projects, and other efforts that widely, persistently and significantly reduce economic inequality and to support the national and grassroots organizations that are working to bring this about.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
August 2020 | Teleconference
Resolution 2020-002

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. A deteriorating climate, growth of global population, rising cost of food, environmental stressors, and social and economic processes will impact food security for decades to come. While the world’s farmers produce enough food to feed the global population, many people around the world, including millions of people in the United States, suffer from a lack of access to food, which poses serious, long term consequences to health and wellbeing. While large-scale programs in the United States have been successful in food insecurity in the U.S., they do not adequately address the underlying causes. Humanism calls on each of us to act for human dignity and agency, which includes taking seriously the issue of food insecurity and interrelated causes of concern.

WHEREAS food security is recognized as access by all people at all times to enough food that is nutritionally adequate and meets individual and collective consumer preferences; and

WHEREAS in the U.S., low-income households are much more likely to be food insecure and households headed by women, Black households, Latinx households, Indigenous households, people returning from incarceration, and undocumented immigrants are disproportionately affected by a higher risk of hunger; and

WHEREAS unemployment, lack of an adequate minimum wage, rising housing costs and housing discrimination, medical debt, and other burdens can make it difficult to purchase adequate, nutritious food; and

WHEREAS people experiencing food insecurity may engage in health compromising coping strategies, including forgoing medication, postponing or forgoing medical care, and making trade-offs between food and other basic necessities; and

WHEREAS food insecurity is associated with serious, potentially dire, health complications in adults and children; and

WHEREAS access to healthy foods is affected by inefficient allocation and distribution of retail food markets and inadequate/nonexistent transportation infrastructure. In the U.S., people with disabilities, residents of rural areas, and communities of color are at higher risk of lacking transportation to healthy food sources and are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity; and

WHEREAS climate change will have an impact on food insecurity due to changes in agricultural yields and farming and the most food insecure populations are those most harmed by climate-related events; and

WHEREAS the United States’ food waste is between 30-40 percent of the food supply; and

WHEREAS the implementation of national programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has been successful in reacting to food insecurity but has not adequately addressed the root causes of hunger, diet-related disease, economic inequality and structural racism in the food system,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in pursuit of a society with access to food that is nutritionally adequate and meets individual and collective consumer preferences,

AFFIRMS its support of measures aimed at achieving the full realization of the human right to food- that establish food security as a fundamental entitlement to a minimum standard of living and a guiding theme for achieving economic, social and political equity; and

AFFIRMS its support of policies that ensure the procurement of adequate affordable food so as to not compromise the attainment of other basic needs; and

AFFIRMS its support of policies that protect all workers, especially agricultural workers, and enable them to become financially secure; and

AFFIRMS its support of actions ensuring that all households and individuals have the means to obtain enough food for an active and healthy life by providing food assistance programs, strengthening social safety nets, ensuring access to universal education and health care, increasing the minimum wage; and

AFFIRMS its support of measures that enable community control over food production and distribution to maximize community self-reliance, social justice, and democratic decision-making. Measures include farm to school programs; local business incubation and food policy councils; increasing access to evidence-based job training programs, work supports and better-paying jobs; increasing affordable housing; providing economic incentives for the development of full-service supermarkets; providing affordable and accessible transportation to existing food outlets; and transforming parks and abandoned spaces into community food gardens and other measures that promote local production and distribution of food; and

AFFIRMS the need to minimize food loss and waste through more efficient distribution systems and its support of projects and other social programs that use donated food, or viable food discards, from agricultural fields, supermarkets, and restaurants; and

AFFIRMS its support of strengthening environmental agencies for prevention and mitigation of climate change effects on world food production and providing structural incentives for environmentally sustainable production; including resilient, technologically driven agricultural practices that help maintain ecosystems and can adapt to climate change and natural disasters; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION calls upon all who are able and should be concerned about food insecurity and hunger to do your part to make this a better world for us all now and in the future.  Support, with your voice, vote, time, energy, resources, and participation, the legislation, candidates, and action groups that work to end food insecurity and hunger.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
May 2020 | Washington, DC
Resolution 2020-001

Gender-based and sexual violence against women, children, and gender-nonconforming, two-spirit and transgender people is embedded in the fabric of our society. It is manifested in racialized sexism and misogyny throughout the economic, educational, healthcare, legislative, and judicial systems in the United States and Native Sovereign Nations that particularly affects Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. And it is compounded further by homophobia. This violence produces egregious personal and generational trauma and undermines the creation of a more just world. However all people have the right to live lives free of fear of gender-based and sexual violence, and in our efforts to create a more equitable future, humanists believe that we can remediate this form of violence through collective and individual action.

WHEREAS misogyny and violence—encompassing sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate-partner violence, human trafficking, female child genital mutilation, and violence against a person because of their perceived gender or sexuality that impacts children, women, two-spirit, transgender and gender-nonconforming people—is deeply ingrained in American society, and

WHEREAS gender-based and sexual violence is perpetrated by and supports white supremacy, and

WHEREAS lesbian, gay, bisexual, gender-nonconforming, two-spirit, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people are disproportionately impacted by gender-based and sexual violence, and

WHEREAS gender-based and sexual violence is systemic insofar as it has infiltrated and is sustained by our education, healthcare, economic, legislative, judicial, and labor systems and infrastructures, and

WHEREAS gender-based and sexual violence is normalized by the everyday sexism and rape culture that seek to diminish the bodily autonomy of women, and

WHEREAS those in positions of power too often use that power to exact sexual harm, and

WHEREAS Black, Indigenous, and Latina women are disproportionately impacted by intimate-partner violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and HIV/AIDS and STI contraction, and

WHEREAS women of color experience increased surveillance, higher rates of arrest, and higher rates of incarceration than white women, and

WHEREAS Black women and girls have some of the highest rates of domestic sex trafficking and commercial child sexual exploitation in the nation, and are more likely to be criminalized and incarcerated for prostitution, and

WHEREAS gender-based violence severely impacts the life chances of Black, Brown, and Indigenous women and girls through lifelong trauma that is passed on to children, and

WHEREAS Indigenous women, and girls experience greater rates of gender-based violence when extractive industries bring large numbers of male workers into close proximity to indigenous communities through labor camps, and missing and murdered Indigenous and Black women, girls, two spirit and gender-nonconforming people continue to be undercounted and underserved, and

WHEREAS intimate-partner violence takes the form of physical, emotional, psychological, verbal, and financial abuse, compounding the difficulty faced by victims to safely leave their abuser, and

WHEREAS the aforementioned inequities reflect institutional and systemic disparities in wealth distribution and income that undermine the self-determination, wellbeing, and economic sustainability of Black, Brown, and Indigenous women and racialized communities of color;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in the pursuit of equity,

AFFIRMS the rights of cisgender and transgender women, gender non-conforming people, and femmes to live lives free from misogyny and violence, and

AFFIRMS its support for equity in education, including governmental measures to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, install anti-sexist, science-based sex education and violence prevention curricula, as well as to fulfill existing obligations to protect students from disparate impact discrimination, as codified in Title IX, and

AFFIRMS that victims of gender-based and sexual crimes are entitled to the full support of law enforcement, which includes the swift eradication of the national rape-kit backlog, adequate resources for a national database of federal and state cases of missing and murdered women, and adequate resources for unresolved cases of missing and murdered women that closes jurisdiction gaps, and

AFFIRMS its support for federal legislation that protects unregulated work, such as sex work and domestic labor, as work, including the rights of laborers to unionize, and to conduct business free from harassment and abuse, and

AFFIRMS its support for the decriminalization of sex work and the decriminalization of human trafficking victims forced or coerced to commit crimes, and

AFFIRMS its opposition to female child genital mutilation, and

AFFIRMS, after a gender-based or sexual crime is committed, the power of local communities to restore justice through community-based solutions, and

AFFIRMS its support for stronger oversight of extractive corporations that place temporary labor camps on Indigenous land or in close proximity to Indigenous communities and punitive measures for corporations that create environments where women and girls are vulnerable to violence, and

AFFIRMS the right of states to mandate the reporting of child abuse from those entrusted with the care of children, including clergy members, and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association calls upon all who are able and should be concerned about gender-based and sexual violence—and its intersection with white supremacy—to do your part to make this a better world for us all now and in the future.  Support, with your voice, vote, time, energy, resources, and participation, the legislation, candidates, and action groups that center Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in their work to eliminate gender-based and sexual violence.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
December 7, 2019 | Washington, DC
Resolution 2019-004

Typically, corporate success is judged by profits; however, profits can be gained to the detriment of customers and workers, the communities the corporations inhabit, and the environment. Encouraging corporations to become socially responsible is the goal of the concept of benefit corporations. A benefit corporation is a type of for-profit corporate entity that defines the best interest of the corporation to include positive impacts on society, workers, the community, and the environment, in addition to making a profit as the corporation’s legally defined goals.

WHEREAS the humanist philosophy embodies an approach to ethics that extends to economic, safety, and environmental concerns, and

WHEREAS humanists take a realistic, fact-based view of the world and hence have made themselves aware that, under existing corporate law and practice, the purpose of the standard business corporation is to maximize profit so as to increase shareholder gains. And that, because of this purpose, such corporations have no inherent social and environmental conscience but only pursue social and environmental concerns if they are productive of, or at least not counterproductive to, maximizing profits.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in the pursuit of encouraging corporations to be socially responsible,

AFFIRMS that such a singular, profit orientation pursued above all other consideration is an impediment to the creation of a long-term, sustainable economic system because the pure profit motive can make it morally excusable for such corporations to externalize as many of the negative consequences of their behavior on society and the environment as is legally permissible,

AFFIRMS a shift to a sustainable global economic system in which all corporations act as responsible global participants would be of great benefit to humanity as a whole,

AFFIRMS an expansion of the fiduciary obligations of corporate directors and officers to consider the effects of corporate behavior not only on shareholders but on stakeholders, such as employees, vendors and suppliers, the communities in which the corporation operates, and the natural environment, and

AFFIRMS that transparency and accountability to shareholders and other stakeholders is necessary for the implementation of these broader goals.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, calls upon all who are able and should be concerned about a more globally-responsible corporate ethos to do your part to make this a better world for us all now and in the future. Support, with your voice, vote, time, energy, resources, and participation, the legislation, candidates, and action groups that support the concept of the benefit corporation.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
December 7, 2019 | Washington, DC
Resolution 2019-003

Humanists have the responsibility to work in support of immigration policies that live up to the American principles of equal treatment for all. By reforming our immigration process in a manner that more realistically accommodates those wishing to enter the country and takes into account the causes of immigration, we can reduce the number of those who are made vulnerable in the immigration process.

WHEREAS we recognize that our nation was built on voluntary and forced immigrant labor and that today, diversity is the core of our nation’s strength, and

WHEREAS immigration patterns and needs are formed by global poverty, food insecurity, climate crises, conflict, and opportunities, and

WHEREAS migration to present-day United States devastated Indigenous communities that have yet to recover from centuries of violence, and

WHEREAS immigration policies based on white supremacy and discrimination have tarnished our nation’s history and continue to impede its growth, and

WHEREAS the militarization of our immigration system is a disproportionate use of force against vulnerable populations.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in support of humanitarian immigration policies,

AFFIRMS its support for immigration policies that are accountable to Indigenous communities, and

AFFIRMS its support for the rights of migrants and refugees as afforded under various United Nations declarations, and

AFFIRMS its support for immigration policies based on human need and human interest that are inclusive of: a path to citizenship for undocumented persons who reside within the United States; just judicial proceedings for immigrants charged with crimes, including access to legal counsel, due process, and detention only as deemed necessary for public safety; generous but sustainable immigrant and refugee quotas; restructuring of our immigration enforcement system to put human dignity first; decriminalization of undocumented border crossings or visa-overstays; labor protections for seasonal migrants; and standards for independent oversight of the entities that enforce our immigration policy, and

AFFIRMS the responsibility of the United States to prioritize the reduction of negative factors that lead to migration patterns, such as poverty and violence.

As humanists, it is crucial that we recognize that the debate over immigration, and the language used in that debate, can serve to dehumanize the most vulnerable communities and individuals. Policies which unduly restrict immigration or discriminate against immigrants are not only contrary to a modern, pluralistic society, but serve to disadvantage the country and its citizens.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association calls upon all who are able and should be concerned about our nation’s immigration practices to do your part to make this a better world for us all now and in the future.  Support, with your voice, vote, time, energy, resources, and participation, the legislation, candidates, and action groups that promote legislation and policies which treat immigrants, asylum seekers, and potential immigrants with compassion and allow for a more equitable road towards United States citizenship for those who go to great lengths to call the United States home.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
December 7, 2019 | Washington, DC
Resolution 2019-002

Political climates that allow white supremacy to assert itself boldly in the public sphere come and go. However, white supremacy and racism have been intricately folded into systems of power. And the violence to which marginalized bodies—Black, Brown, and Indigenous bodies in particular—are exposed requires diligent counter action. Humanism calls on each of us to act for human dignity and agency, which includes taking seriously the threat white supremacy poses.

WHEREAS white supremacy and the racism that sustains it remain particularized and systemic in our society, and

WHEREAS racism continues to limit the opportunities of and discriminate against racialized bodies of color in particular and marginalized bodies more generally, living in the United States by perpetuating inequality in every facet of individual and community life, and

WHEREAS hate crimes and hate groups have become more prevalent in the United States in recent years, especially targeting Black people, people perceived as Muslim, Jews, South Asians, LGBTQ people, and the disability community, and

WHEREAS Black families hold less than fifteen percent of the amount of the wealth of White families, due to the long-lasting effects of successful government-supported segregationist policies, and

WHEREAS poverty rates among Indigenous peoples are nearly double the national average, and

WHEREAS Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people are incarcerated at higher rates and with harsher sentences than White people, and

WHEREAS law enforcement agencies continue to use unconstitutional means of search and seizure disproportionately against Black bodies, and

WHEREAS militarized law enforcement agencies disproportionately fail to protect and serve Black people, leading to severe bodily harm and death, and

WHEREAS colonization and oppression continue to bleed resources and culture from Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, and

WHEREAS dismantling white supremacy requires anti-racist action.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in the pursuit of an anti-racist society,

AFFIRMS that all lives will matter when Black lives matter, and

AFFIRMS that racial colorblindness is detrimental to alleviating racial injustices, and

AFFIRMS that economic justice for Black and Indigenous people requires federal policies that take drastic corrective measures to eradicate the racial wealth gap, and

AFFIRMS its support for stronger data collection and investigation of hate crimes by local and federal agencies, and legislation mandating that Department of Justice funds be made available to only those agencies that are demonstrating credible participation in the Hate Crime Statistics Act program, and

AFFIRMS its support for required reporting of police violence to a national and public database, retraining and de-militarization of police forces, new criteria for recruitment that prioritize candidates with mediation and de-escalation skills, as well as civic review boards of local law enforcement agencies, and

AFFIRMS its support for broad legislation that curtails racial imbalances in criminal arrests, prosecutions, sentencing, and parole boards, as well as ends capital punishment, forced solitary confinement, coerced labor of incarcerated people, the money bail system, and for-profit prisons, and

AFFIRMS its support for ending the “war on drugs,” and

AFFIRMS its support for anti-racist education policy that curtails the over-disciplining of Black students, historically-accurate curricula, and support for strengthening Title VI and adequately funding Title I without requiring disbursement to schools which do not require the aid, and

AFFIRMS its support for anti-racist healthcare, including mental health services, that achieves the same health outcomes for Black and White people regardless of income, and

AFFIRMS the need for anti-racist research procedures and diversity in science, and

AFFIRMS its support for reparations to the descendants of people enslaved in the United States, and

AFFIRMS its dedication to stamping out white supremacy and racism from within its organization through hiring practices, resource allocation, staff and board training, and more.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association calls upon all who are able and should be concerned about white supremacy to do your part to make this a better world for us all now and in the future.  Support, with your voice, vote, time, energy, resources, and participation, the legislation, candidates, and action groups that work to end white supremacy and racism.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
December 7, 2019 | Washington, DC
Resolution 2019-001

Humanity’s global interdependence is central to the humanist ethic. That interdependence extends far beyond humans and includes the other living beings with whom we share the planet, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the lands we inhabit. Just as we depend on this planet to sustain us, Earth’s ecosystems depend on us to be good stewards and take responsibility for the impact human activity has on our shared environment. Humanists and all others should make conservation, ecological education, and environmental stewardship top priorities to safeguard against all forms of environmental degradation and ensure a healthy planet.

WHEREAS the beauty of our natural world and the ecological interdependence of life on Earth, including humans, non-human animals, plants, and other living beings, as well as the inorganic natural world, is fundamental to our humanity, and

WHEREAS all life on this planet has intrinsic value and holds the right to access clean air, clean water, and healthy habitats, and

WHEREAS ecosystems rich in biodiversity are healthier, more resilient, and more productive, and

WHEREAS rampant industrialization, overconsumption, urban sprawl, and unsustainable agricultural and manufacturing processes disrupt and destroy habitats and generate unprecedented levels of waste and pollutants, and

WHEREAS pollutants are a direct cause of disease in humans and other organisms leading to higher mortality rates, and

WHEREAS climate change, pollution, and environmental destruction have exacerbated systemic racial, regional, social, environmental, and economic injustices by disproportionately affecting indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth (referred to in this resolution as “frontline and vulnerable communities”);

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in support of environmental stewardship and the preservation and cultivation of healthy ecosystems,

AFFIRMS its support for conservation efforts to preserve natural resources and the beauty of our public lands, reduce carbon footprints, clean and rebuild damaged habitats, and protect endangered species and other wildlife, and

AFFIRMS its support for sustainable waste management and the use of non-toxic, biodegradable or repurposable materials in all products and manufacturing processes, and

AFFIRMS its support for businesses to publish supply-chain information relevant to sustainability to help consumers make informed, ethical choices, and

AFFIRMS its support for sustainable agriculture and food consumption, including transitioning toward plant-based diets, developing urban farming and community cooperative initiatives, and researching and regulating pesticides, fertilizers, and chemical runoff, and

AFFIRMS its support for upgrading and retrofitting our transportation infrastructure including developing energy-efficient vehicles, high-speed rail, and green public transit systems, and

AFFIRMS its support for robust, independent environmental impact assessments, open to public comment, for all major development projects, and

AFFIRMS its support for education initiatives for children and adults to learn more about and participate in sustainability, conservation, ecology, and environmental science, and

AFFIRMS its support for aggressive, multinational economic and regulatory action to transition to a green economy, including abolishing fossil-fuel subsidies, creating financial incentives for sustainable energy and production processes, and requiring businesses to bear the full cost of environmental externalities resulting from their activities, and

AFFIRMS its support for environmental justice and equity by preventing future and repairing current and historical oppression of frontline and vulnerable communities;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION calls upon all able people to acknowledge the harmful effects of human activity on the environment and—through personal and collective action—repair environmental damages and cultivate healthy ecosystems on our shared planet. Support—with your voice, vote, time, energy, resources, and participation—the legislation, candidates, campaigns, action groups, and other efforts that promote conservation, sustainability, and environmental justice on our shared planet.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
August 21, 2017 | Washington, DC
Resolution 2017-001

The Earth’s climate is experiencing destabilization, and our planet’s ability to sustain life as we know it is in crisis. Humanists must join others in leading efforts to reduce human activities causing climate change to ecologically sustainable levels.

Ninety-seven percent of scientists agree that climate change is real and human induced, and the consensus is that we must stabilize global temperatures at the two degree Celsius target to prevent dangerous impacts to humans, flora, and fauna. The consequences of our actions—and inaction—regarding the destruction of our environment for ourselves and future generations mandate a naturalistic social responsibility inherent to humanist values.

WHEREAS human-generated greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion—exacerbated by unsustainable land use such as deforestation—are a leading cause of climate change, and

WHEREAS deforestation and wildfire suppression are making forests more vulnerable to fires and reducing the ability of forests to sequester and store carbon, and

WHEREAS industrial animal production for food is inefficient in terms of land and water usage and often harms the environment due to animal waste, chemical runoff, and bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and

WHEREAS glaciers melting at heightened rates have been and are resulting in rising sea levels, threatening coastal populations and ocean ecology, and

WHEREAS global warming has contributed directly and indirectly to the loss of biodiversity and the destruction of critical biomes, and

WHEREAS the corollaries of these same changes appear to cause shifts in precipitation, resulting in droughts around the globe, and the increase in other extreme weather events, like tsunamis and hurricanes, leading to food insecurity and famine, and decreased access to natural resources like potable water, and

WHEREAS climate change impacts everyone, already vulnerable populations globally will be disproportionately affected, exacerbating unemployment, displacement, and homelessness, and

WHEREAS drastic global climate change is a challenge facing all populations around the world;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in the pursuit of climate justice,

AFFIRMS its support for the development and proliferation of renewable sources of energy and fuel, particularly wind and solar, and

AFFIRMS its support of sustainable land use, forest conservation, and reforestation, and

AFFIRMS its support for personal and commercial transition toward a plant-based diet, and

AFFIRMS its support of the rights of indigenous peoples who inhabit some of world’s most intact and biodiverse forests, and

AFFIRMS where direct restrictions are insufficient, support for a price on climate-damaging substances and practices through carbon tax and other related disincentives, and

AFFIRMS political and financial incentives for a global industrial refitting of our power infrastructure away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable energy production and storage, and

AFFIRMS its support for international funds for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries, and

AFFIRMS its support for efforts to keep fossil fuels underground, particularly in ecologically and culturally important areas, and

AFFIRMS its support for the validation of climate refugee status, and

AFFIRMS that access to clean and affordable water is necessary and important, and

AFFIRMS its support for a coordinated global effort to manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As humanists, it is crucial that we recognize that the responsibility to create and maintain sustainable methods of living is a collective one. As humanists, we acknowledge the damage done to our environment has been caused by human action and constitutes an existential threat to humanity and many other species that have not already been wiped out. As humanists, we understand that only humans can save ourselves from the climate crises we have created.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION calls all humanists to take personal and collective action to save our planet.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
November 19, 2016 | Las Vegas, NV
Resolution 2016-003

Humanists strive to embody a system of universal ethics that applies fully and equally to all peoples—and this includes our outlook on prejudices that impede political participation. Voter suppression, which can arise in many forms, poses a great threat to our nation’s democratic order through the unjust disenfranchisement of many voters. Three years ago the U.S. Supreme Court rendered a decision in Shelby County v. Holder that invalidated the key enforcement mechanism of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The VRA is a landmark law that took key steps to realize promises of the 14^th and 15^th amendments, and required jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to obtain preclearance from the federal government prior to changing voting laws or policies.

Significantly, in 2008, people of color represented a quarter of the nation’s eligible voters for the first time in our nation’s history. In 2011 and 2012 nineteen states passed twenty-five laws that made it harder to both register to vote and to vote on Election Day. Following the decision in Shelby County previously covered jurisdictions instituted a wide range of suppression tactics, from strict voter identification laws to poll closures and shortened hours for voting and registration. Ruling on a law passed by North Carolina, a three judge panel described it as surgically targeted to minority voters.

Curtailment of early voting, elimination of same-day registration, reduction in the number of polling places, vote dilution tactics, and needlessly cumbersome voter ID laws are common means of restricting the expression of political voice of those of low income and people of color. Without federal protection, these changes—along with felony disenfranchisement and prison gerrymandering—perpetuate the marginalization of historically disenfranchised groups so that those in power can maintain social and political advantages without democratic accountability. The American Humanist Association therefore concludes that humanist values provide an imperative to advocate for inclusive voting rules.

WHEREAS humanists recognize the legacy of voter suppression and its inextricable ties to racism and classism in the United States;

WHEREAS humanists seek transparency and equality across states and jurisdictions;

WHEREAS humanists recognize that past criminal acts should not silence future participation in a democracy;

WHEREAS humanists acknowledge that felony disenfranchisement disproportionately affects minority groups, contributing to the marginalized state of minority groups;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in support of broad voter enfranchisement,

Affirms the need for a modern, flexible, and forward-looking statute such as the Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect voting rights by modernizing the preclearance formula to cover states with a pattern of discrimination that puts voters at risk, ensuring that last-minute voting changes will not adversely affect voters, protecting voters from voting changes that likely discriminate against people of color and language minorities, enhancing the ability to apply preclearance review when needed, expanding the effective federal observer program, and improving voting rights protections for Native Americans and Alaska Natives;

Affirms that inclusive voting rights are fundamental to democracy and that every citizen disenfranchised is a step away from democracy.

Affirms that every adult citizen has the right to participate in the governance of the society in which they reside through the choice of representatives regardless of race, gender, sex, national origin, religion, disability, or political affiliation;

Affirms that past criminal acts should have no bearing on voting eligibility in the future and urges the reinstatement of voting rights to those with criminal records, thus allowing an additional 5.8 million citizens to access and participate in our democracy;

Affirms that we can reduce recidivism by restoring the rights of individuals to participate in their communities and the decision-making that impacts their lives;

Affirms that incarcerated people should be counted as residents at the address of legal residence prior to incarceration, and not the places they happen to be incarcerated on Census Day;

Affirms that political districts should be drawn for the benefit of the people they represent, rather than for partisan gain based on race or political affiliation. Gerrymandering may be more effectively allayed through a mathematical redistricting algorithm based on geometrically-consistent population density centers;

Affirms its support for the elimination of unnecessarily burdensome voter photo ID laws, which are barriers to the ballot box disproportionately impacting our most vulnerable citizens without evidenced reduction in voter fraud;

Affirms statistics reveal widespread beliefs about voter fraud is unfounded. Between 2000 and 2010 there were only 13 cases of credible in-person voter impersonation out of 649 million votes cast in general elections;

Affirms its support for free and easy access to photo IDs in states and districts that maintain voter ID laws;  

Affirms its support for efforts to reduce barriers to voting such as opt-out voter registration rules like those recently adopted by the state of Oregon;

Affirms its support for federal regulation and oversight of election administration to achieve consistency across states and districts.

As humanists, it is imperative that we identify and denounce modes of inequality that contradict the fundamental principle of all individuals possessing equal value. Both understated and blatant discrepancies in our voting system will not be tolerated and have no place in a truly egalitarian society.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
September 27, 2015 | Chicago, IL
Resolution 2015-001

The American Humanist Association affirms the worth and dignity of all persons. This worth arises from the self-awareness, the capacity to love and suffer, and the great longing we all have to flourish. The importance and urgency of providing these rights to all people is that much greater in the context of an amazing yet uncaring universe in which we have just one relatively short life to experience all that we can. We also respect our limited control on the universe and include as part of human rights the need for humility and acceptance as we and our loved ones reach our inevitable ends.

This resolution addresses selected areas of human rights but does not attempt to be comprehensive. Timely human rights issues of concern addressed here are Death with Dignity, Freedom of Conscience and Belief, Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression, and Family Planning.

The following prior resolutions are now encapsulated in this new resolution, in addition to the other concepts:

• 1959-089 Resolution on the Right to Personality
• 1960-082 Resolution on Overpopulation
• 1963-117 Resolution on Government Research in Birth Control
• 1972-055 Resolution on Funeral Customs
• 1972-058 Resolution on the Human Environment and Population Control
• 1974-156 A Plea for Beneficent Euthanasia
• 1993-019 Resolution on Dr. Jack Kevorkian
• 1995-016 Contract with the Future
• 2003-003 Opposition to Capital Punishment

WHEREAS the American Humanist Association affirms the worth and dignity of every human being, and

WHEREAS the American Humanist Association affirms the human rights values expressed in the Humanist Manifesto III (2003) and the UN Declaration on Human Rights;

Family Planning

WHEREAS a person is defined by their personality, their capacity to love and suffer, and by their aspiration for personal fulfillment, and not by any supernatural soul or mechanical life support system of their bodies, and

WHEREAS humans in very early stages of development have not developed personalities, capacities to love, nor aspirations for personal fulfillment, and

WHEREAS the responsibility of bearing and raising a child is arguably the most important, difficult, and rewarding challenge a human can choose, and personal fulfillment is not possible without the freedom to choose or choose not to bear a child, and

WHEREAS the growing human civilization has long since created great burdens on our environment and many children are growing up without the love and care they so deserve;

the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION

AFFIRMS the right of pregnant women to terminate their pregnancy at any time and of those women to have easily-accessible, professional medical care to do so, and

Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression

WHEREAS sexuality is a component of human personality and lives important from an evolutionary perspective that has significant biological and emotional consequences, and

WHEREAS sexuality, including the emotional, interpersonal, and biological functions, implications, risks, and opportunities, are almost entirely mysterious to humans in the absence of clear, candid, science-based, and compassionate education;

the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION

AFFIRMS the right of every person to be affirmed in the sexual orientation and gender expression that best fit their personality, including expressions which may be singular, multiple, unclear, or none at all, and

AFFIRMS the right of all persons to have scientific and clear education on sexual conduct and contraception as the most fundamental guarantor of medical health, flourishing families, and healthy sexual lives;

Freedom of Conscience and Belief

WHEREAS the human capacity for reason, self-determination, and self-affirmation are critical to the human condition and ought therefore to be expressed fully and responsibly, and

WHEREAS religions, conscience, values, and beliefs range from noble to deplorable, and, from a logical and moral perspective, all beliefs cannot be accommodated in all circumstances;

the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION

AFFIRMS the right of every person to hold and express their beliefs and to live according to their values contingent upon and subordinate to the protection of other human rights, and

DECRIES the infliction of the values, conscience, beliefs, or religion of one group upon another by force of will, arms, law, or any other coercive means;

End of Life

WHEREAS humans currently face mortality by many avenues, the ends of our lives are inevitable and relatively soon, and

WHEREAS allowing suffering, especially of a dying person, when it could be prevented and it is the wish of that person that their suffering be prevented, is torture and detestable to the human condition, and

WHEREAS governments, including the United States, have repeatedly executed the innocent, such errors, past and future, are irreversible, and there is no such thing as a humane execution;

the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION

AFFIRMS the responsibility of every person to be educated about and to plan for their own deaths to avoid leaving life and death decisions to their families in a difficult time, and

AFFIRMS the right of every person to choose death when the dignity, value, and satisfaction of life is impossible despite currently available therapies, and

AFFIRMS those family members and doctors who have the courage and compassion to make the terrible but sometimes most beneficial decision to hasten death on behalf of a person who through mental or physical deterioration has already lost their capacity decide on their own, and

DECRIES the death penalty for any crime in any circumstance.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
September 15, 2014 | Washington, DC
Resolution 2014-003
Updated from 2007’s “A Sensible Approach to Islam”

Islam and the Politics of Violence
Over a long period culminating in recent years, Muslim fundamentalists dedicated to establishing Islamic theocracies have ascended to power and solidified their authority in several countries. They have also established enclaves in many other nations, and some of them have formed terrorist organizations. Though belonging to various Muslim sects, these theocrats share a willingness to implement Islamist Sharia laws with punishments that disregard basic human rights, particularly women’s rights, and some conduct assassinations and brutal reprisals in the name of “true” Islam.
Though adherents of this type are gaining in numbers and power, they do not represent all Muslims. Stereotyping Muslims as violent or making generalizations about Islam undermines the efforts of millions of Muslims and others who are struggling to challenge the rise of extremism. Fair and even incisive criticism of belief must be tempered by outreach to those reforming from within.
Since September 11, 2001, prejudice and discrimination have been on the rise in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere against people who are even perceived to be Muslims. Such individuals are suffering from increased security screenings, hostile media attention, and oppressive new laws, as well as localized acts of violence and widespread disrespect. Moreover, disinformation campaigns and negative imagery have led to popular confusion wherein the world faith of Islam, with its 1.3 billion followers, is viewed as a doctrinaire monolith. Setting aside categorical prejudice against Islam is a pre-requisite to ensuring criticism and reform efforts do not harm the innocent.
The American Humanist Association is opposed to both the activities of Islamic extremists and to the “crusade” mentality rising in Western circles that condemns all Muslims indiscriminately. This statement aims at defining a rational and informed humanist position.

Common Standards
Humanists should assess Islam using the same standards applied to all belief systems. This means, in practice, that humanists support the concept of a democratic secular state, with complete separation of religion and government. Consistent with this, humanists oppose theocracy in all of its forms and support:
The freedom to think and believe or not believe, and to profess or critique, resisting efforts to impose one’s religious beliefs on others through coercive and punitive measures
The choice to observe or not to observe religious practices, to the degree that such practices do not harm others or interfere with their rights
The choice of governance that, though it may not be Western-style democracy, does not permit the state to engage in religious indoctrination or similar tyrannies of the majority
Modern human rights, not tolerating violations of those basic rights whether or not they are bolstered by religious law or custom.

Islam and the Separation of Church and State
Humanists believe in the complete separation of religion and government, and oppose theocracy. As a practical matter, humanists recognize that many countries have a state religion in principle but tolerate secularism in practice. We accept their right to define themselves as they wish, while supporting their more secular elements. Within our own country, we work more directly to strengthen secular attitudes and practices.

Certain recent Islamic movements aim to create new countries governed by Shari’a law. Basing the law of the land on literal interpretation of ancient texts not only stands in stark opposition to the whole concept of separation of church and state, it also violates basic human rights. Humanist tolerance for a nation’s preference for a given religion does not extend to using such a preference to shield mass violations of such primary freedoms. Governing modern societies by literal application of Shari’a law is a backward reversion and should be recognized as such.

A Balanced Humanist Policy
There is a great deal of violence in the world today, a disturbing portion of which is perpetrated in the name of Islam. Humanists recognize that globally, Islam is vast and heterogeneous, and problems that exist in one area may not exist in others. For this reason, one-size-fits-all responses to issues that outsiders perceive within Muslim-majority and Islamist countries are not only unworkable but are likely to be detrimental to humanistic solutions.

While small numbers of Islamists may reside in the United States, and while there is a continuing threat of terrorist attack from Islamic terrorist groups, extremist Islam as a political force does not exist in this country. Though many other countries have seen the influence of Islam in law, such concerns in the US arise more directly from Christian pressure in politics and law than any real threat from Islamists. Problems are mostly limited to instances when Islamic practices, such as those relating to dress or prayer, conflict with preexisting law and custom. These are often resolved without state involvement in a spirit of mutual understanding. When that fails and the courts intervene, their decisions should reflect both practical requirements and a respect for religious freedom. In general, humanists do not support either extending religious accommodation in ways that would create an unequal playing field between the religious and nonreligious or rigidly enforcing legal provisions that unnecessarily encumber individual religious liberty.

Some countries, notably in Western Europe, have been less successful than the United States in integrating Muslim immigrants into mainstream society. Humanists respect the desire of the majorities in these countries to preserve human rights; they also support the efforts of humanist groups to resolve emerging problems in a humane and practical manner. But some approaches have been strikingly racist and ethnocentric in nature. While freedom of speech must not be compromised, humanists oppose nativism, jingoism, and open hostility toward Muslim citizens and immigrants within any nation.

Humanists strive for a world where violence and fear are not the drivers of ideals and actions. In every case and in all its forms, extremism must be condemned. But neither should fear and ignorance be permitted to sanction prejudice and discrimination. There will always be those who aim to insult or ridicule others, employing inflammatory rhetoric to fuel ideological wars. While humanists should always uphold freedom of speech, they also aim to utilize that freedom conscientiously, taking steps to avoid marginalizing any community, religious or otherwise. Humanists recognize that challenging Islamists, Christian fundamentalists, and all others who hold to religious or ideological extremes is not a process with an easy or short-term solution, but it is the way toward progress.

Humanists see no contradiction, on the one hand, between their longstanding adherence to principles that run contrary to religious beliefs and, on the other, their strong distaste for efforts to propagate a crusade mentality against Islam or any other religion. Religious liberty means freedom for all: freedom to peacefully affirm and practice a faith, freedom from religious coercion, and freedom to peacefully leave or reject a faith. Such religious liberty is and always has been a central tenet of humanism and is herewith reaffirmed.

Addendum
Our addendum, posted May 19, 2015, can be found under “additional statements”

Adopted by the Board of Directors
June 5, 2014 | Philadelphia, PA
Resolution 2014-002

The American Humanist Association (AHA) reaffirms its long-standing support of scientific integrity and its stand against pseudoscience and exploitation of science. While primary attention is given to the “natural” sciences, we also want to be mindful of empirical approaches to study that produce significant work within the social sciences and the humanities. This interim resolution, being a major advancement of prior AHA positions, is presented for review by the humanist community and by experts in related fields. The following prior resolutions are now encapsulated in this new resolution:

1951-150 Resolution on the Scientific Method
1975-155 Objections to Astrology
1977-157 Affirming Evolution as a Principle of Science
1978-097 Biblical Creationism
1998-009 Supporting Evolution in Textbooks
2005-173 Supporting Stem Cell Research
2005-174 Cloning

WHEREAS the power for human progress resident in modern science, when used and controlled democratically, offers a method for the establishment of peace on a global scale; and

WHEREAS humans the world over are subjugated by charlatans and shamans who use supernatural powers to secure intellectual, physical, and financial control over the helpless and credulous; and

WHEREAS scientific knowledge expresses the consensus, peer-reviewed understanding of experts in related fields;

WHEREAS supernaturalism, pseudoscience, and dogma are not labels given to certain ideas but to different unscientific approaches to knowledge;

WHEREAS those of all beliefs, humanist and non-humanist, can and do agree on scientific approaches to knowledge and the many conclusions we have drawn from the standards of the scientific method as embraced across a variety of disciplines in and outside the empirical sciences;

WHEREAS the outcomes of our actions are predicted by scientific methods and play a key role in our ethical decisions;

WHEREAS scientific leaders require the professional integrity to identify a level of certainty to all claims, distinguishing between tentative and conclusive findings;

WHEREAS scientific discovery represented by work within a variety of disciplines in and outside the empirical sciences can amplify feelings of awe, wonder, and beauty at the natural world and our place in it;

BE IT RESOLVED in furtherance of human flourishing, the American Humanist Association

AFFIRMS that scientific naturalism, the concept that the methods of study and exploration represented by the sciences provide the most reliable method to understanding the world around us, is a fundamental tenet of the humanist lifestance;

DECRIES the elevation of the current conclusions of science over the ongoing process of science (aka scientism);

AFFIRMS that a skeptical approach to knowledge, assigning a level of certainty according to the weight of the evidence, is important to personal well being;

AFFIRMS that some claims are demonstrably false and pseudoscientific and that some claims are fringe science that deserve fair review and scientific inquiry, and that some claims are genuinely inconclusive and require further study before judgment is pronounced, and when such claims produce verifiable harm such conditions must be addressed as a matter of ethical obligation;

AFFIRMS that the advancement of scientific exploration and study must be tempered by humility, compassion, and constant care for all life and our environment;

AFFIRMS that the methods of science be relied upon in assessing the efficacy of our actions and policies to bring about stated ethical outcomes;

AFFIRMS that scientifically derived knowledge is always subject to scrutiny and revision based on new evidence of fact or ethical consequences;

AFFIRMS that the relating of the scientific method and a socially responsible science be included as principle items on the program for humanist study and action;

DECRIES the subordination of science to faith-based beliefs, religious dogmatism, the tyranny of authority, or the inertia of tradition;

DECRIES the elevation of ideological conviction or preconceived certainty over coherent theory, empirical observation, or expert peer review as determiners of truth;

DECRIES censorship, misinformation campaigns, and obstruction in the general populace, the Internet, or schools that subvert the process of free inquiry, dissemination of knowledge, or discovery of new information;

AFFIRMS the importance of instruction of the public and funding of research of proven scientific concepts and methods;

DECRIES the public funding and research of claims and practices roundly rejected by the consensus of experts in related fields (i.e., pseudoscience).

Selected Scientific Concepts
Science has the capacity to police itself, distinguishing clearly those claims that are demonstrably false from those that show proven utility to explain the world. These areas include theoretical basis (why something works), empirical observation (testability and repeatability of results), and expert peer review (to confirm theory and evidence). We rightfully ascribe certainty through increased evidence in these three areas of theory, observation, and peer review.

In the following section, the AHA presents selected areas of science that provide good opportunities for detailed study in the areas of proven, fringe, or falsified claims. This list is not comprehensive by any means but advances the discussion by presenting areas that call for further discussion. While it is tempting to simply categorize each area summarily, science is not about quick categorization. The AHA may provide more detailed resolutions or position papers on these or other areas to give them the treatment they deserve.

As with all science, even proven science should be studied with not just intellectual but also ethical and financial responsibility. While certain scientific areas may stand scrutiny on their technical merits, we must be continually vigilant against ethical pitfalls. Even areas broadly considered to be pseudoscientific in one application may provide interesting avenues for research if studied through the lens of a different discipline, for example homeopathy has no pharmaceutical value but may call for study from the perspective of placebo medicine and medical ethics. Research methodology and technical application for all science must recognize the certainty of the science as well as formal, deliberate, and rigorous ethical standards.

Certain areas of science provide important areas for study in the area of scientific integrity. It is not for AHA to determine scientific truth, but AHA may comment on the consensus of science or lack thereof in order to provide examples of scientific integrity in action.

Areas Considered by AHA for Further Commentary
Anthropogenic climate change

Evolution vs. creationism

Gravity

Vaccination

The Big Bang

Dark matter

Astrology

Homeopathy

Chelation therapy

Social Darwinism

Human cloning

Non-human cloning

“Gay reparative” therapy

Placebo

Medical ethics

Chiropractic Acupuncture

Transhumanism and the technological singularity
 
 
Evolution
Evolutionary biology is the unifying principle of the life sciences. The National Academy of Sciences has continuously reconfirmed the importance and utility of evolution as a principle of biology. The principles of modern evolutionary theory are accepted as having continuously met the burden of scientific proof among biological scientists the world over; and

WHEREAS widespread ignorance and misunderstanding exist concerning the scientific field of evolutionary biologyamong students, teachers and the public at large; and

WHEREAS new forms of anti-evolutionism such as “intelligent design theory,” “evidence against evolution,” “teaching the controversy,” and requirements that evolution be disclaimed by teachers or in textbooks have risen, creating additional pressures upon educators to eliminate evolution and/or introduce religiously inspired “alternatives” to evolution in the classroom; and

WHEREAS the scientific community in the United States and its potential contributions to the betterment of the human condition the world over is seriously threatened and impaired by the inclusion of erroneous subject matter in the teaching of science at all levels, including in particular kindergarten through twelfth grade; and

WHEREAS evolution holds special value to humanism only by virtue of its proven utility to explain the diversity and origin of life on Earth and that humanists would choose a better explanation if one were discovered; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the concept of evolution as well as its instructors, researchers, and practitioners be granted public and private funds, be prominent in public and private institutions of learning, and be understood, supported, and advanced by humanists.

Stem Cells
Inspired by compassion and informed by reason, humanists are committed to the treatment of each person as having inherent worth and dignity. In recognizing the potential of the medical and biological sciences to improve human lives through the cure of debilitating diseases, amelioration of suffering, and reduction of the consequences of aging, humanists oppose efforts to constrain the advance of beneficial scientific research on the basis of religious or political dogma.

WHEREAS research using human embryonic stem cells holds great potential for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and other debilitating afflictions, and

WHEREAS human embryonic stem cells, derived from pre-implantation blastocysts, possess the unique capacity to differentiate into any somatic tissue, thus creating an unprecedented wealth of potential investigative and therapeutic applications, and

WHEREAS the derivation of additional cell lines from human embryonic stem cells will greatly facilitate important research and its translation into therapeutic benefit, and

WHEREAS embryonic cells derived from the process commonly referred to as “therapeutic cloning” (the transfer of somatic cell nuclei into enucleated eggs) or by the manipulation of somatic cells by artificial means may have particular value in regenerative medicine by providing cells that are a perfect genetic match for patients, and

WHEREAS embryos obtained or derived for research or therapeutic purposes with the informed consent of the donor are not destined for personhood and have no independent moral status; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association supports research employing embryonic stem cells and federal funding for such research commensurate with its potential to advance scientific knowledge and lead to the development of novel therapies. Further, we encourage the development of ethical guidelines for such applications through the use of reason rather than religious or political doctrine.
Human Cloning

Humanists are committed to the treatment of each person as having inherent worth and dignity, and to the opportunity for all people to make informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility.

Therefore, humanists seek to ensure that a full range of ethical and safe reproductive choices are readily available, unhindered by the constraints of either religious or political dogma.

WHEREAS genetic similarity or dissimilarity to another, the mode of procreation, nor the nature of parentage should ever be determinate of the worth or dignity accorded an individual; and,

WHEREAS a woman has the right to control the use of her ova and any embryos developed therefrom; and,

WHEREAS a woman must be permitted to make an informed choice as to whether or not to serve as the surrogate mother of a cloned human embryo; and,

WHEREAS a man retains the same rights as a woman regarding his genetic material should it be suitable for use in cloning; and,

WHEREAS efforts toward human reproductive cloning must be subject to the most rigorous of investigative standards and comprehensive pre-clinical testing to ensure that the resultant children do not suffer compromised developmental potential, health, or longevity; and,

WHEREAS the potential for reproductive cloning to facilitate the manipulation of the human germline necessitates intense scientific and ethical scrutiny and a reasoned public dialogue; and,

WHEREAS any outright ban on such research could remove it from the public domain and would likely cede it to those with lower ethical research standards,

WHEREAS any outright ban on such research could remove it from the public domain and would likely cede it to those with lower ethical research standards,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association opposes any permanent ban on reproductive cloning, and instead encourages the continuation of scientific research and the simultaneous development of rational ethical guidelines so as to ensure the safe application of this technology and to protect against its misuse or abuse.

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association advises the same care, concern, rights, and treatment of cloned persons as should be afforded non-cloned persons, both in the decision to procreate and in the treatment of such persons throughout their lives.

Afterword on Science, Pseudoscience, and the Frontier

Part of Scientific Integrity is striking a balance between openness to draw any conclusion from sufficient evidence while also understanding that there is a clear distinction between accepted concepts and thoroughly debunked concepts. For example, evolution and gravity are thoroughly accepted concepts. Gravity provides a clear, mathematical law while “modern synthesis” evolution collects concepts such as genetics, epigenetics, natural selection, and evolutionary development into a strong foundation for human understanding of the world.

Such strong understanding and wide acceptance does not mean that these concepts are immutable truths. As noted, evolution continues to develop as we build stronger understanding of how it works. In addition, the expansion of evolution into social planning, i.e., social Darwinism and eugenics, has been almost entirely discredited as unethical. Thus we see one expression of how efficacy is irrelevant when ethics are violated.

Gravity is another well-accepted concept. While it is well-understood, humans have just recently observed its “carrier,” the Higgs boson. And while that particle holds gravity, there is still no scientific consensus or even a strong theory on how this particle carrier, the Higgs boson, affects other types of particles or the fabric of space-time. Concepts such as gravitational waves are proposed but as-yet unproven. So science recognizes that even where there is certainty, there is still opportunity for study.

On the other end of the spectrum, concepts such as astrology, gay cures, and homeopathy have all been thoroughly disproven and have no useful application. Not only have they been shown to have no experimental efficacy, their scientific bases have been reviewed and discarded. For example, ‘homeopathy’ rests on concepts such as “memory” of water and toxic “opposites” curing the maladies they create. Such theories can and have been set aside after experimental and theoretical scrutiny. While we are open-minded and curious about even the most foundational scientific concepts, we must be equally vigilant to reject that which has been disproven.

Gray areas where real controversy may exist frequently arise as a normal process of science. In recent times, health risks of vaccines and anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change were the target of great scrutiny in the scientific world. After a decade of expert research, review, and intellectual conflict, a scientific consensus has arisen that vaccines are critical to public health and that human-caused climate change is occurring at a rapid pace. Some continue to claim dangers from vaccines or to deny the damage of human-caused climate change. This is dangerous in many ways and is unscientific in its denial of consensus evidence and the hard work over many years that have provided valuable understanding of the situation. The proper scientific response is to move forward with the new information. The medical and public health community has returned to expanding vaccination programs to push back the new whooping cough and mumps epidemics that arose from anti-vaccination efforts. Political and environmental leaders do the hard work not of denying climate change but of changing our cultural, financial, and industrial infrastructure to mitigate the damage done to our Earth.

This integration and adjustment of knowledge has happened in the past. Geocentricism (Earth/firmament) gave way to heliocentrism (solar system) which gave way eventually to the “observable universe” view we have of 13 billion light years of space-time. The classical physics of Newton were adapted over the course of decades into Einstein’s quantum dynamics.

Complementary and alternative medicine is an exciting area of scientific development. While such things as Reiki and homeopathy should be set aside, others like acupuncture and chiropractic are almost but not entirely discredited and may have some uses. Much of this also relates to placebo medicine where patients are essentially lied to in an effort to improve their mental state to create positive outcomes. The positive outcomes are real even if the treatments are not, so how can the outcomes be protected along with the integrity of the doctor and the rights of the patient?

Integration of knowledge has not been without risk. Concepts of evolution, even as they were advancing medicine and agriculture, were used to promote sterilization and genocide. The terrible power of the atomic bomb is another example of how scientific knowledge can have terrible consequences. Chelation therapy is effective in removing heavy metals from the body but can kill and is dangerous when used for other ailments. Ethics is not separate from science but must at all times be an integral and important part of the process of discovery, experimentation, and application of new ideas.

With excitement, awe, wonder, and no small amount of indignation at the diminishment of our previous successes, we can find new discoveries every day. But this cannot happen when we hold onto disproven concepts, reject areas of discovery, or fail to accept the preponderance of evidence in a new area. We must always do so with our ethical considerations in mind, applying science with concern for the well-being of our planet, our fellow humans, and other life. We can reach Mars with propulsion and materials science, free our minds with secular meditation and educational methods, and free our hearts as we learn to raise our children and accept love among adults however it appears.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
November 19, 2012
Resolution 2012-003

The American Humanist Association reaffirms its long-standing support of equal rights and equal pay for women as previously expressed in Resolution supporting the Equal Rights Amendment in 1975 and 1982, a Resolution on Equal Pay for Women in 1963, and the related Resolution supporting a World Bill of Rights for Women in 1981.

WHEREAS Women make up more than half the population of the United States of America; andWHEREAS Women’s equality of rights under the law has not been protected by the Constitution throughout the two hundred twenty-five years since it was adopted by this country, a country which prides itself on being the world’s greatest democracy; and

WHEREAS The American Humanist Association holds and proclaims as a value the belief in gender equality in all aspects of society; and

WHEREAS The American Humanist Association has actively supported American women in their ongoing struggle for constitutional equality; and

WHEREAS Women’s hard-won rights are now being attacked, revoked, ignored or not enforced because those rights are not protected by the United States Constitution; and

WHEREAS Disrespect for women makes a mockery of democracy and violates humanists’ concern for the best possible life on earth for all human beings; and

WHEREAS the Equal Rights Amendment, stating simply that, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the united States or by any State on account of sex,” was originally introduced in 1923 and was finally passed by an almost unanimous vote of Congress in March, 1972, fifty years after it was first introduced and has since been approved by 35 of the 38 States needed for ratification; and

WHEREAS The Equal Rights Amendment will become a Constitutional Amendment if just three of the remaining 15 state legislatures vote for ratification; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association hereby reaffirms its dedication to the passage, ratification and implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment so that women in this country will at last be guaranteed equality of rights under the law that shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association supports the Three-State Strategy to seek the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment through state legislatures; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Humanist Association will continue its active cooperation with  national and local groups focused on working for the ERA; and that the American Humanist Association will encourage and provide assistance to all its chapters, divisions, commissions, satellites and other humanist organizations to work to enshrine the Equal Rights Amendment in the Constitution.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
May 20, 2012
Resolution 2012-002

The American Humanist Association urges leaders of the US, Iran, Israel, and the international community to intensify their commitment to peaceful and cooperative relationships in the Middle East. Threats of a pre-emptive strike against Iran are unwise and unwarranted, especially at this time while efforts to negotiate a resolution are underway. The American Humanist Association affirms the consensus of the international community that humanity should seek nuclear disarmament and that nations should not develop nuclear weapons capabilities if they do not already have them. The AHA Resolution on Global Community and International Affairs (2008) affirms support for the United Nations, and its efforts along with other kinds of multi-national efforts to seek peace, and it affirms the necessity of the nuclear non-proliferation regime for the safeguarding of humanity. Regarding the possibility of military action, this resolution also affirms that military intervention to pursue humanitarian ends can be justified against a sovereign nation only if all non-military means have been exhausted, and an international consensus agrees on military options. This statement is made in the current context of an absence of UN and multinational consensus on military options, and no major military offensive against any nation has been undertaken by Iran. We therefore urge the cessation of heated rhetoric by all sides about confrontational tactics or military escalation.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
Resolution 2012-001

These issues were developed by staff and ratified by the AHA Board in 2012 and continue to evolve.

American Humanist Association’s Key Issues
The American Humanist Association (AHA) strives to bring about a progressive society where being “good without god” is an accepted way to live life. We accomplish this through our defense of civil liberties and secular governance, by our outreach to the growing number of people without religious belief or preference, and through a continued refinement and advancement of the humanist worldview.

Secular Government
The AHA treats the support for government policies that bolster the secular foundations of law and culture in the United States as a continuous struggle. Accordingly it works to defeat proposed laws and eliminate existing laws that infringe upon this heritage. A secular, open, and pluralistic society where the government does not ascribe to one worldview over others is a right to which every American is entitled.

Supporting the constitutional standard of separation of church and state is a key priority of the AHA. Government endorsement of any particular religion is a direct violation of the Jeffersonian wall between church and state and the First Amendment, which states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” otherwise known as the Establishment Clause. The AHA’s legal organization, the Appignani Humanist Legal Center, submits amicus briefs and participates in litigation to defend the constitutional right of all citizens to a secular and unbiased government. Those actions target religious or sectarian imagery and text in government buildings and public spaces, religious ceremonies or prayer in government events and proceedings, and the expenditure of tax dollars to support religious programs, organizations, monuments, or other displays that inherently discriminate against millions of Americans who do not believe in the represented religion.

Scientific Integrity
The AHA considers the integrity of scientific knowledge to be essential to a humanist society. For that reason, the AHA insists that scientific studies that have been peer-reviewed and reproduced in accordance with the highest standards be the sole basis for public policy and education. Religious or sectarian doctrine is irrelevant and immaterial to discerning the best policy. Recently, the AHA has forcefully argued these principles in opposition to attempts to revive creationism, “intelligent design” theories, and other religious teachings in schools, public organizations, and policymaking. The AHA has fought to allow research on treatments for debilitating diseases using embryonic stem cells and against the bar on federal funding based on the assumption that the small cluster of cells has the potential to be a person. Abstinence-only sex education in schools has been consistently unsuccessful in reducing unwanted pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, whereas teaching responsible sex practices such as condom use have resulted in a reduction in rates of teenage pregnancy and STIs. Superstition and unwavering belief in the unverifiable should never be an excuse for promoting broad religious beliefs in the public sphere in a pluralistic and secular society.

Human Rights for All
Regardless of ethnicity, gender, economic status, political affiliation, creed, religious beliefs or nonbelief, citizenship, or sexual orientation, all individuals have universal human rights that must be respected and protected. Global standards for human rights are the ultimate guarantors of these rights, and adherence to international institutions such as the International Criminal Court, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other frameworks is essential to the enforcement of individuals’ rights the world over. It is imperative to recognize the commonalities of humanity such as compassion, dignity, and reason, rather than creating divisions among people.

The AHA strongly affirms the inherent right of all individuals to freely make choices that affect themselves and their person. Human rights ensuring justice, including the right to a fair and speedy trial by an independent judiciary, to habeas corpus, and to proportionate punishment, must be guaranteed to all. Capital punishment, prisoner abuse, extraordinary rendition, and interrogative and penal torture reflect an explicit disregard for standards of humane treatment.

Promoting Peace
Despite their societal, ethical, philosophical, and geographical differences, the AHA recognizes the freedom, value, and respect to which all of the world’s individuals are entitled. The pursuit of peaceful and non-violent strategies for resolving the world’s most dire conflicts, which to often result in genocide, war, and autocracy, is paramount for human coexistence and progress. Preemptive war, unilateral conflict, arms proliferation, terrorism, and indiscriminate use of force all threaten the common bonds of humanity that we all share.

The AHA believes that cultural exchange, cooperation, peaceful conflict resolution,and diplomacy through multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations, are the most appropriate ways to respect human rights and make the world a safer place for all of its inhabitants. Accordingly, the United States should sign on to the International Criminal Court, and abide by and help enforce international law[are you referring here to international law or to the rule of law internationally—and by extension in other countries?], and push other countries to strengthen the rule of law in their own societies. Furthermore, peace–not war—and respect for international law are the best forces in international and national policy that positively impacts humanity.

Reproductive Freedom
The AHA supports every woman’s unequivocal moral and legal right to autonomy over her own body and reproductive choices. Women’s access to family planning, contraception, birth control, emergency contraception, and healthcare services and resources should be unrestricted by the government or religious preferences of private third parties. Local, state, or federal initiatives designed to undermine the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade violate the individual’s human right to pursue all reproductive options.

The AHA will continue to advocate for every woman’s full exercise of her right to decide if and when to safely become a mother. Broader access to sex education (not limited to abstinence-only programs), all safe forms of contraception, and full-service healthcare options are essential policies to realizing that right. Government funding must not be used to compromise this right or to impose a specific ethical or religious standpoint on the public, nor should it be distributed to healthcare providers that do not offer the full extent of women’s health care services due to faith-based refusal to do so. Scientific advances provide significant choices for reproductive health, including abortion, and religious pressure must never impede full access to those resources.

Women’s Rights
The global gap between women’s rights and men’s rights is one that the AHA strives to eliminate. In the United States, discrimination against women is found in the workplace, in areas of religious fundamentalism, and even in the annals of the law. While great progress has been made domestically, inequality is still prevalent in many sectors. We strongly support global efforts to temper violence against women both in the household and in public, especially in patriarchal societies rife with religious zealotry. Women continue to be treated as second class citizens in some countries, and are often subject to pain, humiliation, mutilation, and even death for reasons like adultery, childbirth out of wedlock, or driving a car, while men are rarely punished for the same “offenses.”

The AHA promotes equality for women and men in all sectors, at all times, in all countries. We condemn all forms of gender-based violence, restrictions on women’s reproductive choices, legal, religious, and societal discrimination, and any attempts to reduce women to second-class citizen status. We continue to act in favor of eliminating the gender gap, including support for girls’ education, individual rights, compensation and benefits, and access to economic and social resources both domestically and worldwide. Religion, tradition, and culture can no longer be excuses for the systemic oppression of half of humanity.

LGBT Rights
The AHA actively supports the pursuit of equal rights for individuals identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgendered. While many Americans discriminate against these groups on the basis of religious ideology or so-called “family values,” a growing majority rejects the idea that LGBT individuals and families are second-class citizens, and encourages tolerance and public sector reform of their rights to marry, adopt children, and live free from intimidation, hate speech, and violence.

State and federal laws that prohibit LGBT Americans from seeking civil marriage licenses, adopting children, participating in publicly funded organizations, and being protected from hate speech and crimes, endanger the freedom of expression of personal sexual identity. The AHA commends legislation and litigation that furthers equality on issues of marriage and family rights for the LGBT community.

Civil Rights in America
The AHA will continue to work tirelessly in cases where civil rights have been compromised by the government. All Americans are entitled to the inalienable rights laid out in the U.S. Constitution, not to be diminished by the government under any circumstances. Although national security risks have frequently threatened the well-being of individual Americans, and have led our leaders to weaken civil right protections, erosion of our guaranteed civil rights is the greatest danger to individual American citizens. Instances when the government has diminished the rights of ordinary citizens, detainees, prisoners, defendants, and suspected terrorists have been frequent, especially in the wake of September 11, 2001. Yet even the attack on American soil does not legitimize the rampant abuses against the civil jury trial system that is central to justice. Accountability of government officials is a bullwark against future abuses. Membership in the International Criminal Court would ensure that when the entire American system of justice fails, American political interests will not prevent rogue American leaders from being brought to justice.

Official government discrimination based on race, heritage, class, or religion undermines the universality of these rights. Likewise, private use of hate-based words or acts of violence are dangerous to the liberty of self-expression, and discrimination based on religious predilection or other prejudice has no place in the discussion of civic rights for all. Racial profiling, official discrimination against minorities, government sponsorship and favor to religious groups, and unwarranted detentions threaten the tenets of our free, open, and pluralistic society. The government must be held accountable when it trespasses on the rights of its citizens. Respect for civil rights of all people is necessary for preserving the dignity of individuals and of humanity.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
Resolution 2008-001

Humanists recognize that multiple forces are impelling humanity toward an increasingly interdependent world. The beginnings of a global society have become evident, making it critical that such a society be based on a recognition of one common humanity. Only on this basis will such a community have the potential for achieving lasting peace and opening new vistas for human achievement. The American Humanist Association therefore concludes that humanist values provide a necessary foundation for resolving the myriad challenges presented by the current state of international affairs, particularly lingering tribalisms.

WHEREAS humanists strive to create a system of universal ethics that apply fully and equally to all peoples;

WHEREAS humanists reject cultural relativist attempts to minimize the significance of our shared humanity by denying that ideas and standards can cross cultures, and decry attempts to claim a special status for religion as a subject which cannot be critiqued for fear of offending adherents;

WHEREAS humanists welcome the creation of a global, transnational society that is cosmopolitan in nature; is based on the pillars of reason, compassion, and dignity; and uses non-violent methods to resolve disputes;

WHEREAS humanists acknowledge that our species still faces various political, social, and economic challenges in creating a global community;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, in support of the creation of a global community,

Affirms its support for multilateral institutions such as the United Nations (and its various programs and funds), the International Criminal Court, and the World Bank Group, which are creating a global framework for nations and their peoples to interact with each other;  

Affirms its support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the minimum standard that nations should strive for when guaranteeing the rights of citizens;

Affirms its support for international conventions and treaties, including the nine core international human rights treaties as well as the Millennium Development Goals, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Geneva Conventions, which speak to the ideals of life that we all strive toward;

Decries the use and distortion of creeds, beliefs, ideologies, and worldviews as a justification for violence (or even for the threat of violence) in pursuit of a goal;

Affirms the necessity of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and calls for stronger safeguards to ensure that unsecured nuclear weapons and materials do not fall into the hands of violent ideologues who could use nuclear technology and knowledge for catastrophic ends;

Affirms that terrorism is a method of violence, not an ideology, and hence recognizes that homologizing and categorizing all violent ideologies under one umbrella prevents a nuanced understanding of the differing motivations and end goals of the peoples and organizations who espouse violence;

Affirms that, under limited circumstances, there is a global responsibility to protect vulnerable populations against genocide, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity;

Affirms that humanitarian military intervention is justified against a sovereign nation only if all non-military means have been exhausted, military action is not simply a cover to achieve imperialistic goals, broad metrics for an exit strategy are established, and there is consensus for action among local, regional, and global stakeholders;

Affirms the need to engage violent, non-state actors (both individuals and groups) through dialogue if possible, in order to de-radicalize them away from violence, and with force if necessary, in order to prevent the loss of innocent life;

Affirms that through a mix of innovative technology, intensive planning, and coordinated global efforts we can achieve balanced development, which would allow poorer nations to raise their development indicators—national income, human resources and economic vulnerability—while also limiting the negative impact on our environment and natural resources.

Throughout this “pale blue dot,” as billions of people move through their daily lives, there exists a universal aspiration for a better life. It is what draws individuals to become participating members of society and it is what causes the continual improvement of societies. The challenges that our world faces now call for humanity to move beyond the in-group concerns of individual societies and work toward creating global, united responses.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
June 1, 2000 | Hasbrouk Heights, NJ
Resolution 2000-001

As Humanists, we view providing maximum safety for all, especially children and others less able to protect themselves, as requisite to a civilized society. We watch with sadness as the protection of guns continues to be placed before the protection of lives, with the result that the United States lags lamentably behind other nations in the preventing the death of children from gunfire.

WHEREAS one child dies from gunfire every two hours in the United States, some 80,000 in the last two decades alone—far more than the total number of American soldiers killed in battle in the entire Vietnam war; and

WHEREAS many children killed in shootings would be alive today if Child Firearm Access Protection laws were in effect in every state, those deaths being down by 23% in states with such laws;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION regards this situation as needless and shameful and calls upon all states which have not yet adopted Child Firearm Access Protection laws to do so within their current Legislative sessions; and

WHEREAS the United States, the world’s leading spender for military force in the name of protection, has failed to protect its own children from preventable gun violence;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION calls upon the Congress and the president of the United States, and the leaders of all political parties, to make protecting children from gun violence a top priority of our national agenda.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
April 1995
Resolution 1995-017

The Constitution permits much private religious activity in and about the public schools. Unfortunately, this aspect of constitutional law is not as well known as it should be. Some say that the Supreme Court has declared the public schools “religion-free zones” or that the law is so murky that school officials cannot know what is legally permissible. The former claim is simply wrong. And as to the latter, while there are some difficult issues, much has been settled. It is also unfortunately true that public school officials, due to their busy schedules, may not be as fully aware of this body of law as they could be. As a result, in some school districts some of these rights are not being observed.

The organizations whose names appear below span the ideological, religious, and political spectrum. They nevertheless share a commitment both to the freedom of religious practice and to the separation of church and state such freedom requires. In that spirit, we offer this statement of consensus on current law as an aid to parents, educators, and students.

Many of the organizations listed below are actively involved in litigation about religion in the schools. On some of the issues discussed in this summary, some of the organizations have urged the courts to reach positions different than they did. Though there are signatories on both sides which have and will press for different constitutional treatments of some of the topics discussed below, they all agree that the following is an accurate statement of what the law currently is.

Student Prayers
Students have the right to pray individually or in groups or to discuss their religious views with their peers so long as they are not disruptive. Because the Establishment Clause does not apply to purely private speech, students enjoy the right to read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, pray before tests, and discuss religion with other willing student listeners. In the classroom students have the right to pray quietly except when required to be actively engaged in school activities (for example, students may not decide to pray just as a teacher calls on them). In informal settings, such as the cafeteria or in the halls, students may pray either audibly or silently, subject to the same rules of order as apply to other speech in these locations. However, the right to engage in voluntary prayer does not include, for example, the right to have a captive audience listen or to compel other students to participate.

Graduation Prayer and Baccalaureates
School officials may not mandate or organize prayer at graduation, nor may they organize a religious baccalaureate ceremony. If the school generally rents out its facilities to private groups, it must rent them out on the same terms, and on a first-come, first-served basis, to organizers of privately sponsored religious baccalaureate services, provided that the school does not extend preferential treatment to the baccalaureate ceremony and the school disclaims official endorsement of the program.

The courts have reached conflicting conclusions under the federal Constitution on student-initiated prayer at graduation. Until the issue is authoritatively resolved, schools should ask their lawyers what rules apply in their area.

Official Participation or Encouragement of Religious Activity
Teachers and school administrators, when acting in those capacities, are representatives of the state, and, in those capacities, are themselves prohibited from encouraging or soliciting student religious or anti-religious activity. Similarly, when acting in their official capacities, teachers may not engage in religious activities with their students. However, teachers may engage in private religious activity in faculty lounges.

Teaching About Religion
Students may be taught about religion, but public schools may not teach religion. As the US Supreme Court has repeatedly said, “It might well be said that one’s education is not complete without a study of comparative religion, or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization.” It would be difficult to teach art, music, literature, and most social studies without considering religious influences.

The history of religion, comparative religion, the Bible (or other scripture) as literature (either as a separate course or within some other existing course) are all permissible public school subjects. It is both permissible and desirable to teach objectively about the role of religion in the history of the United States and other countries. One can teach that the pilgrims came to this country with a particular religious vision, that Catholics and others have been subjected to persecution or that many of those participating in the abolitionist, women’s suffrage, and civil rights movements had religious motivations.

These same rules apply to the recurring controversy surrounding theories of evolution. Schools may teach about explanations of life on earth, including religious ones (such as “creationism”), in comparative religion or social studies classes. In science class, however, they may present only genuinely scientific critiques of, or evidence for, any explanation of life on earth, but not religious critiques (beliefs unverifiable by scientific methodology). Schools may not refuse to teach evolutionary theory in order to avoid giving offense to religion nor may they circumvent these rules by labeling as science an article of religious faith. Public schools must not teach as scientific fact or theory any religious doctrine, including “creationism,” although any genuinely scientific evidence for or against any explanation of life may be taught. Just as they may neither advance nor inhibit any religious doctrine, teachers should not ridicule, for example, a student’s religious explanation for life on earth.

Student Assignments and Religion
Students may express their religious beliefs in the form of reports, homework, and artwork, and such expressions are constitutionally protected. Teachers may not reject or correct such submissions simply because they include a religious symbol or address religious themes. Likewise, teachers may not require students to modify, include, or excise religious views in their assignments, if germane. These assignments should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance, relevance, appearance, and grammar.

Somewhat more problematic from a legal point of view are other public expressions of religious views in the classroom. Unfortunately for school officials, there are traps on either side of this issue, and it is possible that litigation will result no matter what course is taken. It is easier to describe the settled cases than to state clear rules of law. Schools must carefully steer between the claims of student speakers who assert a right to express themselves on religious subjects and the asserted rights of student listeners to be free of unwelcome religious persuasion in a public school classroom.

Religious or anti-religious remarks made in the ordinary course of classroom discussion or student presentations are permissible and constitute a protected right. If in a sex education class a student remarks that abortion should be illegal because God has prohibited it, a teacher should not silence the remark, ridicule it, rule it out of bounds, or endorse it, any more than a teacher may silence a student’s religious based comment in favor of choice.

If a class assignment calls for an oral presentation on a subject of the student’s choosing, and, for example, the student responds by conducting a religious service, the school has the right—as well as the duty—to prevent itself from being used as a church. Other students are not voluntarily in attendance and cannot be forced to become an unwilling congregation.

Teachers may rule out-of-order religious remarks that are irrelevant to the subject at hand. In a discussion of Hamlet’s sanity, for example, a student may not interject views on creationism.

Distribution of Religious Literature
Students have the right to distribute religious literature to their schoolmates, subject to those reasonable time, place, and manner or other constitutionally acceptable restrictions imposed on the distribution of all nonschool literature. Thus, a school may confine distribution of all literature to a particular table at particular times. It may not single out religious literature for burdensome regulation.

Outsiders may not be given access to the classroom to distribute religious or anti-religious literature. No court has yet considered whether, if all other community groups are permitted to distribute literature in common areas of public schools, religious groups must be allowed to do so on equal terms subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.

“See You at the Pole”
Student participation in before- or after-school events, such as “see you at the pole,” is permissible. School officials, acting in an official capacity, may neither discourage nor encourage participation in such an event.

Religious Persuasion Versus Religious Harassment
Students have the right to speak to, and attempt to persuade, their peers about religious topics just as they do with regard to political topics. But school officials should intercede to stop student religious speech if it turns into religious harassment aimed at a student or a small group of students. While it is constitutionally permissible for a student to approach another and issue an invitation to attend church, repeated invitations in the face of a request to stop constitute harassment. Where this line is to be drawn in particular cases will depend on the age of the students and other circumstances.

Equal Access Act
Student religious clubs in secondary schools must be permitted to meet and to have equal access to campus media to announce their meetings, if a school receives federal funds and permits any student noncurricular club to meet during non-instructional time. This is the command of the Equal Access Act. A non-curricular club is any club not related directly to a subject taught or soon-to-be taught in the school. Although schools have the right to ban all non-curriculum clubs, they may not dodge the law’s requirement by the expedient of declaring all clubs not actively participate in club activities and “non-school persons” may not control or regularly attend club meetings.

The Act’s constitutionality has been upheld by the Supreme Court, rejecting claims that the Act violates the Establishment Clause. The Act’s requirements are described in more detail in The Equal Access Act and the Public Schools: Questions and Answers on the Equal Access Act, a pamphlet published by a broad spectrum of religious and civil liberties groups.

Religious Holidays
Generally, public schools may teach about religious holidays and may celebrate the secular aspects of the holiday and objectively teach about their religious aspects. They may not observe the holidays as religious events. Schools should generally excuse students who do not wish to participate in holiday events. Those interested in further details should see Religious Holidays in the Public Schools: Questions and Answers, a pamphlet published by a broad spectrum of religious and civil liberties groups.

Excusal from Religiously Objectionable Lessons
Schools enjoy substantial discretion to excuse individual students from lessons which are objectionable to that student or to his or her parent on the basis of religion. Schools can exercise that authority in ways which would defuse many conflicts over curriculum content. If it is proved that particular lessons substantially burden a student’s free exercise of religion and if the school cannot prove a compelling interest in requiring attendance the school would be legally required to excuse the student.

Teaching Values
Schools may teach civic virtues, including honesty, good citizenship, sportsmanship, courage, respect for the rights and freedoms of others, respect for persons and their property, civility, and dual virtues of moral and tolerance, and hard work. Subject to whatever rights of excusal exist (see number 15 above) under the federal Constitution and state law, schools may teach sexual abstinence and contraception; whether and how schools teach these sensitive subjects is a matter of educational policy. However, these may not be taught as religious tenets. The mere fact that most, if not all, religions also teach these values does not make it unlawful to teach them.

Student Garb
Religious messages on T-shirts and the like may not be singled out for suppression. Students may wear religious attire, such as yarmulkes and headscarves, and they may not be forced to wear gym clothes that they regard, on religious grounds, as immodest.

Released Time
Schools have the discretion to dismiss students to off-premises religious instruction, provided that schools do not encourage or discourage participation or penalize those who do not attend. Schools may not allow religious instruction by outsiders on premises during the school day.
 
Drafting Committee
American Jewish Congress, chair
American Civil Liberties Union
American Jewish Committee
American Muslim Council
Anti-Defamation League
Baptist Joint Committee
Christian Legal Society
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
National Association of Evangelicals
National Council of Churches
People for the American Way
Union of American Hebrew Congregations
 
Endorsing Organizations
American Ethical Union
American Humanist Association
Americans for Religious Liberty
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
B’nai B’rith International
Christian Science Church
Church of the Brethren, Washington Office
Church of Scientology International
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran Office of Governmental Affairs
Federation of Reconstructionist Congregations and Havurot
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Guru Gobind Singh Foundation
Interfaith Alliance
Interfaith Impact for Justice and Peace
National Council of Jewish Women
National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council (NJCRAC)
National Ministries, American Baptist Church, USA
National Sikh Center
North American Council for Muslim Women
Presbyterian Church, USA
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ, Office for Church in Society