What is Humanism?

Altruism means caring for others without hoping for a reward. Also known as: doing good for goodness’ sake!

Altruism is a foundational value for Humanists, who seek to relieve suffering through compassionate action. Caring for those around us strengthens our connections and contributes to the well-being of society as a whole.

We’re surrounded by more information than ever. Critical thinking gives us the tools to evaluate that information, form sound judgments and find effective solutions. This kind of rigorous reasoning is the foundation of the scientific method, driving discovery through hypothesis and experimentation.

Critical thinking is also a skill that grows with practice. Developing it helps us recognize bias in ourselves and others, and builds the open-minded perspective needed to engage with a diverse world.

Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s thoughts, feelings and circumstances from their point of view.

It is also the foundation of ethical behavior. When we genuinely understand how our actions affect others, we respond with better judgment and greater compassion.

Practicing empathy strengthens relationships and makes us more engaged citizens, both locally and globally.

Regardless of who we are or where we live, every person depends on Earth’s ecosystems to survive – and those ecosystems depend on us to take care of them.

Human activity has caused significant harm to the natural world, but humanity is equally capable of healing it. Recognizing that all life on this planet is interconnected is the first step toward becoming better stewards of it.

From an early age, we encounter moral questions around fairness, cooperation and how we treat others. Many of these feel intuitive at first, but each stage of life brings new challenges.

That is why ethical development is a lifelong process. Humanism asks us to regularly reflect on our choices, consider their impact on others, and keep refining our values with the goal of becoming better humans.

Global awareness means broadening our understanding beyond our own experience to include culture, histories and perspectives different from our own in the U.S. It also means recognizing how social, political and economic systems connect us all, and how our choices participate in those systems – for better or worse.

Humility is not about thinking less of yourself. It means having an honest, clear-eyed understanding of who you are – your merits and your faults.

That kind of self-awareness makes it easier to set aside pride, appreciate others genuinely, and feel gratitude for what we have. It grounds us in a simple but important recognition: no person is inherently better or worse than anyone else.

Peace requires an active commitment to social justice and a genuine respect for the rights and autonomy of every person.

Where injustice exists, conflict exists. Restorative justice – a process of conflict resolution focussed on repairing harm and building a fair, equitable society – offers a path forward for achieving lasting peace.

Central to that process is listening to those whose rights have been violated, and making sure they have the greatest say in determining the path forward. 

Every choice we make has consequences – for ourselves and for the people around us. Moral responsibility means owning those choices consciously, and being accountable for what follows. Humanism asks us to make decisions with care, and to honestly accept the credit or blame for how they play out.

Values only matter when they are put into action. Service and participation is how our convictions, like altruism, come to life in our communities and in the world.

In addition to helping others, those who volunteer or engage in service gain new skills, broader perspectives, and a sense of personal fulfillment that contributes to their own growth. 

It depends! Humanists don’t believe in the supernatural or an interventionist God. So, if that’s a part of your definition of religion, then Humanism is not a religion. But if you see religion as something that gives your life meaning by providing you with an ethical framework, then Humanism may be your religion! 

American Humanism has its roots in the Enlightenment era, but it wasn’t until 1933 that Humanism in the U.S. organized itself into a modern movement with the publication of the first Humanist Manifesto. In 1941, this group founded the American Humanist Association to be a home for freethinkers, scientists and social reformers alike who wanted to make their country a freer and fairer place for all Americans to live. 

Not exactly. While many atheists also consider themselves Humanists, there are also plenty of Humanists who prefer to label themselves as agnostic, non-theistic, non-religious, questioning, etc. Ultimately it is up to you to decide what terms best describe your beliefs. We like to think of Humanism as something that adds to, rather than takes away from, your other identities. 

Yes! Humanism calls on us to imagine a better world for all people and take action to get there. Working to change the systems that can make human lives better or worse is inherently political. 

Humanism is not partisan, however. It does not pledge loyalty to any party or candidate platform. Humanists organize all over the world, across a wide range of political and cultural contexts.

We’ve made a quiz to make it easier to learn where your beliefs may intersect with Humanist values! 

While Humanism can look a bit different depending on who’s wearing it, these are some things we all agree on:

• Every person has inherent worth and fundamental rights.  
• Science tells us what’s real, compassion tells us what’s right. 
• We don’t expect to be rewarded or saved for doing good; we care for each other because it’s the right thing to do. 

There is no one single way to practice Humanism! Many Humanists participate in mutual aid and service projects to put their values into action, while others seek community and connection with others. 

There are countless ways to live Humanist values at every scale. At its core, Humanism calls on us to be good for goodness’ sake. So if you’re making choices informed by compassion and reason, then you’re probably already practicing Humanism!