Science is worth believing in
(7/24/2026) – Sometimes people say “But you believe in science!” to a humanist like they’ve caught us in a dirty lie.
But I think our belief in the ability of science to reveal the mysteries of the universe is a great statement about what we do believe in.
Science only works because of peer review. There’s no such thing as self-justifying authority. You can’t make things up, call them true, and expect people to follow you. Other people have to examine your data and agree with you. Humanists do believe there’s such a thing as truth – but for something to be true, it has to be proposed, supported with evidence, and tested.
If it can’t be challenged, it’s probably not true.
That’s why the religious right hates science: they like being able to make up their own stories and declare them true.
One of the great tragedies of this administration has been a complete disregard for science. Research funding has been slashed and politicized. Reports that contradict the administration’s pre-determined beliefs have been shelved or meddled with. The administration has peddled outright falsehoods about issues like vaccines.
And it’s time for those of us who believe in science – not because Newton’s laws or the theory of relativity are somehow magic, but because people working together and using reason and data to challenge each other’s findings are the best resource we have for finding out how the world works – to fight back.
Our policy team is working to advocate for the Scientific Integrity Act in Congress. (Click the link to send a message to your Member of Congress!) It’s common-sense legislation that should pass unanimously – it ensures funding for scientific research that can save lives and protect it from political interference.
Unfortunately, in Washington, common sense is in short supply. So we’ll need to fight to get this passed.
But that’s why we’ve been laying groundwork, building relationships, and promoting the importance of policy based on science and reason for years on Capitol Hill. On Tuesday, we were proud to co-sponsor the third annual Congressional Reason Reception, where multiple lawmakers – from Rep. Jared Huffman to Rep. Jamie Raskin to Rep. Sean Casten to Rep. Suzanne Bonamici – joined us to provide a counterweight to the National Prayer Breakfast and promote reason, science, and compassion as the foundation for good lawmaking in a democracy.
We spent the day before on Capitol Hill with our partners and the evening’s keynote speaker, Mary Trump, talking with Members of Congress about the growing threat of Christian Nationalism. There’s a growing awareness among our leaders that religious extremism is going to cause much bigger problems than revival meetings on the National Mall. White Christian Nationalism seeks to politicize our medical research, defund our schools, and launch our military into holy wars. And it needs a strong counterweight.
That’s us. Your voices help us build relationships with policymakers and move them to the right positions. Your advocacy helps us defend things worth believing in – like science.
For humanity,
Fish
The American Humanist Association
The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of Humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of Humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
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