Glossary

Paul Kurtz

PAUL KURTZ (1925-) was professor of philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo from 1965 to 1991. As a protagonist of secular Humanism, scepticism, rationalism and atheism, Kurtz is respected and feared by many in the United States as 'the pope of unbelievers'. He has founded several important Humanist institutions, among which are Prometheus Books, the world's largest Humanist publishing company, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal and the magazines Free Enquiry and Skeptical Inquirer. From 1969, Kurtz was a member of the IHEU Board, at first representing the American Humanist Association and later Prometheus Books and the Council for Secular Humanism. From 1986 to 1994 he was Co-Chairman. At the Mumbai World Congress in 1999, Kurtz received the International Humanist Award.