Like many movements for change, Humanism has suffered its fair share of philosophical differences, tactical disputes, and episodes of divisiveness. Today, however, we are finally seeing a united front in the United States in defense of the rights of nontheists.

Nearly all organizational leaders have staunchly resisted attempts by the media to polarize atheists and religious Humanists, and have moved steadily toward a growing cohesion in the movement. This cohesion is evidenced by annual meetings attended by the heads of almost all U.S. national nontheist groups and by a plethora of cooperative ventures, perhaps best exemplified by the Secular Coalition for America lobbying alliance that includes as members, most major U.S. nontheist organizations. With an active advisory board that includes Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Wendy Kaminer, Salman Rushdie and others, the Secular Coalition for America is using the combined strength of our various organizations to directly engage public policy makers and the media to increase the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government.

The success of this coalition and other cooperative efforts among nontheist organizations in the U.S. has resulted in a new and positive visibility for atheists and Humanists in the U.S. It was in this new atmosphere last year that the first member of the U.S. Congress publicly and proudly acknowledged that he doesn’t believe in God – U.S. Congressman Pete Stark will be given the Humanist of the Year award by the American Humanist Association at the IHEU World Congress this June in Washington, DC. It’s also in this new atmosphere that the American Humanist Association and some other secular allies are experiencing unprecedented growth.

One factor that caused the American Humanist Association to surpass the 10,000 mark in membership was a slight shift in the organization’s public presentation. Of course, as Humanists, we assert that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs, we have the ability and the responsibility to make this a better world. But in the past, the AHA sometimes allowed a misperception to persist about the nontheistic nature of Humanism. The AHA has found that by being clearer about what it means to be a Humanist, more people have been persuaded to join and become active.

Grounding our positions firmly in Humanist principles, the American Humanist Association is a staunch advocate for secular government, civil liberties, social justice, reproductive rights, public education, compassionate use of science and technology, and a foreign policy centered on universal human rights and the goal of a world at peace. With newfound growth the AHA has been doing more and more to act upon these convictions instead of just talk about them.

1. The Appignani Humanist Legal Center with 35 pro-bono attorneys is now taking on new cases and amicus briefs.
2. The AHA public relations team is getting the word out about Humanism in opinion editorials, through letters to the editor and directly to members of the press.
3. In addition to coalition lobbying through the Secular Coalition for America, the AHA is engaged in political action covering the full scope of Humanism.
4. The AHA is preparing to launch a new program that will develop life-long curricula on Humanism and bring scholars together to extend Humanist thought.
5. The Humanist magazine just reconstituted its editorial advisory board, bringing in Humanists of consequence such as Steven Pinker, Joyce Carol Oates, Daniel Dennett and others.
6. Expanding on the first national advertising campaign for Humanism in the U.S., the AHA is now involved in promoting edgy billboard advertisements that will attract new people to our movement.
7. Also, in an effort to expand our numerical impact, the AHA launched an online-only free membership available to anyone in the world.

Today, thanks to best selling books by authors such as Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, and Hitchens, our issues are a topic for public debate, and nontheists are being given new-found and well-deserved respect in public discourse. The AHA aims to capitalize on this special moment in history to help Humanists and other freethinkers to establish permanent seats at the table where laws are written, where the public gets their direction, and where ideas get their start. The efforts of the popular secular authors to challenge those who would demonize the word “atheist” allowed Humanists to experience this breakthrough moment and to strive for the many aspirations we intend to realize. Whether it’s a focus on individual liberties, social concerns or other issues, this growth and public exposure is giving Humanists the chance to address the full breadth of Humanism.

Mel Lipman is President, American Humanist Association