Putting Humanism in Public Policy
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For those who call themselves humanists, there tends to be a passion in doing so. Perhaps this is the case because it is a positive philosophy of life; a forward-thinking way of living; a choice about how to treat yourself, others, and the world. Being a humanist often means being socially progressive and taking positions about issues such as women’s reproductive rights, the environment, animal rights, secular government, and civil and equal rights. Humanists are proud of their life choices and beliefs; they want others to know and understand humanism, and why it is so important in their lives. However, this passion and desire to share with others has not translated well into public policy. The American Humanist Association (AHA), which has been around for more than seventy years, has several articles on its website, including Humanist Manifesto III, which outline what humanism means and what it is to be a humanist. Although humanism is not well understood by the general public, there are self-professed humanists serving in political office, for example, in the US Congress, and as of this publication, several state legislators across the United States have self-identified as humanist or nonreligious, an excellent sign of progress.
KeywordsPublic Policy Public Official Political Campaign State Legislator Elected Official
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