The Kelowna Right to Life Society has been purchasing billboard space along Highway 97 in West Kelowna for several years as part of their anti-abortion campaigns. Now, the company that sells ad space along the stretch says it will no longer run advertising related to abortion. (Brady Strachan/CBC)
$100,000 in grants to be distributed to fund service projects across America WASHINGTON – Today the American Humanist Association has opened grant applications for its inaugural year of the American Empathy Project (AEP). The Project aims to mobilize humanists across the country for a national day of service on May 2, 2026. Selected grantees will receive $1,000 from the AHA for their chosen project, along with planning support and additional project resources.
OTTAWA — A trial set to begin Monday in British Columbia's Supreme Court questions whether publicly funded faith-based hospitals should be allowed to prevent patients from receiving medical assistance in dying in their facilities.
Peru is on the verge of the 2026 General Elections, to be held on April 12, and, as in different parts of the world, presents a bleak political landscape, with high fragmentation and corruption in all branches of government. This situation leaves the electorate with few options, but… are there ways out of this systemic crisis?
“The aspirations of democracy are based on the notion of an informed citizenry,” Ann Druyan once observed. The remark feels less like an inspirational flourish than a diagnosis of our present moment. Democratic societies now ask their citizens to navigate pandemics, artificial intelligence, climate modeling, and geopolitical instability—subjects that require not instinct but literacy, not slogans but sustained reasoning. When scientific understanding erodes, democracy does not simply wobble. It begins to lose its ballast.
This Saturday (24), the Fourth Assembly of the World Humanist Forum began, bringing together a wide cultural diversity of activists, organizations, and institutions. The challenge set out in the title of the gathering was: “Overcoming uncertainty and the global crisis: Humanity in Action.”
The CLC condemns all forms of hate, discrimination, and harassment. We will continue to fight for the rights that make Canada a free and democratic country. This is why we, alongside civil liberties organizations, oppose the current version of Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act.
It is everywhere: people, places and things are called “woke!” What? According to several news reports in late summer 2025, even the largely rural Southern state-focused Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants, first established for travelers along interstate and lesser federal highways in 1969, were suddenly accused by traditionalist and n’er-do-well customers of going “woke” because the chain modernized its historic logo.
Humanist Canada today announced that registration is officially open for the World Humanist Congress 2026, the world’s leading international gathering of humanists, ethical thinkers, and secular leaders. The Congress will take place August 7–9, 2026 in Canada’s capital city, with Early Bird registration available until February 28, 2026.
A recent essay on Tech Policy Press drew attention to anti-humanist and pro-extinctionist rhetoric that sometimes appears in the artificial intelligence discourse. The author, philosopher and historian Émile P. Torres, points to an alarming interview with Peter Thiel in which he had a hard time deciding if humans should continue to exist.
Founding member of and Policy Advisor for The Canadian Secular Alliance The BCHA and CSA submitted their ten-page argument against Quebec’s Bill 21 in September. (CFIC came out against Bill 21 back in 2019; see here and here and here and here for previous Critical Links articles).
WASHINGTON – Today, the American Humanist Association commends Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Reps. Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), co-chairs of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, on the introduction of a House resolution supporting the separation of church and state. The resolution, supported by 12 additional House Members, honors our nation’s foundational principle of church-state separation and opposes extreme right-wing Christian Nationalism.
Harvard’s Steven Pinker is one of the best known cognitive psychologists in the world today, with bestsellers such as Blank Slate (2002) and Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress (2018). His current bestseller is When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows (2025). Naturally, such authors are asked to do speaking tours and one destination was Down Under. There he was initially sponsored by the Humanist Society of Australia. That would be no surprise; in the United States, he was named Humanist of the Year in 2006. At TheHumanist.com, his 2018 book was hailed as “Enlightenment Wow.”
At UC Santa Cruz, the environmental humanities encourage us to ask: what happens when we stop treating the natural world as merely a backdrop, resource, or object of study—and instead treat it as a web of interconnected lives? Here, the focus is not only on the science of ecology or the measurements of climate change, but on the cultural, literary, legal, and ethical dimensions of ecological crises and how communities imagine, respond to, interpret, and live with ecological disruptions
The Government has announced 12 further days of House of Lords time that will be set aside for debating the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, in addition to the four days of debate that have already occurred. As a result of this, Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision have said it is time for peers opposed to the Bill to stop using delaying tactics, known as filibustering, and instead get on and scrutinise it constructively.
The House of Commons Justice Committee has written to the UK Government, urging it to fast-track legal recognition of humanist marriages in England and Wales ahead of wider marriage law reform. It has criticised further delay as ‘particularly disappointing given that four separate consultations have already taken place over the span of the last 12 years’ and said ‘the rationale for another consultation is unclear.’
When the October 7 attacks occurred on that Saturday morning in Israel, it was very late Friday on the west coast of Canada, where I live. It was still October 6, 2023. I had been to a Vancouver Canucks pre-season game with my son and a friend. The Canucks won; even for a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan like me, it was a good night. It was Thanksgiving weekend, and my son was about to turn fifteen.
The Ordre de l’excellence en éducation du Québec and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognized Dr. Boudreau’s many contributions to medical education.
The fourth annual BAHACON, a three-day secular conference organized by the Bluewater Atheists, Humanists and Agnostics group, is returning to Sarnia-Lambton from August 8 to 10, 2025.
The 2026 World Humanist Congress will now take place in Ottawa, Canada, after escalating religious nationalism and human rights concerns in the United States made it unsafe and inaccessible for many attendees. Humanists International and Humanist Canada will co-host the 2026 event.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen interviews Peter Dankwa, a Ghanaian humanist and creative professional, about his experience at the 2025 Humanists International General Assembly and Conference in Luxembourg. Dankwa highlights the diverse presentations, including projects on science advocacy, storytelling, and humanist mentorship
When we discuss evidence, especially in the context of deeply personal topics like religious belief, it’s easy to see how quickly conversations can veer into heated debates—or worse, dismissive shouting matches. But at the core of this division lies a universal question: “What counts as good evidence?”
The BC Humanist Association and Canadian Secular Alliance are headed back to the Supreme Court of Canada to argue for the importance of an inclusive interpretation of the state's duty of religious neutrality.
September 4, 2025 by Centre for Medieval Studies Jacqueline Murray Congratulations to Professor Jacqueline Murray, an Alumna and Adjunct Professor of Medieval Studies at CMS, who has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in the Academy of Arts and Humanities. Fellows are elected by their peers for outstanding scholarly achievements in the Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Steve Ghikadis is a Humanist Officiant, who conducts secular marriages, memorials, and many more meaningful life-affirming celebrations.
Wonderful Mkhutche is Humanists Malawi’s Executive Director. He spoke with Canadian humanist and writer Scott Douglas Jacobsen.
CFIC Secular Chair and Podcast for Inquiry host Leslie Rosenblood has been making the rounds of humanist conferences across Canada as a speaker and as a guest. He has heard informative talks, met interesting people and had a great time doing so.
In 2022, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) launched the first-ever dental education-wide climate assessment survey to establish baseline data on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Dennis Bevington, former MP for the Northwest Territories, talks about the intersection of indigeneity, humanism, and atheism. He is non-Indigenous and was mayor of Fort Smith–a majoritively Indigenous fort in the Northwest Territories.
As the days imperceptibly lengthen, spring flowers adorn roadside banks and Easter approaches, I find myself reflecting on how the rituals and rhythms of my Roman Catholic upbringing still weave their way into my current beliefs as a Humanist, transforming the season’s meaning while drawing me back to the comfort of childhood safety.
The pursuit of politics is religion, morality, and poetry all in one. — Madame de Stael. My last column was a rambling examination of democracy, because Canada was going through a federal election. Now we have a new government, with the same party and a prime minister we must learn about as he leads us.
An article in Canada’s national magazine reports the results of a recent survey conducted by Angus Reid, a leading Canadian pollster. Entitled “God and Society in North America”, the study questioned 6,000 adults–half in Canada and half in the United States–and relates political leanings and religious beliefs on both sides of the border. Profound differences between the two societies were found, as reflected in the following comparisons of “yes” answers:
Growing up in a small town came with challenges I didn’t even realize I was facing until I left. I was a product of my environment, but I’ve found that excuse only covers so much ground. Looking back, I feel as if every aspect of myself has either evolved or fizzled out for good reason. I grew up going to Vacation Bible School and later attended a youth program in high school. Religion was never actually a large part of my personality, but the mindset...
Finance committee tells the Government of Canada to remove the "privileged status" of religion in charity law, a Canadian parliamentary committee has said. In a report ahead of Canada's 2025 budget, the Standing Committee on Finance recommended the Income Tax Act be amended to "provide a definition of a charity which would remove the privileged status of 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose".
The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear a court challenge against Quebec's controversial secularism law, known as Bill 21. The request for leave to appeal was granted on Thursday morning without any explanation, as is the court's custom. Among other things, Bill 21 prohibits certain public workers in positions of authority, such as judges, police officers, prison guards and teachers, from wearing religious symbols while performing their duties.
Hannah McKerchar is an active member of Humanists UK’s dialogue network, dedicated to fostering understanding between people of different religions and beliefs. Hannah shares her thoughts on the importance of dialogue, how it differs from debate, and how meaningful conversations can promote mutual understanding and connection in the community.
If someone says “humanism in medicine,” what does that mean to you? How do we define a humanistic physician? Many will consider qualities that emphasize connection between the physician and their patient, but it may be more challenging to consider how these qualities can be developed or taught.
On Saturday, I gave a 10-minute TED-style talk on energy humanism to about 300 high school students. The talk was part of an all-day event at the John Cooper School in The Woodlands called the Summit for Emerging American Leaders.
It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that most humanists are extremely distraught over the recent developments with our government. Many of us grew up in an era when we thought humanist values were ascendant. And while some of our generation’s hard-won gains in human rights and a more just society have been under attack in recent years, the re-election of Donald Trump as president seems like a resounding rejection of humanist values.
Peter Meekison, beloved political science scholar and co-architect of the Canadian constitution, leaves an enduring legacy. Peter Meekison, who passed away Jan. 20 at the age of 88, leaves an enduring legacy as a beloved political science scholar at the U of A and a co-architect of the Canadian Constitution. Meekison died Jan. 20 at the age of 88 in Victoria after a long career as a scholar, university administrator, professor and mentor to generations of students.
Humanist advocacy can be exhausting. There are always things that need to happen, projects that seem to never get done, challenges that arise, and societal issues to better understand so we can promote solutions. It’s hard to stay motivated when we feel like nobody cares and so many are against us. But it’s so empowering to hear how important humanism is to people around the world and engage with others currently doing, or interested in doing, the work.
Since the election of an overwhelmingly secular Labour government, people who describe themselves as humanists have a spring in their step: for example, there’s a prospect that humanist weddings will be legally recognised in England and Wales (they already are in Scotland).
The author discusses post-humanism, a philosophical concept that challenges the traditional humanist view of humans as autonomous beings separate from technology. The author argues that as technology integrates more deeply with our bodies and minds through devices like smartphones, wearables, and neural implants, we are becoming cyborgs, blending the biological and the technological.
I have been tasked to present 'African humanism' and highlight its basic philosophy, especially how it differs from 'Western humanism' and other cognates such as Eastern, Asian, and Oceanian humanism. This task is not easy and is fraught with descriptive challenges. Presenting 'African humanism' in English—a Western language—adds another layer of complexity. However, this is the medium we have.
I’m an old learner and hope to keep it going for a while, to wrinkle my brain at the rate of my skin. It’s not a bad hobby if you can get into it; there’s always something to learn about. The trick is to not confuse knowledge with wisdom. I call it the Curse of Socrates who said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” The humility of humanity is right here.
Secretary Bárcena reaffirmed Mexico's commitment to building a just, egalitarian and fraternal society, ensuring shared prosperity and environmental protection
Dr. Martin “Marty” Shoemaker is a trained clinical psychologist and, currently, a Humanist Chaplain at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Multifaith Centre) and Vancouver General Hospital (August, 2014-Present).
Many Edmontonians would be shocked to learn that their property taxes subsidized 656 religious properties to the tune of $20.3 million last year. Yet this is what we’ve confirmed from a Nov. 27, 2023 memo to city council on the cost of property tax exemptions in the city. It’s past time for there to be a conversation about these exemptions.
I have spent a life longing for a transformational American leader. One who could wrest the republic from the tumult of politics back to its core beliefs of freedom, justice, and humanism; a leader who would cut through the B.S. and lead the great nation forward. I always fantasized about those lucky enough to work for FDR. My generation in university in the States had for a while the Kennedys for inspiration, before each was tragically snuffed out.
What emerges when we center relationships, envision collectively, and leverage institutional resources in solidarity? #HumanistSpark Several generations converged at the Kindling the Humanist Spark Summit, which took place August 2 – 5 at Tufts University. Under the coordination of Anthony Cruz Pantojas, Evan Clark, and Srishti Hukku, the retreat-style gathering was structured in ways that promoted co-generative envisioning...
The world today faces the most wars since World War II. “Great Power Rivalry” has become a major narrative in explaining the trend toward conflict. However, humanism has deep roots in all societies and gives us the means to build coexistence. Middle East Program Middle East Program International Security Religion Middle East and North Africa MEP_GreatPower Image Credit When we survey the state of international relations today...
In a world often characterized by division and rapid change, the call to listen across generational lines and nurture transgenerational initiatives rings louder than ever. This intentional partnership that focuses on co-presencing, or a deep witnessing and attentiveness of the fullness of our experiences grounds a vision of radical change. As such, what emerges when we center relationships, envision collectively, and leverage institutions in solidarity?
Dr. Leo Igwe, Gary McLelland, and Victoria Gugenheim sit on a long list of people I greatly love. I wanted to write about something coming up in some of the humanist communities. One of those was the separation of Humanism and humanitarianism, related and distinct. I needed some quotes. When I asked, those three answered. Many humanist organizations look to acquire funding from providers of grants, especially from national and local contexts...
A humanist group has declared British Columbia's municipal councils "prayer-free" after receiving assurances from a lone holdout community on Vancouver Island. Lawyers for the City of Parksville told the B.C. Humanist Association that Mayor Doug O'Brien has pledged not to include religious prayers in his next inaugural council meeting, should he be re-elected in 2026.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we are here with Dr. Christopher DiCarlo. Let us talk about the newest things, and then we can roll back from there. You are working on a book called Building a God. Why that book? What is it about? Dr. Christopher DiCarlo: A few years ago, I intended to spend the rest of my days promoting critical thinking wherever and however, I could in various educational systems. But then that darn Sam Altman came up with ChatGPT...
The B.C. Humanist Association has withdrawn a legal threat against the City of Vancouver over the inclusion of prayers at Mayor Ken Sim's inaugural council meeting. The association stood down after receiving a letter from a city lawyer acknowledging the prayers – which took place during Sim's inauguration ceremony in November 2022 – breached the state's duty to uphold religious neutrality...
Humanism has roots in natural selection, which focuses on the shared heritage of all life forms. The converse of humanism is seen in ingroup/outgroup bias, which underlies the worst of the human experience. If people don't take a humanist approach to the problems of the Middle East, suffering will continue.
One evening not long ago, I was doomscrolling on social media, wading through the detritus of our present moment: Videos of terrorists in Israel decapitating a man with a garden hoe. A clip of Donald Trump being cruel and narcissistic. Footage of mobs physically assaulting some lone stranger they disagree with, pummeling him as he lies prone on the ground.
The Humanist of the Year award was established in 1953 to recognize a person of national or international reputation who, through the application of humanist values, has made a significant contribution to the improvement of the human condition.
As the American Humanist Association (AHA) promotes and advocates for humanism nationally, our local groups find innovative ways to spread humanism in their communities. To support and expand their efforts, the AHA provides grants to publicize humanism and educate people on humanist values. Learn more about the recipients of the 2024 AHA chapter grants:
One question I hear a lot in my life, is the title of this article: “What the heck is that!?!” It’s a question I get, almost every time I cross the border from Canada into the USA. Mostly because, when I cross, I’m either doing a presentation on one or another aspect of humanism, or attending humanist related events and activities.
In a move aimed at bolstering humanist endeavors globally, Humanists International has announced its 2024 Grants Program. This initiative seeks to provide vital support for projects addressing humanist issues while promoting the values of humanism among its Members and Associates.
On Tuesday, Co-Chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02), announced the formation of the Stop Project 2025 Task Force. The creation of the task force is a direct response to Project 2025, which is driven by The Heritage Foundation and endorsed by numerous Christian nationalist political players.
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