The Heart of Humanism

Interested in receiving a stipend, training and travel funds to help promote religious pluralism, service, and Humanism? The Interfaith Youth Core is a national organization that empowers young people to do demonstrably meaningful work around the US. They are actively seeking the leadership & participation of Humanist/atheist students in this fellowship program, and would welcome you as no less or more a part of their community than their Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and other members. It’s a great chance to promote Humanist values in a constructive, positive way; I strongly encourage Humanist/atheist college students, whether at Harvard or elsewhere, to apply. Contact Lauren or Megan (http://www.ifyc.org/contact_us/contact_info), and feel free to tell them I sent you.

Rebecca Watson of Skepchick has been doing great work since her turn as one of the most intriguing speakers at our April conference. This unfortunately well-justified rant about the lack of female speakers at TAM6 (James Randi’s “The Amazing Meeting” conferences are among the biggest drawing events in the Humanist/atheist world) really caught my eye.

I don’t mean to be the pot assisting another cooking vessel in calling the kettle black: male speakers outnumbered female speakers at The New Humanism as well, albeit not by the ratio Rebecca is rightly bemoaning. But I really agree this is one of the next big issues our community needs to address. Surely, prominently featuring the work of more female Humanist/skeptic leaders is one important way for us to live up to Humanist ideals.

What else do we need to do? How can the Humanist/nontheist community most effectively cultivate female leadership and participation? Do we have to look at different types of programs? Different types of language?
My friend Susan Marine, director of the Harvard College Women’s Center, has always said she’d be happy to help if we ever decided to put on a major (or, to start out, a not-so-major) Harvard event on Women in Humanism/Atheism/Skepticism, perhaps for next year.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.