Humanism is a way of thinking and living that aims to bring out the best in people so that all people can have the best in life. Humanists reject supernatural and authoritarian beliefs--requiring instead beliefs to be based on evidence and reason. They affirm that we must take responsibility for our own lives and for the communities and world in which we live. Humanism emphasizes reason and scientific inquiry, individual freedom and responsibility, human values and compassion, and the need for tolerance and cooperation. Not all members of the SSA are humanists, but a lot are.

As humanism has no central creed, it’s difficult to say if we’re "officially" a humanist organization. There is no doubt that we lean in that direction.

To learn more about humanism, we suggest the following:

• The Humanist Philosophy In Perspective (1984)
  
• Secular Humanist Declaration
• Affirmations of Humanism: A Statement of Principles
• 10 Myths About Secular Humanism by Matt Cherry & Molleen Matsumura
• Humanist Manifesto I
• Humanist Manifesto II
• Humanist Manifesto III