In 1952 the humanist and ethical organizations of five countries found the International Humanist and Ethical Union in Amsterdam, with Julian Huxley among its first presidents. The union gives the movement its world body, consultative standing at the United Nations, and the congresses at which its declarations are made.
Tagged: Secular Humanism
The Event
- Date
- 1952 (exact)
- Era
- The Organized Movement; Standard periodization of secular humanist history
- Location
- Amsterdam; today Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Traditions
- Secular Humanism
- Streams
- Secular Humanism
- Key figures
- Julian Huxley, Jaap van Praag
Primary Sources
- The founding documents of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, Amsterdam, 1952.
Secondary Sources
- Kurtz, Paul, ed. Humanist Manifestos I and II. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1973.
- Lamont, Corliss. The Philosophy of Humanism. New York: Humanist Press, eighth edition, 1997.
- Walter, Nicolas. Humanism: What's in the Word. London: Rationalist Press Association, 1997.
Provenance: HIST-1390; confidence 0.95; accessed 2026-10-30.
Related on This Site
Art Tradition
Non-Theistic and Secular
Art without transcendence: humanist meaning-making, museums as secular temples, and protest art.
History Event
Humanist Manifesto II
1973
History Event
Julian Huxley takes the helm of UNESCO
1946
History Event
Kurtz founds the Council for Secular Humanism
1980
History Event
Lamont's The Philosophy of Humanism
1949
History Event
The British Humanist Association is founded
1967
History Event
The Center for Inquiry is founded
1991
History Event
Torcaso v. Watkins names secular humanism in law
1961