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A Humanist Welcome

Welcome to the Church of Humanism and its division, the Humanist Foundation. The Church of Humanism was founded in New York in 1973 as the only Humanist religious organization that affirms God as a fusion of naturalism and realism.

Our philosophy of life is based on a deep faith in the values of reason, love, and intuition and a call to conscience that relates particularly to issues of justice, freedom, and peace. We greatly value the study and the application of humanistic psychology and philosophy, and we take inspiration from the wisdom of Martin Buber, Erich Fromm, Hannah Arendt, Carl Rogers, Karen Horney, Stanley Krippner, Wilhelm Reich, and other pioneers in the field of human relations.

We will continue to post audio and video recordings of past meetings whose content remains relevant and informative today. We encourage you to explore our site’s information about the unique philosophy and history of the Church, as well as an outline of the life and ideas of founder and Senior Minister, the Reverend Joseph Ben-David, 1920-2020.

Humanist Personalities

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Click here to read the article by Reverend Joseph Ben-David on The Next Step in Theological Realism.

The following are video interviews and clips with Joseph Ben-David. Today we hope to further his life-long goal of inspiring social and personal activism.

Discussion of education, the arts and social change with Ben David, by John Bredin, Apr 2014

Conversation with Ben-David, by Harold Channer, Apr 2006

Conversation with Ben-David, by Harold Channer, Sept 2013

“Unitarian Martyr Norbert F. Capek - His Wide World” – Sermon by Ben-David, March 16, 2014

How he fled to Palestine in 1939 (a clip)

His first contact with Rev. N.F. Capek and Humanist-Unitarianism (a clip)

At the 2010 Robert Ingersoll Oratory Contest (a clip)

On his return trips to Prague (a clip)

Listen to Joseph Ben-David’s still relevant talk on the importance of humanist activism that is guided by our embrace of Martin Buber’s concept of the I-Thou dialogue.

click here to listen!

Board of Trustees

Rev. Lenny Morgenstern,

Moderator

Rev. Alyson Ben-David

Rev. James Cusick

Rev. Rosalie Nathan

Rev. Cynthia Powell

Rev. Carmine Vacirca

Ivana Edwards

Ministers

Rev. Charles Briefer

Rev. Arpad Gazdag

Rev. John Greco

Rev. John Hailu

Rev. Livia Haspl

Rev. Mark Ross

Rev. J Brian Smith

Founder Rev. Joseph Ben-David

For more information, visit our Contact Us page and send us a quick note with your contact information.

Please note!

Dear Reader,

None of the materials, books, essays or lectures should be read or accepted uncritically, nor should any one of them be considered an authoritative and dogmatically binding thesis representing a humanist doctrine. We do not want "followers"; or "true believers"; but freethinking partners in a great spiritual enterprise.