The Life of Joe Ben-David as a Unitarian Humanist and Social Activist
1937 - Participant and speaker at a rally of the International League Against Nazism, headed by the German humanist leader, Helene Von Harant. The rally was held in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in the auditorium of the Czech Unitarian Association.
1938 - Conducted six months' research on the causes of anti-Semitism in the Carpatho-Ukraine as a basis for his activities to promote interreligious tolerance and ethnic cooperation
1938 - Active member of the youth group of the Prague Unitarian Congregation and member of the International Religious Fellowship in Holland, a forerunner of the International Association for Religious Freedom.
1939 - Personally inducted by Dr. Norbert F. Capek as a member of the Czechoslovak Unitarian Association. Capek was a powerful inspiration and mentor.
1940 - Conducted cultural activities to raise the spirit of 2,000 refugees on the Turkish vessel Sakariah, while fleeing Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia on an illegal transport to Palestine. When the ship was held for illegal entry, the rRefugees were detained in a British detention camp for six months.
1942 - Attempted to prevent the death from lung cancer of thousands of printers exposed to toxic fumes in rotogravure printing plants. This effort was vigorously opposed by the chemical and printing industries.
1943 - Founder of the Society for Creative Culture in Palestine, based on the values of Capek's Unitarianism and Felix Adler's Ethical Culture, to counteract religious, racial, ethnic and cultural enmity and feelings of supremacy.
1945- Organized group dialogues among Christians, Jews, Muslims, Druze and others in Jerusalem, within a hostile and divided environment, giving an opportunity for free personal expression fostering mutual understanding and friendship.
1948 - As a conscientious objector, trained and enlisted as hygiene officer of the elite troops of the Israeli army; provided medicine and aid to the wounded and the elderly and sick forgotten in their abandoned and destroyed villages.
1949 - Worked on ships sailing between Marseilles, Naples and Haifa, bringing survivors of concentration camps and assisting their integration in Israeli refugee camps.
1949 - Confronted Ben-Gurion, at the latter's home, with the question of what the State of Israel ought to be doing to fulfill the universal ethical and social demands of the prophets of Israel. This enraged the Prime Minister, who burst out: "Nothing, nothing! We will take care of ourselves!
1953 - Campaigned against a bribed Israeli senior medical officer who, during the period of austerity, ordered the distribution of two tons of butter containing live tuberculosis bacillus to the children in Jerusalem.
1953 - Selected by Martin Buber and a group of prominent social activists and professors of the Hebrew University, at a meeting in Buber's home in Jerusalem, to assist them in the United States by promoting IHUD (UNION), the historically significant organization for Palestine/Israel reconciliation.
1954 – Emigrated to the U.S. Addressed students at Sarah Lawrence College and at Earl Hall, Columbia University, on the subject of peace in the Middle East, and called for their active involvement in this cause.
1957 - Bearing in mind the equal importance of the two: 1. / Personal and collective security of the Jews, and 2. / The inalienable rights of the Palestinians - developed a four-year campaign based on the assumption that real peace in the Middle East will depend on the achievement of justice for the Palestinian people. Participants in this campaign included: Erich Fromm, Roger Baldwin, Norman Thomas, Hannah Arendt, Bishop James A. Pike, Reinhold Niebuhr and others.
1958 – With the American Friends of Ihud, organized a celebration of Buber's 80th birthday held at the Unitarian-Universalist Community Church in New York City and attended by perhaps a thousand people. In addition to Buber himself, the speakers were Erich Fromm, Roger Baldwin, and Hans Kohn.
1958 - Engaged in the struggle against smoking by founding and publishing the REPORTER ON SMOKING AND HEALTH newsletter in cooperation with Roy Norr, who had triggered the anti-tobacco movement in the United States. Attended the first planning meeting of the International Congress Against Smoking. The REPORTER was instrumental in introducing into the consciousness of the American public the fact that 400,000 Americans annually were dying prematurely on account of their smoking addiction.
1963 - Became the President and Humanist Counselor of the American Humanist Association's New York Chapter. Over eight years, he motivated large numbers of people in the New York area to become active on behalf of humanistic values, such as freedom of thought, religious liberation and enlightenment, psychological education and consciousness raising. Built the AHA New York Chapter from 75 to 800 members and participants, and a mailing list of 5,000 people who had attended meetings.
1963 - Approached all United Nations missions with an IHUD Association appeal to prevent nuclear weapons production in the Middle East and asking the world powers to impose an embargo on all arms shipments to the Middle East.
1964 - Was one of the keynote speakers who, from a sound truck at the first rally on Union Square, helped to initiate the first major demonstration against the war in Vietnam. Also spoke at other locations to rouse students and the larger public to take action for peace.
1965 - Cooperated with Dr. Vo Tanh Minh, a prominent Vietnamese professor of ethics, in his efforts to influence the U.S. government to stop the massive bombing of his country. Organized a peace pilgrimage of anti-war organizations to the First Unitarian Church in Brooklyn, where Dr. Minh was conducting a fast to death. The participants pledged to engage in maximal action, convincing him that his leadership will be crucial, thus stopping his fast and saving his life. A similar action was Ben-David's successful appeal to Lee Stern, of the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Nyack, NY, to stop his fast to death.
1966 - Was in charge of publicity for the Bertrand Russell Club at Columbia University. Helped to pass a resolution, authorizing Russell to conduct an International Peace Tribunal and encouraged him to publish a Statement of Conscience that Russell eventually did issue. Appointed by Bertrand Russell as Chairperson of the New York chapter of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation.
1967 - In cooperation with the Reverend Dana E. Klotzle, Director of the UUA UN Office and the Unitarian Service Committee, visited the U.S. Embassy twice, briefing U.S. Ambassadors on the Middle East crisis. Became member of Klotzle's Interfaith Committee on Peace in the Middle East.
1969 - Organized and led a humanist youth group of about 300 people between the ages 17 and 25 with the purpose of starting a young peoples' civil and human rights liberation activity dealing with issues such as: sexual education and sexual rights, legal and political discrimination, parental tyranny and mental coercion of children, and protection of the rights of infants.
1969 - Created the first New York Humanist Leadership Training Seminar with the purpose of developing sufficiently sophisticated leaders and community organizers to initiate and promote activities that stimulate social awareness and action in diverse fields of human concern.
1970 - Campaigned to help the American Humanist Association: 1./ to transcend its dualistic, atheist/materialist and simplistically anti-religious ideology, and 2./ to find a creative solution to the failure of the AHA to assert itself as a national humanist organization that would attract, recruit and retain hundreds of thousands members.
1971 - After running for President of the American Humanist Association, a belligerent, slanderous campaign was launched against Ben-David. After he received 1/3 of the national vote, the establishment of the AHA blacklisted him from further involvement.
1972 - Founded, in the Unitarian spirit of Dr. Norbert Capek and his associate Dr. Karel Haspl, the independent Church of Humanism and its division the Humanist Foundation, based on a fusion of humanistic philosophy, psychology and liberal religion. Duly ordained as a minister. Took a vow of poverty.
1979 - Instrumental in electing the playwright and civil rights freedom activist Vaclav Havel and six other imprisoned signers of the Charter 77, as recipients of the Church of Humanism's Humanist of the Year award, at the time of the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia.
1982 - Participated in a public meeting with Danilo Dolci, "The Gandhi of Italy," in support of his work on behalf of the poverty-stricken villagers of western Italy and for non-violent action against the Mafia.
1983 - Conducted with the Rev. Frederick Douglas Kirkpatrick, radical black human rights leader and folk singer, a humanist cultural program counteracting racism and all forms of ethnic prejudice.
1983 - Regularly attended organizational meetings of ACT UP, the radical action group for gay rights and the struggle against the devastation of the AIDS epidemic. Also attended the first meetings of the Interfaith Clergy Against AIDS and seven professional training programs.
1983 - In Lynchburg, Va., staged a demonstration outside of Jerry Falwell's church. His street sermon on "Humanism: The Religion of the Future" drew the attention of those exiting from the political evangelist's Sunday morning service. This was the first time that they heard the message of positive, religious, theocentric humanism.
1983 - Created and performed a one-person show: "Jesus on Broadway, where Jesus as a humanistic personality challenges ancient and contemporary myths about his life and aspirations. It is a highly dramatic one-person play, featuring Ben-David in five different roles. It was performed for four months in a theater in New York. A video recording of the live show has been shown occasionally at humanist meetings
1984 - Visited Lemuel Smith, then on death row in the Green Haven Correctional Facility. Mr. Smith is an African-American convict who, according to very strong evidence, was set up for the murder of a women guard. Later when a change of the NYS law prevented Smith's execution, Ben-David and Rev. Kirkpatrick started a defense committee to help him to attain justice and secure his release from prison. He continues to serve a multiple life sentence.
1986 - Made an exploratory visit, sponsored by the Church of Humanism, to the politically suppressed Czechoslovak Unitarian Association.
1988 - Served as panelist on a program "AIDS in America," sponsored by Middlesex College.
1989 - Again sponsored by the Church of Humanism, visited Prague to explore ways to help the Czech Unitarians. Participated in a major demonstration against the Soviet oppressors, witnessing police brutality.
1990 - As a delegate of the Church of Humanism, an NGO accredited by the United Nations Division on Palestinian Rights, came out in defense of Mordecai Vanunu, Israeli anti-nuclear weapons activist and whistleblower who provided proof that Israel is manufacturing nuclear weapons. Vanunu was kidnapped by agents in Italy, smuggled back to Israel, and convicted in a closed trial. He languished in a dank, cramped cell in solitary confinement for 11 of his 18-year incarceration and is now on release under severe restrictions and circumstances.
1990 - Made a three-month visit to the Czech Republic after the liberation to work with the Czech Unitarian Association. Addressed a class of students at the Charles University and the department of psychology of the Academy of Sciences, and conducted a lecture/workshop for psychotherapists at the Central Psychiatric Institution. Organized meetings attended by more than 100 students in the Unitaria in Prague. Arranged and led a delegation of the Church of Humanism and Czech Unitarians meeting with Count Schwarzenberg, President Vaclav Havel's Chief of Staff, at the Prague Castle. In cooperation with the Czech Unitarian Association, the Church of Humanism sponsored a freedom celebration of its 1979 Humanists of the Year, filling the Unitaria's large sanctuary to capacity.
1991 - As International Coordinator for the Development of the Czech Unitarian Association, organized the American Friends of the CUA with the purpose of helping the Czech Unitarians who lost their church to a corrupt cleric who had himself elected as superintendent for 10 years and locked out 400 Czech Unitarians.
1992 - Over four years, cooked vegetable soups that were distributed by volunteers of the Church of Humanism to some 4,000 homeless people in N.Y.C.
1993 - Issued an appeal for the release of Leonard Peltier, a Lakota Indian leader now in his 21st year of unjust imprisonment.
1995 - Became one of the founding members of the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council and served on its Executive Committee.
1997 - Elected to the governing board of RAINBO, the Research Action and Information Network for the Bodily Integrity of Women, an organization supporting global action against female genital mutilation.
1998 - Elected to the Board of Directors of the North American Committee for Humanism (NACH).
1999 - Under the auspices of the International Association's New York Branch, organized a panel on "The Challenge of Religious Freedom Today." The event took place at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset, N.Y.
1999 - Instrumental with the Reverend Cynthia Powell in having the Rt. Reverend John Shelby Spong, the Anglican Bishop of Newark, elected as Humanist of the Year of the Church of Humanism. Bishop Spong is a prominent, courageous humanistic reformer of Protestant Christianity in the United States. As a theologian of action, he is engaged in some highly controversial struggles for justice and human rights.
2000 - Engaged in a difficult action to prevent NACH (the North American Committee for Humanism) from eliminating its membership structure and turning this enormously important organization into a self-appointed, controlling elite, reneging on its original purpose of acting as an umbrella organization to unify and empower all humanistic organizations. Furthermore, Rev. Ben-David is introducing a concept of a three-dimensional humanism, whereby atheist, agnostic and rational-naturalist theistic humanisms would be validated as equal forms of humanist expression and therefore promoted with the same vigor. Millions of people, who are ready for humanism but are antagonized and prevented from joining the humanist movement, because of its current reductionist definition "humanism equals non-theism" would then join its ranks.
2000 - Rev. Ben-David appeared three times on national television networks (CBS and NBC) performing, in the name of love, humanist weddings. One of them was the first dignified humanist gay partnership wedding ceremony officiated before a national audience.
2001 - Participated in a peace rally on Union Square in New York City, counseled people affected by the September 11th tragedy, and conducted a memorial service on the anniversary for a company intimately impacted by the tragedy.
2001 - As a Czech Unitarian Minister and American UU, acted as translator and facilitator in a retreat of Czech and American Unitarians and Universalist ministers and members in Prague. Rev. Ben-David also gave the initiative and prepared the preliminary structure and curriculum for the establishment of the first Czech Unitarian Theological Seminary.
2002 - Participated as an NGO delegate of the Church of Humanism in the United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People. The Conference included representatives of many governments, Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists and religious organizations involved in the Middle East. Ben-David's position is that murder and violence will not lead to peace. He believes that only an approach based on the spirit and values of the humanistic Prophets of Israel, Jesus and Mohammed may bring about a solution of the conflict.
2003 - At the UUA General Assembly in Boston,, honored the Reverend David Van Streen with the Humanist of the Year award of the Church of Humanism. Attended the U.N. Division for Palestinian Rights Conference for a Civil Society.
2004 - Elected as member of the Honorary Board of the newly established Martin Buber Fund in the Czech Republic. Participated on a panel on Politics, Civics and International Relations at the 22nd World Congress of The Czechoslovak Society of Artists and Scientists, at the Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic. Addressed survivors of the holocaust at the former concentration camp Terezin. Preached at the Prague Unitarian Church. For the Martin Buber Fund, lectured about his experience with Martin Buber and conducted an interactive, dialogical workshop for its staff. Completed the thesis: "The Next Step in Theological Realism - The Humanist Unitarian Meaning of God." This unique concept traverses the dichotomies of atheist/theist, and religious/secular dichotomies. It also establishes a link between humanism and other world faiths. It was not yet for public distribution. Appeared on MNN Cable TV, interviewed on Conversations with Harold Channer on: "The Humanist Experience."
2005 - Delivered an original lecture on personal transformation: "Steps to Self-Actualization," Suggested a vital promotional campaign in a statement: "The New Spirit of Unitarian Humanism." Mentored a class at the Humanist Institute on: "The History and Future of Humanism."
2005 - At the invitation of the Martin Buber Fund, visited the Czech Republic. Delivered a series of lectures also in the Prague Unitarian Society: "My Life Experience with Martin Buber," "Humanistic Psychology Today," The Unitarian Life and Struggle of Martin Buber," "How to Resist the Decline of Civilization," and "A Concept of God for Our Time." Presented an outline for personal humanistic growth: "16 Steps to Self-Actualization."
2006 - Preached at the 4th Universalist Society in NYC on: “Worship Arts as Spiritual Uplift." Interviewed by Harold Channer on Manhattan Neighborhood Network cable TV on "Martin Buber's Life." To prevent misunderstandings regarding his humanistic position on peace in the Middle East, delivered a talk on: "My stand on the Palestine-Israel Issue Today." Again at the invitation of the Martin Buber Fund visited the Czech Republic. Delivered a paper for the Czechoslovak Society for Art and Science at the University of Budweis on "Heresy and the Future of Liberal Religion in the Czech Republic." Attended meeting of the Board of Directors of The North American Committee for Humanism/ Humanist Institute, but after serving on this Board for six years, decided not to run for another term. Participated in filming of a documentary, “Two Who Dared”, about Martha and Rev. Waitskill Sharp, American Unitarians who under extremely dangerous circumstances saved many people during the Nazi holocaust and who have been recognized as the "Righteous Among Nations." The documentary was re-released in 2016 as “Defying the Nazis: The Sharps War,” co-directed and produced by Ken Burns. Ben-David remembers the Sharps speaking at the Unitaria building in Prague, before he fled the Nazi occupation.
2007 - Appeared on MNN TV’s Conversations with Harold Channer on: “Humanism, Theology and Politics." Attended a Conference on New Humanism, at Harvard University, where New and Old Humanisms were discussed. Spoke for the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences at the Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA, on: "The Struggle for Contemporary Czech Humanism." Attended a three-week workshop on: "Acting with Your Inner Partner." This workshop with Professor Ivan Vyskocil, of the Drama Academy of the Czech Republic is designed to introduce actors and people working with the public, to a new way of relating with a strong sense of spontaneity and personal authenticity. Conducted a workshop on Prof. Vyskocil's method: "Living Dialogue - Celebrating Your Inner Partner." Invited to visit Prague by the Martin Buber Fund. Conducted in the mountains of South Bohemia an Interactive Dialogical Workshop on: "The Joy of Relating."
2008 - Served as Board Member of ACAP, the Association of Cable Access Producers. Interviewed by Adam Hradilek for a documentary for presentation in the Czech Republic. Participated in a Muslim-Unitarian Dialogue at the 4th Universalist Society. Interviewed by Peter Roth of the Heartriver Center, on "Love and Loving." Attended annual congress of the Martin Buber Fund in the Czech Republic, and delivered lecture on "Humanistic Psychology and Buber's Concept of Guilt." Preached in Prague Unitarian Church on "Overcoming Antiquated Unitarianism." Interviewed by the historian Jan Palecek for a documentary in the Czech Republic. Spoke for the Brooklyn Humanists on "Revolution in Humanism." Spoke for the New York City Czechoslovak Society for Art and Science on "The Unique Humanism in the Czech Lands."
2009 - Preached on Easter at the Metro Atlanta Unitarian Society on "Humanism and the Resurrection of Jesus." Attended a U.N. presentation with prominent Czech theologian Tomas Halik. Conducted Flower Communion service at 4th Universalist Society. Attended UUA NY District annual conference. Again appeared on TV MNN’s Conversations with Harold Channer, on “Love and Sex in our Time.” Met with Dr. Stanley Krippner, trans-personal psychologist and one of our prominent Humanists of the Year, and his associates on several occasions.
2010 - Started to write his memoir. (Note: we hope to complete the memoir and post it online soon.) Lectured in the Prague, Brno and Pilsen congregations of the Czech Republic Unitarian Society on: “Humanistic Unitarianism and the Joy of Living.” Started to introduce his essay “The Next Step in Theological Realism” to key Unitarian Universalists. Spoke at the funeral of Ellis Jaffe, who died in a tragic accident. Participated in Washington D.C. in a Robert G. Ingersoll Oratory Contest. Again appeared on MNN’s Conversations with Harold Channer, on “Evolution of a Young Humanist” – an autobiographical interview.
2011– Completed an outline of his memoir, consisting of 450 events and experiences. Participated in ACAP (The Association of Cable Access Producers) meetings. Spoke at the Czechoslovak Association for Arts and Science on: Czech Ethical Values of an American Youth Group. Conducted a wedding of a distinguished War Veteran. Appeared on Manhattan Neighborhood Network TV program. Gave a sermon at the 4th Universalist Unitarian Society on: The History of Czech Unitarianism. Signed a petition on behalf of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian women convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, who was sentenced to death by stoning. After considerable international outcry, her sentence was commuted and she was released after nine years on death row.
2012 – Served on a Committee on Ministry at the 4th Universalist Society of NYC. For the Metropolitan NY Lamont Chapter of the American Humanist Assn. presented the video of his one-person show “Jesus on Broadway”; and spoke on Humanistic Psychology and the Struggle for Humanism. Attended meetings of ACAP, two of which included notable guests: Michael Ben-Eli, human sustenance activist, and Harold Bloom, prominent humanist writer. Attended UU Metro NY District annual meeting and displayed his essays, “Next Step in Process Theology – The Humanist Unitarian Meaning of God”, and “God for Atheists and Agnostics”.
2013 – Took part in programs/organizations including: Columbia University seminar on Knowledge and Science; Unitarian-Universalist Leadership Meeting; National Academy of the Arts and Sciences; Tribute to Albert Ellis; Committee on Mental Health, regarding an Action Plan; and Open Mike at the NY Ethical Society. ACAP (Association of Cable Access Producers); and 4th Universalist Society of NYC. Met with Artemis Joukowsky, creator of the film “Two Who Dared: The Sharps’ War.”
2014 – Conducted a Creative Interchange Workshop fusing Martin Buber’s dialogical process and human potential group encounter meeting. Interviewed by John Bredin, for the Public Voice Salon. Participated in two hour-long MNN cable TV conversations about his life and ideas as humanist. Preached a sermon on: The Wide World of Norbert Fabian Capek, at the Essex NJ Unitarian Church (the video is on YouTube). Attended annual conference of Unitarian-Universalist District Metro NY, exhibiting his thesis, “The Next Step in Theological Realism.”
2015 - Interviewed twice: an audio interview by Ilya Marritz of WNYC, and a video interview by Monica Hankova, curator of the Jewish museum of Prague. Attended a publishing seminar at the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences.
2016 – Initiated a resolution to Rescind the Excommunication of Baruch Spinoza. Appeared briefly in the PBS documentary “Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War” along with some others who shared their sad memories of March 15, 1939, when the Nazis marched into Prague; it is significant that co-directors Ken Burns and Artemis Joukowsky draw compelling parallels between the desperate refugees/victims of the Nazis and the awful plight of refugee/victims in Syria today. Appeared on MNN cable TV, interviewed on Conversations with Harold Channer on: "The Humanist Meaning of God.”
2017 – Lectured on “Martin Buber’s Orations Relevant to President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Israel, May 2017,” An Interpretative Summary of MARTIN BUBER’S THREE ADDRESSES ON JUDAISM (Drei Reden uber das Judentum). Ben-David noted: This is my essential summary of Martin Buber’s philosophical orientation, which continued as a thread throughout his lifelong creative engagements and eventually led to the creation of his legendary I And Thou concept. Specifically, this is an interpretation of Buber’s famous Three Speeches on Judaism, which he delivered in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and published in 1916.
NOTES:
- Various video recordings of Ben-David’s talks and interviews , including the cable TV interviews by Channer, can be viewed at anytime, anywhere in the world on: www.youtube.com. In search put the words: Ben-David Humanist. Some shorter clips and full length video recordings can be accessed through the website www.ChurchofHumanism.org
- To find topics and dates of Ben-David's talks and seminars through 2013, click here.
- Joseph Ben-David’s talks at Church of Humanism meetings in recent years include the following:
2010 - “Humanism as a Personal Experience, Humanism and the Jesus Symbol; For the Sake of Zion; The Glory and the Shadow of Humanism, The Church of Humanism and the Global Challenge; and The Art of Relaxation, Meditation and Auto-Suggestion.
2011–The Saving Grace of God-Centered Humanism; In Memoriam, The Life of Ellis Jaffe a Good Humanist; Unitarian-Universalist Principles and the Humanist Way of Life; Spiritual Dialogue – I, You and We – In Creative Communication; Love and Passion in Personal, Political and Religious Life; The Hippie Culture and Its Meaning for Today; Martin Buber- Where Are You Now, When We need You Most?; Sages Throughout the Ages.
2012 –Relationships--the Beginning, the Middle and the End, Bringing Out the Best in Ourselves and Others; A Review of Erich Fromm’s The Art of Loving; Sexual Enlightenment and the Moral Crisis of Society; Exploring Motivations that Underlie Love and Relationships; Humanistic Psychology – The Art of Developing Interpersonal Dialogue, Coping With Rejection and Enhancing Acceptance; and Humanistic Psychology and Personal Effectiveness. Moderated workshops on: If You Love Them, Let Them Love You; and Intimacy and the Games People Play.
2013 - Humanism and the Spiritual Upsurge; Spiritual Rebels throughout the Ages; Love, Human Sexuality and Health; On Feeling Young and Staying Beautiful at Any Age; Psychology of Normalcy and Emotional Sado-Masochism; How to Never Be Alone and Have a Joyous Emotional Life; The Art of Authentic Dialogue; and The Humanism of Andy Warhol, with slide and presentation.
2014 - How to Be Your Best Friend in a Complicated World. Online- Internet Creative Relating; Wilhelm Reich - His Influence as a Radical Sexologist and American Martyr; Psychology for Non-Psychologists; Can the World Save Itself from Itself?; Prophetic Humanism and My Struggle against Anti-Semitism; and delivered a Christmas message on: Peace on Earth through the Solution of the Palestine-Israel Problem
2015 - Eight Books that Can Improve – or Save – Your Life; Encounter Group – How to Find Higher Meaning in Life, Part 1; How to Find Higher Meaning in Life, Part 2; Humanism – Cult or Culture?; The Humanism of Marilyn Monroe; Humanism for the Sake of Life in a Time of Terrorism; Practice of Erich Fromm's “Self-Love” and Abraham Maslow’s “Self-Actualization”; My Life-Encounter with Martin Buber; The Story of My Struggle to Liberate American Humanism; and Philosophy of Three-Dimensional Humanism
2016 –God-Centered Humanism; Being and Becoming More Intuitive (with Alyson Ben-David), The Drama of Paradoxical Wisdom; My Life and the Redeeming Spirit of Baruch Spinoza and Martin Buber; Humanist Sages Throughout the Ages; The Controversial Humanism of Martin Buber; and Humanist Heroes and Heroines --Challenging Convention and Adversity
2017 - Humanist Geniuses and Your Life, Spinoza & Nietzsche—Healing Our Community, Mediocracy and the Future of Culture, Martin Buber’s Orations Relevant to President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Israel, May 2017, - Humanism and the Saving Grace of the Spirit” (Joe's 97th birthday message)
2018 - The Horrific Death and Humanistic Genius of My Friend Madalyn Murray O’Hair; Why Are We a Church? And What Is Our God?; Christianity, Judaism and Humanism in America Today.
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Other causes Ben-David identified with and took action in at different times included: separation of church and state, anti-racism, women's reproductive freedom, protection of Brazilian rainforests, defense of animal rights, Earth First, Greenpeace and others.
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Please note!