The Pros and Cons of Caring Deeply about Others’ Suffering

First, the cons: When you care deeply about other people’s suffering, you suffer too. Not as much as they do, generally, but you still suffer. You feel a small piece of what it feels like... Read More
Trans People and Basic Human Respect

There's something that's been puzzling me. I've been thinking about cisgender people who get upset about transgender people. ("Cisgender," for those of you who aren't familiar with the term, is the opposite of "transgender"; it... Read More
How Humanism Helps With Depression–Except When It Doesn’t

What’s it like being a humanist with depression? I’m going to preface this right off the bat by saying: I am not a doctor. I’m not a therapist. I’m not a mental healthcare professional, or... Read More
Imposter Syndrome, and What It Means to Be an Adult

“I don’t feel like an adult.” Perhaps that or any of the following statements sound familiar to you: “My adult life looks nothing like I thought it would. I thought I’d have it a lot... Read More
Coming Out Godless, and Not Assuming the Worst

“Coming out is the most powerful act nonbelievers can take!” “It’s personally powerful; it’s politically powerful.” “If you want to help humanism/atheism, if you want to push back against the corrosive influence of religion, if... Read More
Humanist Performance Anxiety

Does this ever happen to you? I have this set of humanist values, and chief among them is the notion that since I only have one life, I want to live it to the hilt.... Read More
Mind is Matter Why Meditation Is More Humanist than You Might Think

A lot of atheists, humanists, and other nonbelievers are leery or dismissive of meditation and mindfulness. Some see it as an irretrievably religious or spiritual practice, and want no part in it. Others are put... Read More