Humanist History in the Crimson

120 Years of Humanistic & Secular Heritage at Harvard: Selected articles on the Harvard Secular Society, the Humanist Chaplaincy, and secularism from the Harvard Crimson, 1886-2005.

Wednesday, March 8, 2006:
The first crimson article (of many?) on the new Humanist Chaplaincy.

Monday, November 28, 2005:
Celebrating Christmas the HSS way: stirring up debate.

Monday, October 17, 2005:
2005’s HSS officers speak out on a favorite issue.

Friday, February 25, 2005:
Historian Susan Jacoby speaks to the Chaplaincy and friends on her New York Times bestseller Freethinkers.

Wednesday, April 21, 2004:
Under the dynamic leadership of Kerry Dingle ’04, HSS brings in Steven Pinker to help explore the idea of a “God Gene.”

Friday, April 05, 2002:
Finding God at Harvard?

Thursday, June 10, 1999:
How religious is Harvard, officially? Humanist student activists helped raise the question in 1999: what about in 2006 and beyond?

Thursday, April 08 1999:
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=96307

Friday, January 08, 1999:
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=124597

Friday, November 13, 1998:
More from Derek and co. in the next few articles.

Wednesday, February 25, 1998:
Derek Araujo begins to write prolifically on Humanism in the Crimson.

Thursday, Ocober 2, 1997
A significant milestone: the beginning of Derek Araujo’s storied career as a Humanist student activist.

Monday, April 21, 1986
The great John Kenneth Galbraith was American Humanist of the Year in 1985, and got involved with HCH during the 1980’s, as opinionated as ever.

Tuesday, October 03, 1978
Perhaps the Crimson’s first coverage of Tom Ferrick, back in 1978.

Thursday, January 11, 1962
More on Harold Rafton.

Wednesday, November 15, 1961
A Harvard Humanist student group was founded in 1963 and had some very successful events before disbanding. For the first time, the Humanist Chaplaincy is now in touch with the group’s former leaders. Were you a member?

Monday, May 19, 1958
Harold Rafton ‘10 (whose large book collection makes up a significant portion of the Humanist Chaplaincy’s office library) called for a professorship of Humanism at Harvard Divinity School as early as 1958. Perhaps now is the time to make that early vision a reality?

September 26, 1951:
James Bryant Conant, the great Harvard president from 1933-1952, never came out and publicly declared himself a Humanist, but it is widely acknowledged that he was Harvard’s most Humanistic president.

Saturday, December 11, 1948
Apparently, there was a Harvard Humanist Society as early as 1948? Please contact us if you have any information about this.

Tuesday, October 26, 1937
Were there really no atheists at Harvard in 1937? Or were these numbers put together in a rather inaccurate manner? The records of Phillips Brooks House’s surveys could make an excellent research project for those who study Harvard’s history.

Monday, January 21, 1924:
The debate raged in the mid-1920’s: was Harvard “Godless?” This article calling Harvard “not irreligious but unreligious” was merely one of dozens of opinions on the matter that made it into print in those days- only proving the point that even at this early stage, Humanism was a hot topic in Cambridge.

Wednesday, January 20, 1886:
This editor gives his best effort to argue to the contrary, but it becomes evident in his own writing that many Harvard students have been Humanistic and secular since 1886.