Final Thoughts: Is Humanism a Creed?

Ronald A. Lindsay argues in his final Free Inquiry editorial that humanism should remain a philosophy grounded in freedom of inquiry, reason, evidence, and individual autonomy rather than becoming a system of dogma or ideological litmus tests. He warns that attempts to enforce orthodoxy on contentious issues—including race, transgender identity, and sex—undermine humanism's commitment to open debate and scientific inquiry, concluding that some humanists risk turning secular humanism into the very kind of creed they have historically opposed. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/09/final-thoughts-is-humanism-a-creed/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/