The Humanist Magazine

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash It’s 2:17 a.m. A patient sits in an emergency observation room after telling a physician that they intend to end their life when they leave the hospital. They answer questions coherently, understand the risks of refusing treatment, and calmly insist that they do not want help. Despite this, the psychiatrist places the patient on an involuntary psychiatric hold, preventing them from leaving and initiating treatment without consent.

Julia Gendin is a Boston University neuroscience student pursuing a minor in public policy and a pre-law track. Their interests center on the intersection of neuroscience, law, mental health and public policy, particularly the ways scientific understandings of the brain shape decisions about individual rights. Posts by Julia Gendin 9 September 2026 + Share

The latest from Cagle Cartoons. RJ Matson, Portland, ME

Photo by Ali Arif Soydaş on Unsplash Atheism. It is a simple word for many people around the world; it simply means not believing in any creator or deity. That’s it. You can be an atheist with minimal issues in Sweden, China or Japan, but have you tried being an atheist in Algeria, Egypt or Qatar? This is what I want to tell you about in this piece of writing. I want to tell you what it means to be an atheist in Algeria.

Nouha Khelfa is an Algerian political science researcher whose work focuses on political violence, terrorism, radicalization, and North African politics. She holds a master’s degree in political science and has published research on terrorism, political parties, religion, and migration. She is currently pursuing research in Europe on migration, political discourse, and social integration. Posts by Nouha Khelfa 4 September 2026 + Share

Photo by Martino Pietropoli on Unsplash Most of us have encountered situations where we thought of the perfect reply to an argument after the fact, when it was too late. Denis Diderot describes this phenomenon in his essay “Paradox of the Actor,” recounting how he was initially flustered by a statesman’s comment, only to have the perfect rejoinder occur to him when he was heading down the stairs on his way home.

Roslyn Mould and Humanists International President Maggie Ardiente From August 7-9, 2026, Humanists International, in collaboration with its member organization Humanist Canada, concluded the World Humanist Congress and Annual General Assembly in Ottawa, Canada. The sold out event, attended by over 500 humanists from 41 countries, confronted global threats under the powerful theme “Humanism As Resistance.” Activists, scholars and leaders from around the world including Prof.

Accra Atheists is a non-governmental organization in Ghana that promotes secular humanism, freethought, and human rights for non-religious people. Posts by Accra Atheists 31 August 2026 + Share

A graduate of Amherst College and Johns Hopkins University, Michael Gracey has been listed among the noteworthy writers in Best American Essays, and his work has appeared or is forthcoming in a dozen literary and philosophical magazines, most recently Philosophy Now and Think: Philosophy for Everyone. His essay collection, My Own Good Daemon, was recently shortlisted for the 2026 “International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition” at Vine Leaves Press.

The latest from Cagle Cartoons. Measles Virus Boards School Bus by John Darkow, politicalcartoons.com