Secular Organizations

Freedom From Religion Foundation Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I figured it might be time to update the list of secular organizations I pulled together in 2009 to  see what has changed and determine which ones I find myself most likely to recommend these days. Please note that this is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every secular organization that exists; it is my list, and it includes the organizations I find myself recommending regularly. If your favorite organization is not included here, this is because I am unaware of it, have not noticed much activity from it lately and uncertain whether it is still around, have some other reason for choosing not to recommend it here, or just forgot about it.

Organizations Focused on Protecting the Separation of Church and State

I believe these are among the most important secular organizations we can support because their missions center on secularism itself (i.e., they are focused on church-state issues).

• Freedom From Religion Foundation
• Americans United for the Separation of Church and State
• Secular Coalition for America

Organizations Focused on Education

In the U.S., public schools are often where Christian extremists seek to exert their influence. These organizations serve vital functions such as promoting reality-based science education and organizing secular students to educate others and defend their rights. 

• National Center for Science Education
  
• Secular Student Alliance

Organizations Focused on Providing Community for Members

Community is vital for those who make up a small minority within a much larger system. The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers is a prime example of an organization who makes this their main goal.

• Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers

Organizations Focused on Broad Secular Advocacy

The organizations listed here are somewhat more difficult to classify because they have adopted broad missions of advocacy on a number of secular issues.

• The Center for Inquiry
• American Atheists
• American Humanist Association
• Council for Secular Humanism