Articles by J.P. van Praag (1911-1981)

Van Praag grew up in a modern secular Jewish and socialist environment. He studied Dutch literature, philosophy and history and became a teacher in 1938 at the Municipal Lyceum in Dordrecht. He was active, including as president, in a number of pre-war pacifist and socialist associations, concentrating mainly on peace-related issues and non violent resistance. 

After World War II he played a prominent role in establishing the Dutch Humanist Association. He was its chairman from 1946 to 1969. The two main goals were: 

• The creation of a life stance shelter for churchless people who were seeking meaning in life as religion declined and wanted to make people morally resilient. 
• The emancipation struggle of unchurched people for a full place in the areas of society besides the religious people.

His pioneering book entitled “Modern Humanism: A Renaissance” was published in 1947, which he wrote during a period in hiding. This was the first book in the Netherlands, which was based on a modern secular humanist worldview. He argues for a radical renewal of moral life in the Netherlands, in particular among the unchurched. 

Known as the “father” of Dutch humanism, he was responsible for developing the theory of humanist counseling in the Netherlands. In 1946 he was one of the founding fathers of the Dutch Humanist Union 'Humanistisch Verbond' and acted as its chairman from 1947 untill 1969. Van Praag became one of the first professors in Humanistics in University of Leiden (1964-1979). On international level, he played a major role in the founding of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and was its chairman from inception in 1952 until 1975. 

The following texts are related to his main subjects on humanism:  to oppose indifference and moral emptiness and to encourage solidarity and human resilience as fundamentals for a democratic constitutional state.

• ‘Humanism as a living Force’. In: The Humanist XII, (May-June 1952), nr. 3, pp.116-119.
• ‘Introductory Address’. In: Proceedings of the first International Congress on Humanism and Ethical Culture, Amsterdam 21-26, 1952. Humanistisch Verbond, Utrecht 1953, pp. 126-131.
• ‘The Programme of Humanism and Ethical Culture: The Challenge of our Time’. In:  Proceedings of the first International Congress on Humanism and Ethical Culture, Amsterdam, August 21-26, 1952. Humanistisch Verbond, Utrecht 1953, pp. 126-131.
• ‘Opening Address’. In: Proceedings Second Congress International and Ethical Union, July 26-31, London.  IHUE, Utrecht 1957, pp 20-23.
• Humanism. An Essay, taken from the 1957 Summer issue of The Plain View. IHUE, Utrecht 1957, 28p.
• ‘Humanism around the World: Impressions of a trip to America’. In: The Humanist XVIII (sept.-oct. 1958), nr. 5, 307-311.
• The Challenge of our Time. Address made by […] at the Annual Assembly of the American Ethical Union, New York, 4 May 1958. IHEU, Utrecht 1958, pp. 1-7.
• ‘Opening of the Congress’. In: Proceedings [of the] third Congress [of the] International Humanist and Ethical Union, August 2-7, 1962, Oslo. IHEU, Utrecht 1962, pp 8-10.
• ‘The Tower of Babylon. A Problem of International Humanism’. In: International Humanism I (July 1962), nr3, pp. 10-11.
• ‘Dutch Humanism’. In: International Humanism Vol I (April 1963), nr 6, pp. 2-3.
• ‘The Humanist Outlook. Terms of Reference’. In: Proceedings fourth [IHEU] Congress, July 25-30, 1966 Paris. IHUE, Utrecht 1966, pp. 40-45.
• ‘The Voice of Humanism’. In: International Humanism II (1967), nr 4, pp. 2-3.
• ‘New Man in a New World’. In: International Humanism III(1968), nr. 3-4, pp. 39-42.
• ‘The Humanist Outlook’. In: International Humanism IV(1969), nr.1, pp. 13-16.
• ‘On Organizing Humanism’. In:Howard B. Radest (red.), To seek a humane world. Proceedings of the fifth Congress of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. Pemberton Books, London 1971, pp. 117-122.
• Tasks for Humanists. An Address, held by the IHEU chairman at the RPA-European Summer Conference in Cambridge (August 1972). IHEU, Utrecht [1972], pp. 2-8.
• ‘The Humanist Outlook’. In: Paul Kurtz & Albert Dondeyne (eds.), A Chatolic/Humanist Dialogue: Humanists and Roman Catholics in a Common World. Pemberton Books/Prometheus Books, London/Buffulo 1972, pp 3-9.
• ‘Humanist Tasks in the New Europe’. (1973) In: Christopher Macy (ed.), Rationalism and Humanism in the New Europe. Pemberton Books, London 1973, pp. 33-42.
• ‘On Humanism’. In: International Humanist (1981), nr. 1,  pp. 4-8.
• Foundations of Humanism. Prometheus Books: Buffulo, 1982.
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