Humanist Group’s Gifts Forge Ties With Faith Charities

A humanist nonprofit makes regular donations to progressive faith groups in what its leader characterizes as a bid to change the misperception that views on issues such as same-sex marriage, school prayer, and climate change break along secular and religious lines, The New York Times writes.

The Foundation Beyond Belief, founded in 2010, began by offering its donors a chance to direct gifts to other organizations working in areas such as refugee aid and the environment. Then founder Dale McGowan added a donation category called Challenge the Gap, through which the foundation gives several thousand dollars each quarter to a different faith-linked charity, with the proviso that it not use the money to proselytize. The most recent donation benefited the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, which opposes formal prayers at official public functions.

“When we’re in like-minded groups, there’s a tendency to pull toward the extremes in our group and minimize common ground across the line. Though it’s moderating, that’s something that’s exasperated me in the atheist and humanist community,” Mr. McGowan said.