One of the main proponents who helped get secular humanism visible within society has died. Paul Kurtz, a controversial but popular philosopher and author who founded the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry has died.

Prior to Kurtz’s involvement with “secular humanism,” humanism was a pseudoreligion that did not involve the supernatural. When Kurtz became involved with this movement in 1991 by founding the “Center for Inquiry,” Kurtz suggested to remove all religious aspects out of humanism and believed that the nonreligious members of the community should take a positive attitude on their lives.

Kurtz was also involved in studying paranormal activity, and attended various events and discussions relating to paranormal activity as well. He also coined the term “eupraxsophy” (based on the Greek words for “good,” “practice,” and “wisdom,” which refers to an outlook on life that is joyful and not dependent on any form of transcendent or supernatural theory.

During Kurtz’s career, he published over 50 books, including the popular titles listed below:

• The Transcendental Temptation
• Forbidden Fruit: The Ethics of Secularism
• The Courage to Become
• Multi-Secularism: A New Agenda

Later in his life, Kurtz turned to teaching, and became a professor at various universities. Kurtz taught at Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo (Professor Emeritus), as well as Vassar, Trinity, and Union Colleges, and the New School for Social Research.

On Monday, October 22nd, 2012, Paul Kurtz passed away due to natural causes (according to various sources) at the age of 86. There have been various reactions to his life and death published on Twitter: