to read "Humanism and Its Aspirations," the third Humanist Manifesto, click below. you'll also find links to the AHA site and the UN World Food Programme's FreeRice game.
feel free to submit posts or questions at any time! this blog is a safe zone.
To the individual posting anti-humanist, anti-atheist propaganda in the humanism tag:
It’s all right. We understand. You’re threatened, because you don’t understand that there are valid choices aside from the morality offered by your God and no morality at all. We don’t believe in God, so we must be sinners, right? I can see why you would draw that conclusion, but I think if you actually consider the matter, you’ll realize that that’s not the case at all.
See, we’re not opposed to your God. In fact, I can honestly say that I am glad you have something that you believe in, that gives you something to fight for, and a God that offers you direction in your life. Everyone needs these things. Some of us, though, have found it outside of a supernatural father figure. We’re not opposed to you needing — or wanting — one. We just would like to be able to not believe in peace.
Really, that’s it. It’s that simple. We want people to be able to believe whatever they want, without having the rules of another religion — whether that’s Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, animism, atheism, or any other belief system in the world — imposed upon them by a government or other ruling body. In other words: if you want to pray in schools, I’m not going to stop you, as long as I’m not forced to do it myself. If you want to face Mecca five times time a day, I’ll try to help you figure out which way it is if you’re in a new place, and where you can put down your prayer rug. If I know you’re Christian, I won’t say ‘Happy Holidays’ to you; I’ll wish you a very merry Christmas. I will do everything in my power to protect your right to worship who and how you think is correct, because that same right will be extended to me in my lack of worship.
Maybe you’re wondering what it is I do believe, as a secular humanist. I’ll warn you now, you won’t agree with all of it, because I am an atheist. But I think, if you really look at the list, you won’t see much else there that you disagree with, aside from the fact that I don’t believe in God. Here, take a look:
- I do not believe there is a conscious, purposefully acting deity directing our lives.
- I do, however, believe that every life needs and deserves a purpose.
- I believe that my purpose is to help my fellow human beings as much as possible, and to prevent harm coming to them inasmuch as I’m capable of doing so.
- I believe that all human beings are born with the same inherent worth and dignity as every other.
- I believe that human beings deserve the same basic rights to love, life, prosperity, joy, freedom, and respect.
- I believe that love in every form is something that ennobles the human spirit, and should be treasured and shared, not discouraged or shame.
- I believe that science and the pursuit of knowledge are chief among humanity’s purposes in this world, so that we can better our lives and those of others.
- I believe that there is nothing more sacred than the bonds of a family, and that family can be loosely defined as those people who you love even when they irritated the living daylights out of you — the people who you know you can always depend on, and who know they can always depend on you, whether you’re connected by blood, love, or belief. I believe this bond is the fundamental unit of human society.
Most of all, I don’t believe you really hate me or my fellow humanists. In fact, I know this. You’ve demonstrated quite clearly, through your posts, that you don’t really understand what secular humanism is, so the ‘humanists’ that you hate are just boogeymen and -women that you’ve created in your mind, who embody all you fear. They are not us. We’re the ones waiting patiently for you to realize that we’re your brothers and sisters, and there are bigger things to fear in the world than people who want nothing more to improve it and the lives of our fellow human beings.
I know you’re not likely to have read this at all, and that this little ramble of mine may have just confused you more, but I’m going to keep hoping that it might have helped lay some of your concerns to rest. Live and let live, brother or sister. We love you because you are human. We hope you’ll love us because we’re human and, in the eyes of your God and Creator, worthy of that love.
I hope you find whatever it is that can bring you some peace.
With all my love and hope for a future when we can work together,
A Secular Humanist
Closing comments from the Myth Busters Adam Savage at the recent Reason Rally:
I have concluded through careful empirical analysis and much thought that somebody is looking out for me, keeping track of what I think about things, forgiving me when I do less than I ought. Giving me strength to shoot for more than I think I’m capable of. I believe they know everything that I do and think, and they still love me, and I’ve concluded, after careful consideration, that this person keeping score is me.
To hear his full speech as well as speeches from Greta Christian, Taslima Nasrin and Tim Minchin, check out part one of the American Humanist Associations coverage of the Rally.
Highly religious people are less motivated by compassion than are non-believers
argumentative-atheist submitted:
“Love thy neighbor” is preached from many a pulpit. But new research from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that the highly religious are less motivated by compassion when helping a stranger than are atheists, agnostics and less religious people.
I’ve already posted this, but I get the feeling you’ll get it further than I do :PThese kinds of studies always fascinate me. Sociology is really interesting. I think it’s encouraging to know that there is a lot of evidence for people not needing a god to be good. Thanks for the submission!
-Allyson
