Post by kenny220 on Aug 13, 2009 13:58:10 GMT
Humanism:
* is not a religion. It has no belief in the supernatural, no holy books, no holy men, no churches or holy places and no acts of worship or reverence.
* is not dependent on science though humanists are skeptical freethinkers. If an idea is unnecessary we reject it. If an idea has no evidence for it, we reject it.
* supports freedom of thought and expression while promoting strong moral values and personal responsibility in the society we share.
Humanism puts people first in the one life we share together
What is a humanist?
A humanist:
* is an atheist or agnostic with no need of gods or religions to answer the big questions of life or to enjoy a happy, responsible and moral life.
* makes no claim to be perfect: we are all human, we are all fallible, we all have human weaknesses - but we do our best.
* marks the great events of life (naming, partnership, death) with non-religious ceremonies or a good party.
* feels that religious belief should be a matter of personal intellectual choice and not forced onto others.
* has secular aims: to separate church and state, end privileges granted to religions and educate children of all beliefs together in the best interests of social cohesion.
* supports the Race and Religious Hatred Act of 2006 which makes it clear that the right to "dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse ... particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents" (section 29J) is central to freedom of speech.
* opposes the exemptions granted under the Equality Act 2006 to religious organisations that continue to discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexuality and belief.
Creating a set of moral values
Moral values are far older than any of today's religions and are necessary for any society to work in harmony. We base our moral values on three things:
* Empathy: "how would you feel if someone did that to you?"
* Consequences: "what will be the result of what you choose to do?"
* Responsibility: "you are responsible for your own actions - what would happen if everyone did it?"
An example of a set of moral values:
* Do no harm, physical or psychological, and do not discriminate on the basis of those things that the individual has no control over.
* Treat other people in the same way you would like them to treat you.
* Be responsible for your actions and the consequences of those actions.
* Accept a duty of care towards others and the world we share - leave a positive legacy to future generations.
* Affirm the individual's right to self-determination.
* Be truthful, honest, trustworthy, fair, just and honourable.
* Respect those who earn respect by what they do, not by what they believe.
"God is an unnecessary proposition" sums up why humanists do not believe in gods. Humanists can answer the big questions of life without creating a god.
If you propose something, you must provide evidence for it. If you propose that the Earth is balanced in space on the tip of the nose of an invisible dancing pink hippopotamus, you must provide evidence. It is not up to anyone else to prove that The Pink Hippo does not exist - that would be absurd. It is sufficient for humanists that there is no need to propose the existence of a god and no evidence for one.
Where did everything come from?
We have no evidence that anything can be created out of nothing so humanists think that the Universe is a vast recycling plant which changes form forever.
We see no need to propose a "beginning" or an "end". The particles and energy that make up the Universe have always existed, in one form or another, and will always exist, in one form or another.
What happens after death?
Humanists understand that we are our conscious selves and that consciousness derives from the chemical and electrical activities of our brains as well as from our genes and past experiences. When consciousness ceases we die and our atoms are recycled in the Universe. Humanists would prefer not to die - and do everything possible to avoid it - but being dead holds no fear.
humanist haVE decided that cremation wastes so much energy, and creates so much pollution, that he wants a non-religious burial in the countryside with a tree planted on his grave. He loves the idea that the atoms that make up his body will be recycled into the atoms of the tree and that one day the tree may be cut down to make paper that may be used to print books. Of course the books will themselves eventually be recycled in the Universe and maybe in millions of years his atoms will be used to create new stars and new planets. He says: "I am made of the Universe and the Universe is made of me!"
What is the meaning and purpose of life?
Life is to be enjoyed, to be happy and to help others to be happy. Humans are social animals: without other humans, life would not be worth living. As social animals we need rules to order our lives, and we need to understand the feelings of others when creating those rules. "Empathy" is the most important of all emotions to humanists.
Those who claim that it is impossible to have morals without god and religion need only to ask themselves "would I become an immoral person: murdering, raping and stealing if I ceased to believe in my god?" to recognise the flaw in their argument.
Questions people ask about humanists
Do you fear death?
Many people fear the process of dying - prolonged pain or loss of mental faculties - but being dead holds no fear.
We support the right of everyone to a dignified death , i could go on for hours and hours but im not a preacher, this is an humanism persons opinion,
* is not a religion. It has no belief in the supernatural, no holy books, no holy men, no churches or holy places and no acts of worship or reverence.
* is not dependent on science though humanists are skeptical freethinkers. If an idea is unnecessary we reject it. If an idea has no evidence for it, we reject it.
* supports freedom of thought and expression while promoting strong moral values and personal responsibility in the society we share.
Humanism puts people first in the one life we share together
What is a humanist?
A humanist:
* is an atheist or agnostic with no need of gods or religions to answer the big questions of life or to enjoy a happy, responsible and moral life.
* makes no claim to be perfect: we are all human, we are all fallible, we all have human weaknesses - but we do our best.
* marks the great events of life (naming, partnership, death) with non-religious ceremonies or a good party.
* feels that religious belief should be a matter of personal intellectual choice and not forced onto others.
* has secular aims: to separate church and state, end privileges granted to religions and educate children of all beliefs together in the best interests of social cohesion.
* supports the Race and Religious Hatred Act of 2006 which makes it clear that the right to "dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse ... particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents" (section 29J) is central to freedom of speech.
* opposes the exemptions granted under the Equality Act 2006 to religious organisations that continue to discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexuality and belief.
Creating a set of moral values
Moral values are far older than any of today's religions and are necessary for any society to work in harmony. We base our moral values on three things:
* Empathy: "how would you feel if someone did that to you?"
* Consequences: "what will be the result of what you choose to do?"
* Responsibility: "you are responsible for your own actions - what would happen if everyone did it?"
An example of a set of moral values:
* Do no harm, physical or psychological, and do not discriminate on the basis of those things that the individual has no control over.
* Treat other people in the same way you would like them to treat you.
* Be responsible for your actions and the consequences of those actions.
* Accept a duty of care towards others and the world we share - leave a positive legacy to future generations.
* Affirm the individual's right to self-determination.
* Be truthful, honest, trustworthy, fair, just and honourable.
* Respect those who earn respect by what they do, not by what they believe.
"God is an unnecessary proposition" sums up why humanists do not believe in gods. Humanists can answer the big questions of life without creating a god.
If you propose something, you must provide evidence for it. If you propose that the Earth is balanced in space on the tip of the nose of an invisible dancing pink hippopotamus, you must provide evidence. It is not up to anyone else to prove that The Pink Hippo does not exist - that would be absurd. It is sufficient for humanists that there is no need to propose the existence of a god and no evidence for one.
Where did everything come from?
We have no evidence that anything can be created out of nothing so humanists think that the Universe is a vast recycling plant which changes form forever.
We see no need to propose a "beginning" or an "end". The particles and energy that make up the Universe have always existed, in one form or another, and will always exist, in one form or another.
What happens after death?
Humanists understand that we are our conscious selves and that consciousness derives from the chemical and electrical activities of our brains as well as from our genes and past experiences. When consciousness ceases we die and our atoms are recycled in the Universe. Humanists would prefer not to die - and do everything possible to avoid it - but being dead holds no fear.
humanist haVE decided that cremation wastes so much energy, and creates so much pollution, that he wants a non-religious burial in the countryside with a tree planted on his grave. He loves the idea that the atoms that make up his body will be recycled into the atoms of the tree and that one day the tree may be cut down to make paper that may be used to print books. Of course the books will themselves eventually be recycled in the Universe and maybe in millions of years his atoms will be used to create new stars and new planets. He says: "I am made of the Universe and the Universe is made of me!"
What is the meaning and purpose of life?
Life is to be enjoyed, to be happy and to help others to be happy. Humans are social animals: without other humans, life would not be worth living. As social animals we need rules to order our lives, and we need to understand the feelings of others when creating those rules. "Empathy" is the most important of all emotions to humanists.
Those who claim that it is impossible to have morals without god and religion need only to ask themselves "would I become an immoral person: murdering, raping and stealing if I ceased to believe in my god?" to recognise the flaw in their argument.
Questions people ask about humanists
Do you fear death?
Many people fear the process of dying - prolonged pain or loss of mental faculties - but being dead holds no fear.
We support the right of everyone to a dignified death , i could go on for hours and hours but im not a preacher, this is an humanism persons opinion,
