Does anyone know anything about this organization.
I am aware that they dont have any religious faith but thats about all. I have read some quotes of theirs in the newspapers and they seem to be reasonable.
Any web links etc?
Thanks.
Does anyone know about the 'HUMANIST' organisation?
by jambon1 9 Replies latest jw friends
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hamsterbait
The British Secular Society.
HB
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Gregor
Google "secular humanism". There may be an organisation, but I think it is mainly just a viewpoint many of us agree with (mostly)
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NYCkid
I agree with Gregor that most reasonable humans aspire to humanistic. Just google and you'll find alot of information. Here's some info below. Albert Camus, one of my favorite authors was a Humanist and I think alot of humanist ideas were taken from John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty" which I recommend anyone reading. His argument parallels a lot of our issues as exiting JWs in terms of individuality and individual freedoms, seeking truth and avoiding harming others.
What attracts me most to humanism is their stand on human rights and the idea that through reason, many of the world's problems can be solved. In my opinion, religion in general is the antithesis of humanism and as such is the cause of most of our problems (but that's just me).
Enjoy your journey..............
Secular Humanism is a non-theistically based philosophy which promotes humanity as the measure of all things. It had its roots in the rationalism of the 18th Century and the free thought movement of the 19th Century.
Some factors that most Humanists share:
Either they do not believe in the existence of a deity, or they don't really care about the topic.
They believe that excellent codes of behavior and morality can be created through reason.
Humans created the Gods and Goddesses in their own image.
They are very concerned about human rights and equal opportunities for all.
They tend to be at the liberal end of the spectrum on such controversial topics as abortion access; equal rights for gays, lesbians and bisexuals; same-sex marriage, physician assisted suicide, separation of church and state, etc.
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rebel8
I consider myself to be a Humanist and I consider Humanism to be a philosophy not a religion. I believe in making the most of one's life, living a life worth living, one that is satisfying and contributes to humanity as a whole. I believe no one can prove whether the supernatural exists or not, and I am content with ensuring my life is worthwhile instead of trying to please a God that may or may not exist or expending energy trying to debate if God exists or what he wants from us. I feel if God someday makes himself known to us, he will be pleased with the way I am living my life.
Sorry for the run-on sentences. I am tired.
Here is another one, though I prefer GaryBuss's link to this one. www.spiritualhumanism.org
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TopHat
To me it Indicates a sort of "self righteous" kind of thinking
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ithinkisee
Actually... Organized Religion that believes in supernatural deities could be considered a self-righteous kind of thinking. TO say you have the truth or that you need to accept Jesus and there is no other path is self-righteous. The same goes for any other religion that claims their way is the only way.
Groups (like Humanists) that are willing to accept that long-held beliefs are wrong when faced with new evidence as proof is one of the least self-righteous things a person can do. They are not necessarily "anti-God" either. Most people, including 'religion's-number-one-enemy-of-the-moment' Richard Dawkins (insert scary noises here) would be happy to believe in God if the evidence did not strongly support the contrary. (I'm sure most modern Christian leaders are wishing the Early Church Fathers had destroyed more books and records critical of the Church than they did. There is still too much incriminating evidence out there.)
It takes a lot of humility to say that you might have been wrong all along - something our current president seems to have a hard time acknowledging.
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Madame Quixote
Are you researching secular humanism or religious humanism? Here is a discussion that distinguishes between the two, but does not define humanism, per se:
http://www.uua.org/ga/ga03/5002.html
If you're interested in publications, the Beacon Press of Boston has a lot of lit in that department. Enjoy your studies, and hopefully you'll be a "convert" soon, if not already.
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TopHat
ithinkisee, I agree with you...I haven't found a religion YET that isn't self-righteous. Meaning....I am right and you are wrong. What they do is the best way and your way needs help.
I suppose one doesn't need to believe in God to be self righeous, that way. The point being, they want and need you to believe as they do.
