As a life stance rooted in rational thinking, modern Humanism provides a way of understanding our universe in naturalistic rather than in supernatural terms. It offers men and women, both as individuals and as members of society, a secular ethics grounded in human values.
Drawing inspiration from their rationalist and freethinking heritage, Humanists reject absolute authorities and revealed wisdoms ? Humanists consider human experience to be the only source of knowledge and ethics. Humanists believe in intellectual integrity, and do not allow custom to replace conscience. Humanists promote free inquiry which is the basis of the scientific spirit, and as a living philosophy Humanism constantly enriches itself with the progress of knowledge.
Guided by the spirit of human solidarity, Humanists are committed to tolerant pluralism and human rights. As Humanism is also a philosophy of human freedom, Humanists aim for a social order in which individual freedom and dignity, social justice, fundamental rights and the rule of civilised law are protected. Humanists continuously explore ways of extending responsible freedom and happiness in our increasingly complex world.
The social ideal of Humanism is the spread of democratic values resulting in comprehensive social, political, and economic democracy. Humanists believe that this can be achieved only with the strength of humanity?s own moral and intellectual resources.
Humanism seeks to be a modern, cosmopolitan and democratic alternative to traditional religion and to authoritarian and other oppressive social attitudes.
The Humanist tradition has its intellectual roots in ancient China, India, Greece, Rome and Europe. However, Humanists organisations (humanist, ethical culture, rationalist, secularist or atheist) are a relatively recent phenomenon. Humanist groups are cultural organisations working on an educational or a non-party political basis to translate Humanist aspirations into practical actions. In modern society, these organisations also provide a community for those who find meaning and value in life without the aid of traditional religions or gods.
There are Humanist groups in over thirty countries, from Nepal to Peru, from Slovakia to Indonesia, from Ghana to New Zealand. All these groups are engaged in fulfilling their primary task of keeping the human-centred scientific outlook alive. Humanist groups provide criticism of dogmatic religious claims, cultivate the use of critical intelligence, develop ethical values appropriate to the present human condition, encourage the ideals of tolerance and dissent, and the negotiation of differences by rational means.
To achieve their goals, Humanist groups publish literature, contribute articles to newspapers, organise seminars, workshops, conferences, produce broadcasting material for TV and radio, participate in debates, maintain Internet web sites, lobby governments and the media, and respond to official consultative documents.
Practical activities by organised humanists in the community are as
diverse as the defence of democracy, the protection of civil rights,
provision of sheltered housing for the elderly, and helping the victims of
religious and sexual intolerance and persecution. Humanist organisations in
countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands provide social and personal
support through education, counselling and community care; hundreds of
Humanist professional moral educators and counsellors are employed in
schools, hospitals, prisons and the armed forces in these countries. Humanist
groups in Asia work for democracy, women's emancipation and the eradication
of superstitions while humanists in Canada and Europe have fought for
contraception and abortion rights. In Norway and the UK; humanist groups
offer non-religious rites of passage (naming ceremonies, weddings and
funerals) as a service to the humanist community. Still other Humanist groups
may fight for the separation of religion and state, promote the scientific
attitude, come to the rescue of religious prostitutes in India, or campaign
against the genital mutilation of female children in Islamic societies.
Republished from HUMANISM FOR THE WORLD International Humanist and Ethical
Union 1998
