...for the individual?
That we must accept responsibility for our own lives; that we should pursue positive ideals and develop our potential; that we should enjoy life to the full in ways that respect the well-being of others.

...for human relationships?
That we need each other and must care for each other; that we should treat other people as well as we would want them to treat us; that respect, compassion and practical help are therefore fundamental values.

...for human society?
That communities and societies need to pursue positive ideals; that all states should promote open societies in which differences of opinion and lifestyle are accepted and state institutions are not biased towards any particular interest group; that societies ensure universal human rights and help their members to play full part at all levels within their community.

... for the whole world?
That the future of humankind and the natural world lies in our hands alone; that individuals and nations must be more responsive and co-operative if present and future generations are to benefit from, rather than suffer for, the advantages the industrial nations now have; that we must provide everyone with the security and means to control population growth; and that we must ensure that economic and social development respects the value and interdependence of all forms of life.

"I am a Humanist in the belief that Humanism entails much more than the rejection of the supernatural. It also involves accepting responsibility for oneself and caring for others. It involves a recognition that we all have the right to live in a world free from fear and poverty, to be loved and valued, to enjoy activities that bring us happiness and fulfilment without depriving others, and to know that there will be a safe and sustainable environment for future generations to enjoy."

"I still cringe when I think about a talk I gave in a sixth form chemistry class, criticising evolution and favouring creation. It was met with silence. So how did I change from that state of mind to my present free-thinking Humanism? My saving was my love of reading, and my parents' habit of examining and questioning everything, an attitude they passed on to me. Unfortunately their questioning did not extend to questioning the truth of the Bible or the existence of God. Mine did. .......Life is variety and change, which Humanists embrace. That is what I value most."

"Virtually all the people I knew and respected actively or passively supported the 'System'. The world and its passengers were constantly monitored and mothered by 'Him Up There. As long as one was Good all was rosy and rich reward awaited all of us. In retrospect, how very naïve I was and how slow my critical faculties in developing! .... But as a humanist and an optimist I like to think that we can overcome the forces of evil. We can encourage more and more people to think. We can convince our fellow human beings to take more responsibility for their actions."

"My contact with Humanism began when I decided to mix business with social service and answered an advertisement requesting housing for Cambodian refugees. This was the first family the Humanists' Wellington branch sponsored and began what promised to be a long and happy relationship with both the Cambodian and Humanist communities".

"Humanism was a logical step. It drew together the strands of a philosophy I was left with after liberation from a deistic outlook. This was a belief in people and their ability to deal with the moral issues that shape our society - apartheid; war as a means to resolve conflict; Maori rights to self-determination; women's right to control their own lives including their fertility; the rights of children - without some dependence on a supreme being to make the ultimate decisions."

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