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Sunny Jackson

Council for Secular Humanism - 0 views

www.secularhumanism.org/index.php

Cached ≡ Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - Cached
  • secular humanists don't believe in a God or an afterlife
  • secular humanism encourages people to think for themselves and question authority
  • secular humanism says the morality of actions should be judged by their consequences
  • ...57 more annotations...
  • There is no central authority
  • People come to secular humanism by following their own curiosity and reasoning
  • secular humanism is not so much a body of beliefs as a method for reaching understanding
  • It is an approach to life that tries to be positive, rational, realistic, and open-minded
  • we are not expressing a doctrine
  • doing our best to state the consensus shared
  • Secular humanists believe morality and meaning come from humanity and the natural world
  • It is our human values that give us rights, responsibilities, and dignity.
  • We believe that morality should aim to bring out the best in people, so that all people can have the best in life.
  • morality must be based on our knowledge of human nature and the real world
  • treat others with the same consideration as you would have them treat you
  • the common moral decencies - for example, people should not lie, steal, or kill; and they should be honest, generous, and cooperative - really are conducive to human welfare
  • Humanists realize that individuals alone cannot solve all our problems, but instead of turning to the supernatural, we believe that problems are solved by people working together, relying on understanding and creativity
  • humanists are committed to promoting human values, human understanding, and human development
  • Humanists also emphasize the importance of self-determination - the right of individuals to control their own lives, so long as they do not harm others
  • freedom of choice
  • people create their own meaning and purpose in life
  • The value and significance of life comes from how we live life, not from some supposed transcendent realm
  • The moral differences between secular humanism and religion do not justify the allegation that secular humanist have no morals. This claim is not an argument, just an insult.
  • Nonreligious, humanistic moral systems existed before Christianity
  • the Epicureans, Skeptics, and Stoics of classical Greece and Rome
  • the common moral decencies are found throughout the cultures of the world
  • The most important moral and political concepts of the modern era have developed out of humanistic thinking
  • You will search the Bible in vain for opposition to slavery or support for democracy and equality
  • neither the Supreme Court, nor this circuit, has ever held that evolutionism or secular humanism are `religions'
  • they refused to reverse a ruling that secular humanism is not a religion
  • Secular humanism is not a religion by any definition: There are no supernatural beliefs, no creeds that all humanists are required to accept, no sacred texts or required rituals. Humanists are not expected or required to have "faith" in what is said by any authority, living or dead, human or "supernatural."
  • humanists derive their meaning and values from the natural world. Secular humanism is a naturalistic, nonreligious worldview
  • humanists don't worship anything
  • Humanity's constant challenge is to understand itself and improve itself
  • We don't pretend that our ethics and values are divine: we recognize that they are human, and therefore part of nature
  • individual secular humanists differ
  • the human species has evolved by the same natural processes as every other species
  • some of our most treasured traits, such as language and the ability to understand and care for others, are on an evolutionary continuum with communicative and cooperative behaviors of other animals
  • humans have a moral responsibility towards the rest of the natural world
  • secular humanists cover a wide spectrum
  • One political view that secular humanists do share is unswerving support for democracy, freedom, and human rights
  • All secular humanists are utterly opposed to totalitarian systems
  • The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights contain no references to God or Christianity. Their only references to religion establish freedom of religion and separation of church and state
  • The motto on the Great Seal of the United States, unchanged since its adoption in 1782, is E Pluribus Unum ("From Many, One")
  • The Pledge of Allegiance did not contain an oath to God, until it was added in the 1950s
  • In 1797 the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Treaty of Tripoli which stated that "the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."
  • the remarkable thing about the United States is precisely that it was created as a secular republic organized around the rights and freedoms of its citizens
  • on the basis of shared philosophical principles and ideals
  • The myth that secular humanists are unAmerican is an insult to the patriotism and distinguished service of millions of people.
  • all beliefs are fallible and provisional, and that diversity and dialogue are essential to the process of learning and developing
  • we value tolerance, pluralism, and open-mindedness as positive and beneficial qualities in society
  • Humanists are staunch supporters of freedom of religion, belief, and conscience, as laid out in both the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These rights protect the freedom of religious belief equally with the freedom of nonreligious belief, the freedom of religion equally with the freedom from religion.
  • the neutrality of a secular society
  • Secular humanists believe that a healthy society supports a variety of worldviews
  • We also believe that religious and philosophical views should be every bit as open to debate and discussion as political beliefs.
  • All these claims make the same mistake: they confuse neutrality with hostility
  • neutrality toward different worldviews is the best protection from persecution
  • Separating church and state doesn't mean that the state promotes atheism and humanism, but that it provides equal protection to all beliefs
  • The amoral, power-hungry "secular humanist" conspiracy described by some religious conservatives is a myth
  • the vibrant movement that champions a moral approach to living based on reason and happiness is alive and growing
  • there are secular humanists. But no, there is no bogeyman.
Sunny Jackson

Bundlr - Humanism 101 - 0 views

bundlr.com/humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 24 Jun 13 - No Cached
  • alternative to traditional religion and to authoritarian and other oppressive social attitudes
  • rights of religious and philosophical dissenters
  • Humanism is a life stance
  • ...85 more annotations...
  • Humanism aims at the fullest possible development of every human being
  • Humanism supports democracy and human rights
  • Human Rights Commission
  • Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
  • achieved only with the strength of humanity's own moral and intellectual resources
  • rights to individual self-determination, human rights and freedom of belief
  • Humanists are committed to tolerant pluralism and human rights
  • Humanism provides a way of understanding our universe in naturalistic rather than in supernatural terms
  • a life stance rooted in rational thinking
  • Humanism insists that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility
  • The similarities between the beliefs and values of the different groups - even ‘secular’ and ‘religious’ Humanists - is more fundamental and more important than the different groups
  • humanism Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality. See also the Amsterdam Declaration.
  • Humanism is undogmatic, imposing no creed upon its adherents. It is thus committed to education free from indoctrination.
    • Sunny Jackson
      Sunny Jackson on 24 Jun 13
       
      This means that is subject to change
  • fundamental principles of modern Humanism
  • British Ethical Union
  • Guided by the spirit of human solidarity
  • an alternative to dogmatic religion
  • Humanists promote free inquiry which is the basis of the scientific spirit
  • Humanism ventures to build a world on the idea of the free person responsible to society, and recognises our dependence on and responsibility for the natural world
  • seeks to use science creatively
  • Humanism is rational
  • Amsterdam Declaration
  • Coalition for Freedom of Religion or Belief
  • where people do feel that their beliefs are ‘Humanist’ they should use the word
  • Humanism is also a philosophy of human freedom
  • as a living philosophy, Humanism constantly enriches itself with the progress of knowledge
  • defends human rights and promotes humanist values world-wide
  • UN Human Rights Council
  • humanist A person who adheres to or advocates humanism, a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives.
  • Humanism is ethical. It affirms the worth, dignity and autonomy of the individual and the right of every human being to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others.
  • Human Rights Council
  • Humanists believe that the solutions to the world's problems lie in human thought and action
  • Humanism recognises that reliable knowledge of the world and ourselves arises through a continuing process. of observation, evaluation and revision.
  • ethics grounded in human values
  • Humanists aim for a social order in which individual freedom and dignity, social justice, fundamental rights and the rule of civilised law are protected
  • the outcome of a long tradition of free thought
  • human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives
  • Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance
  • Humanism advocates the application of the methods of science and free inquiry to the problems of human welfare
  • The Humanist movement has its symbol, the happy human, introduced by the BHA in 1965, and widely adopted both nationally and internationally
  • the official defining statement of World Humanism
  • human rights Universal rights to which every person is entitled
  • Commission on Human Rights
  • rationalist
  • humanist
  • rationalism The view that knowledge is aquired through reason, without the aid of the senses. Perhaps the best example of such knowledge would be mathematical knowledge, but rationalists typically argue that many other important truths can also be grasped by reason.
  • atheist
  • Humanists have a duty of care to all of humanity including future generations.
  • fundamentals of modern Humanism
  • Humanists reject absolute authorities and revealed wisdoms
  • freethought An intellectual and cultural movement. A freethinker is a religious unbeliever who forms his or her judgments about religion using reason rather than relying on tradition, authority, faith, or established belief.
  • freethinking
  • rationalist
  • justified by a moral standard that stands above the laws of any individual nation
  • European Humanist Federation
  • secularism A neutral attitude, especially of the State, local government and public services, in matters relating to religion; non-religious rather than anti-religious.
  • Humanists continuously explore ways of extending responsible freedom and happiness in our increasingly complex world
  • secularist
  • skeptic
  • laique
  • ethical cultural
  • freethought
  • rationalist
  • Humanists believe that morality is an intrinsic part of human nature based on understanding and a concern for others, needing no external sanction.
  • Humanists consider human experience to be the only source of knowledge and ethics
  • It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities
  • the application of science and technology must be tempered by human values
  • International Humanist Award
  • Humanism values artistic creativity and imagination and recognises the transforming power of art. Humanism affirms the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfilment.
  • Humanists believe in intellectual integrity, and do not allow custom to replace conscience
  • Science gives us the means but human values must propose the ends
  • mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realization, by all people, of all rights
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights
  • skeptic A philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever be said to have absolutely true knowledge
  • rationalist Rationalists believe that reason alone is sufficient to gain knowledge of the world.
  • Rationalists started with Plato, and include Descartes, Leibniz and Spinoza.
  • The mandate includes preventing human rights violations, securing respect for all human rights and promoting international cooperation to protect human rights.
  • Humanism is a lifestance aiming at the maximum possible fulfilment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living and offers an ethical and rational means of addressing the challenges of our times
  • buddhiwadi
  • rationalism
  • Humanism can be a way of life for everyone everywhere
  • utilising free inquiry, the power of science and creative imagination for the furtherance of peace and in the service of compassion
  • we have the means to solve the problems that confront us all
  • We have a world to change. We need your help to change it!
  • World Congress of Humanists
Sunny Jackson

"I'm a What?" Eliciting Latent Humanism - 0 views

www.americanhumanist.org/...what-eliciting-latent-humanism

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - No Cached
  • indicators of humanist identity
  • “Can I believe in God and still be a humanist?” one young woman wanted to know. “Sure,” I replied. “Many humanists find that, over time, their need for a God fades away. They end up feeling that their humanism has freed them to outgrow God. But other humanists remain believers, and that’s OK.”
  • humanize our species
  • ...27 more annotations...
  • blind faith is tenacious belief in the absence or (or in the face of) the evidence
  • Wishful thinking is believing something because you want it to be true, or merely because you think it is beneficial to so believe (as opposed to having real evidence that it is true)
  • Tribal loyalty involves placing the interests of an “in group” ahead of those in some “out group”—a willingness to identify with one faction, even at the expense of others.
  • high regard for inquiry and open-mindedness
  • educating young people about the obstacles to fruitful inquiry goes a long way towards advancing the humanist cause
  • People empowered to see for themselves how nonsense—both religious and secular—inhibits moral progress are in a better position to help us realize our shared humanitarian ideals.
  • understand how inquiry works
  • inclusive of both secular and religious humanists
  • Does it express your core convictions?
  • regard "humanistic" as applying across the theist/atheist divide, but reserve "humanist" for nontheists
  • free ourselves
  • wear our labels lightly
  • Let them keep their faith alongside the Humanism for the meantime and eventually, when the children grow and become more mature, I think most of them would choose Humanism and leave dogma behind. 
  • this is what humanism is
  • in much more specific terms
  • Humanists long for and strive toward a world of mutual care and concern, free of cruelty and its consequences, where differences are resolved cooperatively without resorting to violence.
  • a theist can subscribe to humanist ideals
  • Man is at last becoming aware that he alone is responsible for the realization of the world of his dreams, that he has within himself the power for its achievement. He must set intelligence and will to the task. 
  • Deep inquiry requires that we look beyond the words
  • we can't communicate without words having meanings
  • Humanists believe in free thought and in free choice.   Anything else is oppressive.  
  • they're terrified of it
  • moral goodness exists within each of us
  • Scientific and moral progress really do depend on cooperation and a kind of cultural evolution to take place.
  • the central importance of human derived knowledge, as opposed to relying on claims of supposedly supernaturally derived knowledge, to our accurately understanding and improving the world
  • you may already be a humanist
  • Christianity is a tribalism that, for all the good it has caused, humanity must outgrow
Sunny Jackson

Bundlr - Humanism 101 - 0 views

bundlr.com/...humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 24 Jun 13 - No Cached
  • reliance on reason, evidence, and free inquiry
  • considers the welfare of humankind - rather than the welfare of a supposed God or gods - to be of paramount importance
  • affirms our ability and responsibility to lead meaningful, ethical lives
  • ...80 more annotations...
  • people can find purpose in life and maximize their long-term happiness by developing their talents and using those talents for the service of humanity
  • human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives
  • a democratic and ethical lifestance
  • value knowledge based on reason and hard evidence
  • this is the only life
  • adding to the greater good of humanity
  • using human efforts to meet human needs
  • recognizes human beings as a part of nature
  • supporters of the principle of separation of church and state
  • humanity must take responsibility for its own destiny
  • individual freedom
  • represents a consensus of what all or almost all Humanists believe
  • universal human dignity
  • we owe it to ourselves and others to make it the best life possible for ourselves and all
  • values-be they religious, ethical, social, or political-have their source in human experience and culture
  • an uncreated universe that obeys natural laws
  • service to others is a major focus of Humanism
  • stands for the building of a more humane society
  • people's fulfillment by personal effort
  • knowledge can be obtained through rational thought and experimentation
  • advocates the extension of participatory democracy
  • Humanists believe in and value love, equality, peace, freedom and reason
  • derives the goals of life from human need
  • accept democracy
  • the preciousness and dignity of the individual person is a central humanist value
  • an approach to life based on reason and our common humanity, recognizing that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience
  • a philosophy, world view, or lifestance
  • a rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion
  • Humanist values are mainstream American values
  • when people are free to think for themselves, using reason and knowledge as their tools, they are best able to solve this world's problems
  • the open society, standing for human rights and social justice
  • Humanists take responsibility for their own lives and relish the adventure of being part of new discoveries, seeking new knowledge, exploring new options
  • a philosophy
  • Since most believe that an afterlife is non-existent, they regard life here on earth to be particularly precious
  • ethics based on human and other natural values in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities
  • nature is all that exists or is real
  • Affirming the dignity of each human being
  • many people realize that they are already humanists and just did not know
  • Humanists stand for the building of a more humane, just, compassionate, and democratic society using a pragmatic ethics based on human reason, experience, and reliable knowledge-an ethics that judges the consequences of human actions by the well-being of all life on Earth.
  • Although religious texts can teach good lessons, they also advocate fear, intolerance, hate and ignorance.
  • highly motivated to alleviating pain and misery around the world
  • Secular Humanism a non-religiously based philosophy
  • supports the maximization of individual liberty and opportunity consonant with social and planetary responsibility
  • Humanists view this natural world as wondrous and precious, and as offering limitless opportunities for exploration, fascination, creativity, companionship, and joy
  • All quotes from religious texts were checked by scripture scholars to ensure accuracy, context and proper translation. 
  • value freedom of inquiry, expression and action
  • have a history of combating bigotry, hatred, discrimination, intolerance and censorship
  • truth could be discovered by human effort
  • humans have the freedom to give meaning, value, and purpose to their lives by their own independent thought, free inquiry, and responsible, creative activity
  • moral values derive their source from human experience
  • humanists enjoy the open-endedness of a quest and the freedom of discovery
  • Humanism considers the universe to be the result of an extremely long and complex evolution under immutable laws of nature
  • Humanists seek to understand the universe by using science and its methods of critical inquiry-logical reasoning, empirical evidence, and skeptical evaluation of conjectures and conclusions-to obtain reliable knowledge
  • The rights of men and women should be equal and sacred
  • a philosophy centered upon the needs and interests of people
  • marriage should be a perfect partnership
  • love coupled with empathy, democracy, and a commitment to selfless service
  • secular humanist values are consistent with mainstream America
  • fundamentalist religion has no right to claim the moral high ground
  • Humanism is the idea that you can be good without a belief in God.
  • the lack of any evidence for an afterlife means this life should be lived as though it's the only one we have
  • When people view the Bible as the word of a just and omniscient God, and attempt to have society's laws and social practices reflect biblical teachings, serious error and harm will occur if the Bible was actually written by fallible humans who lived in an unenlightened era.
  • When the subjects involve governmental issues, all of society can be affected
  • In most communities, an opposing view is rarely, if ever, heard
  • It would instead perpetuate the ideas of an ignorant and superstitious past - and prevent humanity from rising to a higher level.
  • written solely by humans
  • it contains numerous contradictions
  • The Bible is an unreliable authority
  • The massive and incessant promotion of the Bible significantly influences the beliefs of millions
  • Humanists also reject the Bible because it approves of outrageous cruelty and injustice.
  • because so many people have been told the Bible is the "Good Book," biblical teachings shape the attitudes of millions
  • Humanity’s condition could be greatly improved if those resources were used for solving the world's problems instead of worshiping a nonexistent God.
  • Logically, if two statements are contradictory, at least one of them is false.
  • the suffering of the innocent is the essence of injustice
  • the book has many false statements and is not infallible
  • the Bible teaches that God repeatedly violated this moral precept by harming innocent people
  • Instances of cruel and unjust behavior by the biblical God are seen in the most basic Christian doctrines.
  • hundreds of contradictions mean there are at least hundreds of incorrect statements in the Bible
  • because the writers of the Bible lived in an unenlightened era, the book contains many errors and harmful teachings
  • Each contradiction is an instance where at least one of the verses is wrong.
Sunny Jackson

HOW DO HUMANISTS FIND MEANING, PURPOSE, VALUES, AND MORALS IN LIFE - 0 views

cybercomputing.com/...humanists-meaning.html

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - No Cached
  • Humanism is a philosophy, worldview, or life stance based on naturalism--the conviction that the universe or nature is all that exists or is real
  • Humanism serves, for many humanists, some of the psychological and social functions of a religion, but without belief in deities, transcendental entities, miracles, life after death, and the supernatural
  • Humanists seek to understand the universe by using science and its methods of critical inquiry--logical reasoning, empirical evidence, and skeptical evaluation of conjectures and conclusions--to obtain reliable knowledge
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Humanists affirm that humans have the freedom to give meaning, value, and purpose to their lives by their own independent thought, free inquiry, and responsible, creative activity
  • Humanists stand for the building of a more humane, just, compassionate, and democratic society using a realistic ethics based on human reason, experience, and reliable knowledge--an ethics that judges the consequences of human actions by the well-being of all life on Earth
  • umanists stand for the building of a more humane, just, compassionate, and democratic society using a realistic ethics based on human reason, experience, and reliable knowledge--an ethics that judges the consequences of human actions by the well-being of all life on Earth
  • it depends on how you define religion
Sunny Jackson

Amsterdam Declaration 2002 | International Humanist and Ethical Union - 0 views

www.iheu.org/adamdecl.htm

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - Cached
  • the official defining statement of World Humanism
  • Humanism is ethical. It affirms the worth, dignity and autonomy of the individual and the right of every human being to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others.
  • Humanists have a duty of care to all of humanity including future generations.
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • Humanists believe that morality is an intrinsic part of human nature based on understanding and a concern for others, needing no external sanction.
  • Humanism is rational. It seeks to use science creatively, not destructively. Humanists believe that the solutions to the world's problems lie in human thought and action rather than divine intervention.
  • Humanism advocates the application of the methods of science and free inquiry to the problems of human welfare. But Humanists also believe that the application of science and technology must be tempered by human values.
  • Humanism supports democracy and human rights. Humanism aims at the fullest possible development of every human being. It holds that democracy and human development are matters of right. The principles of democracy and human rights can be applied to many human relationships and are not restricted to methods of government.
  • Humanism insists that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility. Humanism ventures to build a world on the idea of the free person responsible to society, and recognises our dependence on and responsibility for the natural world.
  • Humanism is undogmatic, imposing no creed upon its adherents. It is thus committed to education free from indoctrination.
  • Humanism is a response to the widespread demand for an alternative to dogmatic religion. The world's major religions claim to be based on revelations fixed for all time, and many seek to impose their world-views on all of humanity.
  • Humanism recognises that reliable knowledge of the world and ourselves arises through a continuing process. of observation, evaluation and revision.
  • Humanism values artistic creativity and imagination and recognises the transforming power of art. Humanism affirms the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfilment.
  • Humanism is a lifestance aiming at the maximum possible fulfilment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living and offers an ethical and rational means of addressing the challenges of our times. Humanism can be a way of life for everyone everywhere.
Sunny Jackson

Introduction to Humanism - 0 views

www.religioustolerance.org/humanism1.htm

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - No Cached
  • knowledge can be obtained through rational thought and experimentation
  • developed into the scientific method and is the major underpinning of all sciences today
  • a philosophy centered upon the needs and interests of people
  • ...57 more annotations...
  • truth could be discovered by human effort
  • rationalism
  • free thought
  • rational philosophy
  • Many regard Socrates as the first and greatest of the Humanists
  • value knowledge based on reason and hard evidence rather than on faith
  • the preciousness and dignity of the individual person is a central humanist value
  • universe that obeys natural laws
  • rejection of divinely inspired ethical and moral codes in favor of codes derived by reason from the human condition
  • full responsibility for the future of the world, its political systems, its ecology, etc. rests with humans. There is no God in heaven to intervene and save us
  • religious groups' "promises of immortal salvation or fear of eternal damnation are both illusory and harmful."
  • reject both theocracy and secular dictatorships as political systems that are dangerous to individual freedoms
  • accept democracy
  • value freedom of inquiry, expression and action
  • combating bigotry, hatred, discrimination, intolerance and censorship
  • supporters of the principle of separation of church and state
  • moral values derive their source from human experience
  • regard life here on earth to be particularly precious
  • creator of Third Force Psychology
  • human rights
  • it represents a consensus of what Humanists do believe
  • Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis
  • Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change
  • Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience
  • Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals
  • Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships
  • Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness
  • Isaac Asimov
  • scientist and author
  • literary freedom activist
  • Margaret Atwood
  • Brock Chisholm
  • conceiver of the Theory of Relativity
  • Albert Einstein
  • Betty Friedan
  • feminist activist
  • R. Buckminster Fuller
  • futurist and inventor
  • United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization
  • Julian Huxley
  • Richard Leakey
  • Abraham Maslow
  • highly motivated to alleviating pain and misery around the world
  • John Boyd Orr
  • human rights activist
  • A. Philip Randolf
  • creator of Client Centered Therapy
  • Carl Rogers
  • Bertrand Russell
  • developer of the polio vaccine
  • Jonas Salk
  • Margaret Sanger
  • Andrei Sakharov
  • Gloria Steinem
  • American Humanist Association
  • Humanism and its aspirations
  • Humanism and Its Aspirations
Sunny Jackson

With Liberty & Justice for All | The Humanist - 0 views

thehumanist.org/...with-liberty-justice-for-all

shared by Sunny Jackson on 07 Jun 13 - No Cached
  • The world urgently needs more liberty and justice, and therefore more humanism.
  • The ethical system of humanism prioritizes these ideals at a higher level than any belief system that precedes it
  • it values the life of every person in this world
  • ...39 more annotations...
  • Societies that prioritize private liberty to excess, that let individuals accumulate all the powers they can, find that vast inequalities emerge. Those inequalities congeal into hierarchical social classes and rigid castes and severely restrict freedom of opportunity for all but the privileged and wealthy.
  • bonded in mutual support
  • this worldly life is one of mutual reliance, every person depending on so many others
  • reasonable humanism
  • The individual needs freedoms within a supportive society, while society needs individuals to support the whole.
  • Humanism emerges as individuals abandon submission to religious traditions and gods that their reasoning cannot justify.
  • Humanism seeks greater freedoms and opportunities for individuals as they expand their capacities, yet humanism also fights for social justice when novel social structures disempower peoples or entire societies.
  • Humanism works best as a liberating ethos within cultures as they try to balance liberty and justice.
  • it is fundamentally about responsibility
  • that which each individual owes others, and also what society owes to each individual
  • trying to gradually improve people’s lives
  • regardless of any cultural pieties that stand stubbornly in the way
  • starts with actual people as they really are, culture and all
  • practical value
  • logical thought
  • the aim of humanistic reform is not progress towards a static abstract truth
  • It isn’t necessary to know what is ethically perfect before you can know what is morally reprehensible.
  • ethics of liberty and justice for all
  • Balancing liberty and justice in healthy proportions is wiser than naively supposing that both can be maximized
  • organizing against oppressive powers
  • reasonable public discussion
  • permanent reform by nonviolent and democratic means
  • it smartly keeps its means consistent with its ends
  • Humanism is the stance of vigilance for new forms of repression and oppression
  • debating values and priorities
  • alleviate suffering and decay
  • Any list of principles and ideals from humanist manifestos and resolutions at most affirm priorities for constant vigilance and standards that work for humanistic cultures so far.
  • The personal and social ethics of humanism in its details must be ever-changing
  • the practical meanings to such things as “equal dignity and worth” and “social justice” gradually develop as cultures slowly transform
  • people hundreds of years in the future will find fault with our ways
  • We may achieve better liberty and justice in our lifetimes
  • Even our moral successes today will be regarded as immoral compromises by distant generations; they’ll point to our fine ideals, our imperfect reach, and our impotent blindness.
  • Humanism asks everyone to question old pieties using common sense and an open heart, without forgetting that these human resources are within everyone.
  • Humanism can’t respect blind cultural piety, but it does recognize that religion is hardly the only source of oppression.
  • sound minds and good hearts are always needed as allies
  • Humanism urges principles of ethical wisdom for each person, without demanding submission to some wisdom tradition.
  • we must forcefully sustain its radical spirit of outrage against any degradation to humanity anywhere
  • humanism fights for greater opportunity and empowerment of each individual
  • humanity deserves nothing less than liberty and justice for all
Sunny Jackson

Humanist Manifesto III - 0 views

www.americanhumanist.org/...Humanist_Manifesto_III

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - No Cached
  • Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
  • guided by reason, inspired by compassion, and informed by experience
  • values and ideals, however carefully wrought, are subject to change as our knowledge and understandings advance
  • ...16 more annotations...
  • not what we must believe but a consensus of what we do believe
  • Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis.
  • Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience.
  • and to making informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility
  • We are committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity
  • Life's fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals.
  • Humanists long for and strive toward a world of mutual care and concern, free of cruelty and its consequences, where differences are resolved cooperatively without resorting to violence.
  • The joining of individuality with interdependence enriches our lives, encourages us to enrich the lives of others, and inspires hope of attaining peace, justice, and opportunity for all.
  • Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness.
  • We seek to minimize the inequities of circumstance and ability
  • committed to diversity
  • Humanists are concerned for the well being of all
  • respect those of differing yet humane views
  • uphold the equal enjoyment of human rights and civil liberties
  • humanity has the ability to progress toward its highest ideals
  • The responsibility for our lives and the kind of world in which we live is ours and ours alone.
Sunny Jackson

Stop Saying "Same-Sex" Marriage | The Humanist - 0 views

thehumanist.org/...0%9csame-sex%e2%80%9d-marriage

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - No Cached
  • What saying “gay” or “same-sex” marriage does confer is that the social worth of gay and lesbian individuals is subordinate and inferior to their heterosexual counterparts.
  • As humanists, we should stop saying “gay marriage” and “same-sex marriage” and call it what it really is: marriage.
  • marriage is a cherished, challenging, and rewarding commitment between two individuals who love each other and who have their relationship recognized by the state for certain privileges and protections.
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • Nowhere in that structure is the sex or gender of the participants relevant. What is relevant is the love, mutual respect, care, and commitment between the participants.
  • homosexuality is neither a disease nor a disorder
  • there is no valid secular reason to discriminate against gay and lesbian individuals
  • Diminished social worth caused by popular disparaging has far-reaching consequences
  • Same-sex couples are only asking for what is deserved, the extensions of these marriage rights that are open to our heterosexual peers.
  • We no longer need a god for health and welfare, social order, or the maintenance of the laws of physics (and frankly, we never did).
  • We’ve moved on
  • I find the implication of inferiority by distinction offensive.
  • Language has power, and without thinking, our use of these specific terms can cause pain and separation between us and the very people we support.
  • Freethinkers are always at the forefront of pursuits to elevate all of humanity, to achieve equality, and to work for the greater good (which includes happiness).
  • As humanists we must be compelled to actively participate in these endeavors.
  • we do have the ability to do the little things that really matter
  • once and for all, stop saying “same-sex marriage“ and call it what it really is: Marriage. For all.
Sunny Jackson

Defending The Faith, And Morality, Of NonBelievers : NPR - 0 views

www.npr.org/...transcript.php

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 01 Jun 13 - Cached
  • December 23, 2009
  • Greg Epstein
  • the Humanist community as a place for family, memory, ethical values and the uplifting of the human spirit can come together with intellectual honesty and without a god
  • ...16 more annotations...
  • a Humanist holiday called Human Light
  • Humanism means taking charge of the often lousy world around us and working to shape it into a better place
  • a sense of meaning in life that is not bound by or determined by a belief in a higher power that assigns us. We acknowledge as Humanists that there is no one single overarching purpose or meaning to our lives that's given to us, that's handed to us by the universe.
  • we therefore have not just the freedom but also the responsibility to choose a meaning for our own lives and to struggle to pursue it.
  • what is the meaning of our life? What is the purpose of our life if not, you know, avoiding divine punishment or achieving divine reward? And he called it dignity.
  • we build our lives and the meaning of our lives based on the relationships, the connections that we have with other people in the here and now.
  • check in with ourselves and say - how are we doing, how am I doing, how am I living, how am I handling my relationships with the people that I care most about, how am I handling my relationship with this Earth that I live on that I can't do without?
  • we can do better than simply rely only on the traditional sources that have this message that we no longer believe in
  • why do we need to use the word God when we have the perfectly good word love or the universe
  • what I was really wanting was not, you know, the presence of a mystery but the presence of people to love me and care for me
  • there is no justification for the tragedies that happen
  • There's nothing that one could say that would say, oh, this makes it better.
  • the only thing that we can say is that we care, we love, we acknowledge.
  • Death is real. It's final. It takes tremendous, tremendous courage to cope with. And we have to love one another because that's what we get. We get this world, this one shot.
  • I don't think there's anything wrong with celebrating the fact that we have this culture and this history in common as Americans and as people of the world. The question is what do we believe about it and how do we believe, you know, we should go about trying to be good people. And that's the discretion that we have to have, but I think we can celebrate in many ways together.
  • Good Without God
Sunny Jackson

Kurt Vonnegut - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

en.wikipedia.org/...Kurt_Vonnegut

Humanism info Wiki

shared by Sunny Jackson on 07 Jun 13 - Cached
  • 20th century American writer
  • blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction
  • lifelong supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union
  • ...12 more annotations...
  • critical liberal intellectual
  • honorary president of the American Humanist Association
  • known for his humanist beliefs
  • eight rules for writing a short story:
  • Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
  • Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
  • Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
  • Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
  • Start as close to the end as possible.
  • No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
  • Write to please just one person.
  • Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense.
Sunny Jackson

Family of Humanists - 0 views

www.familyofhumanists.org/whatIsFOH.html

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 07 Jun 13 - No Cached
  • Ethical Culture Society
  • American Humanist Association
  • Our decisions and plans are made at the community and family level.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • We build traditions
  • We are developing a "Humanism for Kids" program to help our children grow in morality and humanistic beliefs.
  • encourage participation by everyone
  • a free exchange of ideas
Sunny Jackson

HUMANISM: Public school teaching, ethics, is it a religion? - 0 views

www.religioustolerance.org/humanism2.htm

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - Cached
  • A non-religious approach to human sexuality would make use of the latest findings about sexual orientation; they would teach that bisexuality, heterosexuality and homosexuality are natural and human sexual variations.
  • non-religious approach to human sexuality would make use of the latest findings about sexual orientation; they would teach that bisexuality, heterosexuality and homosexuality are natural and human sexual variations
  • Public Schools are required to base their curriculum on secularism because of the principle of separation of church and state which the U.S. Supreme Court has said is implicit in the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
  • ...16 more annotations...
  • Humanists have successfully developed moral and ethical systems which are independent of divine revelation
  • foundational beliefs
  • Systems of morality and ethics can be developed through mutual agreement much like we develop laws and social customs
  • based upon common needs that humans have for survival, security, personal growth and love
  • Humans are social animals who can make the greatest achievements through mutual cooperation
  • reasonable
  • effective
  • lead to self esteem
  • consistent with one's natural feelings of caring, compassion and sympathy
  • do not lead to condemnation or rejection
  • accepted
  • Humanists do not generally believe in a supreme deity or deities, demons, ghosts, angels, or in a supernatural world, or in heaven and hell, or in a divinely ordained ethical code for humans to follow. Most would regard the Gods and Goddesses as a creation of mankind
  • Religious Humanism has been loosely defined as religion without deity worship and traditional theological beliefs
  • a belief in the scientific method as the best way to determine truth
  • philosophical and educational in nature
  • The ARIS study of 2001 showed that 76.5% of American adults consider themselves to be Christian. The Canadian Census of the same year showed that 76.6% of Canadian adults consider themselves to be Christian.
Sunny Jackson

Our Humanity, Naturally | Psychology Today - 0 views

www.psychologytoday.com/...our-humanity-naturally

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - No Cached
  • Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13
     
    Our Humanity, Naturally presents issues of life, society, and philosophy from the naturalistic standpoint of Humanism. A progressive philosophy of positive values without dogma and superstition, Humanism is becoming more prevalent among those concerned about anti-intellectual and dysfunctional trends in modern society. Our Humanity, Naturally applies Humanist concepts to a wide array of personal and social issues, demonstrating that there are pragmatic answers to many of the big (and little) challenges of contemporary life.
Sunny Jackson

As Religion Fades, Will Atheism Be Enough? | Psychology Today - 0 views

www.psychologytoday.com/...n-fades-will-atheism-be-enough

Humanism

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - No Cached
  • the atheist identity refers only to the singular issue of god-belief
  • approaches the world from a natural standpoint
  • rejects all supernatural beliefs, not just the singular issue of divinities
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • seeking truth and knowledge
  • accepts empiricism, science, and reason
  • holds certain values, including a support for human rights, peace, democracy, and personal liberty with a sense of social responsibility
  • humanism rejects outright the notion of dogma
  • humanism is a progressive, forward-looking lifestance that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and personal fullfillment within the context of social well-being
  • Many humanists, but not all, also identify as atheists; many atheists, but not all, also identify as humanists.
  • the "atheist" label is wrongly stigmatized in American society
  • My humanism is more important to me than my atheism
  •  we're doing a service if we can help the public to realize that atheists should not be feared
  • the important element will be the broad, affirmative values of humanism, not a singular notion of nonbelief
Sunny Jackson

Glossary | International Humanist and Ethical Union - 0 views

www.iheu.org/203

Humanist

shared by Sunny Jackson on 22 May 13 - No Cached
  • affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives
  • democratic and ethical life stance
  • It stands for the building of a more humane society
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities
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