A Brief Introduction to Humanism
What Humanists 'Do' believe
- That the universe is a natural place and we gain knowledge about it by using science and searching for evidence.
- That we can discover right and wrong (morality) by using our human powers of EMPATHY and REASON.
- That we have this ONE LIFE and so should try to make it as good as possible by giving it our best shot!
- That everyone should make up their own minds on the basis of evidence and reason and never simply believe what we are told to believe.
- That we are responsible for our own lives and for our own behaviour.
- That we are responsible for making the world a better place so that everyone can have a life of flourishing.
What Humanists 'Do Not' believe
- Humanists do not believe that anything supernatural is real. Humanists believe that supernatural things are all imaginary.
“Supernatural” things include gods, spirits, souls, angels, the devil, and the afterlife. - Because Humanists do not believe that gods are real, Humanists are ATHEISTS or AGNOSTICS (Atheists are people who do not believe that gods are real or actually exist. Agnostics are people who believe that nothing can be known about god.)
Some other facts about Humanism
- Humanists do not pray. They do not have religious leaders, holy places, holy books or religious holidays.
- Humanists do celebrate births, weddings and hold funerals and midwinter festivals, but without prayers or religious rituals.
- Humanist ideas are 2,400 years old and are found in many cultures from around the world.
- Today, many people around the world share the Humanist worldview without necessarily calling themselves “Humanists”.
More About Humanism
Humanist Morality
Humanists believe that people are moral beings. Humanists tell right from wrong without a god or a religion to guide them.
This means we can think and decide about right and wrong behaviours - without using the holy book of a faith or religion.
We do this by using two great powers that we are all born with:
Empathy: The power of the mind to understand and share the feelings of others - and to react appropriately. Another way of understanding empathy is “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes”
Reason: The power of the mind to think, understand, and logically make decisions. We humans have been doing this for a very long time and have a rich source of moral reasoning - called moral philosophy - from many ages and cultures.
When we use these powers whilst recognising that we are social beings who need each other for a good life, we can decide on right and wrong and how we should behave. Humanists also believe that every human has value and should enjoy the freedom to live the way they wish to, as long as this does not harm others. This includes the freedom to follow a faith or religion as long as this does not encourage harm or restrictions on the freedom of others.
In other words - Humanists do not seek to convert others to Humanism. We believe that we all have a right to freedom of belief.
The Humanist Approach to Truth and Knowledge
Humanists regard the universe as a natural place - a place where only nature’s patterns and rules are in charge. So Humanists look for natural explanations to tell us about ourselves and everything else we see and experience. Humanists believe that the best tool for finding truth about ourselves and the universe is the scientific method. This is a process of asking a question, thinking up a possible explanation and then searching for evidence.
Strong evidence that supports the theory = strong belief.
No evidence supporting the theory = no belief.
Evidence that the theory is actually wrong! Bin that theory.
Humanists reject the idea that truth can be found from revelations reported by “holy” people like prophets, or religious officials, people who report that a god has spoken through them or that they know the true meanings in a religious book.
Humanist Beliefs About Death
Humanists believe that the afterlife is a supernatural idea and that it does not exist. Humanists believe we have only this one life. When we die, our consciousness ends – just as it did not exist before we were born. Humanists believe that because we have one life, we should try our best to live a good life. Humanists believe that the only things that continues after a person dies are the effect that they have had on the world during their life.
These are the good and bad things they have done, and the effect they have had on others and on the planet. Humanists think of these things as the ripples people make during their lives - and only these “ripples” continue after death.
What is a “good Life” for a Humanist?
A good life for a Humanists is called a life of flourishing. Because humans are social creatures who depend on each other for almost everything in life, compassion and consideration of others is the basis of a good life. Living well is mainly togetherness with kindness and activities which enrich and enhance our pleasure in life.
A life of flourishing includes:
- Living in freedom to your full potential by being able to do the things that make you happy and content
- Building a kind and just society in which you and everyone an feel secure and valued
- Caring for others and being cared for by others
- Looking after the planet for ourselves, for future generations, and for all other species
Not everyone enjoys the opportunities to live a good life, but this is what Humanists work towards changing by making the right choices in life.
Are the Principles of Humanism Written Down?
Yes - the “Amsterdam Declaration” is a document produced by Humanists International. The declaration is an agreement and not a set of rules. Humanists can vary a lot in some of the things that they believe, but the ideas and beliefs you will read on this website are common to all Humanists.
You can find the latest version of the Amsterdam Declaration here:
humanists.international/what-is-humanism/the-amsterdam-declaration/
Do Humanists Have Celebrations? Yes they certainly do!
Baby Naming Ceremonies
Humanists welcome a new person into the world with a ceremony that celebrates the arrival of a new human life. The ceremony is usually attended by all those people who are close to the baby and who, by attending, are indicating that they will help this child develop and flourish is safety and security. Think of it as the baby’s supporters club! The ceremony is conducted by a Humanist celebrant and contains no prayers, and no fixed rituals.
For more information see: humanists.uk/ceremonies/humanist-namings/
Weddings
Humanist wedding are becoming extremely popular as many couples are not religious and do not want their special day to be contain prayers and rituals that they do not believe in. Humanist celebrants plan wedding ceremonies with the couple so that they can make the event personal and special.
In Scotland - where Humanist celebrants can legally marry couples, over 50% of weddings are humanist ceremonies! We hope that the law will change soon so that all couples in England and Wales can have a Humanist wedding if they choose.
For more information see: humanists.uk/ceremonies/non-religious-weddings/
Funerals
Humanist funerals are also becoming common. They are a personal way of saying goodbye to those who have lived their lives without religion. The funeral honours the person and focusses on the life they led the relationships they made and the legacy they left behind. There is no religious content in a Humanist funeral.
For more information see: humanists.uk/ceremonies/non-religious-funerals/
What Do Humanists Do About Christmas?
Humanists may celebrate the midwinter festival in late December when the days are shortest. Such celebrations are older than most religions and they mark the beginning of a new year in nature. These celebrations began as pagan festivals a very long time ago and the focus is on family, friendship, feasting, and hope for the new year.
Do Humanists Have Any Food Restrictions?
Humanists are free to eat what they like. However, some Humanists think that following a vegetarian or a vegan diet is kinder to
animals. Other Humanists may eat meat and dairy but shop carefully to avoid animal cruelty.
Humanists try to live ethically and so food choices are important, including the impact of food production on the planet.