HUMANISM |
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Humanism is a positive caring alternative to religious
belief. It is an ethical alternative to religion, based
on reason, equal rights, free speech and one law for
all. Humanism is an approach to life which recognises
that we can live good lives without religious or superstitious
beliefs. Humanists make sense of the world using reason,
science, experience, and shared values. Humanists seek
to make the best of the one life we have by creating
meaning and purpose for themselves and others. They
take responsibility for their actions, and work with
others for the common good.
- Humanism
is a naturalistic view, encompassing atheism and agnosticism
as responses to theistic claims, but is an active and
ethical philosophy far greater then these reactions to
religion.
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Humanists believe in individual rights and freedoms, but
believe that individual responsibility, social cooperation
and mutual respect are just as important. Humanists believe
that people can and will continue to find solutions to
the world’s problems, so that quality of life can
be improved for everyone. Humanists are positive, gaining
inspiration from our lives, art and culture, and a rich
natural world. The golden rule is ‘treat other people
in the same way you would like to be treated yourself’.
This statement is based on our common humanity, and our
aspiration to live harmoniously with others as its foundation.
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Humanists respect and support everyone’s right to
a religious belief or faith, but religion and the state
should be separate. Religion should not be part of the
political process or be a form of indoctrination in schools.
Children have the right to the most balanced and wide
ranging education possible, to prepare them for our complex
modern world. For that reason humanists are opposed to
Faith Schools which can only lead to greater divisions
and sectarianism within our society.
- Humanists
seek to lead honest and law-abiding lives, according to
the values of human rights and responsibilities.
Those values include:-
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Equal rights for everyone.
Freedom of speech.
No discrimination regarding gender or sexual bias.
A democratic society with one set of laws for everyone. |
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| HUMANISM
Celebrates EVOLUTION
It
is too easy to take for granted our ‘modern values’
and ‘moral principles’ :
* Equal rights for all citizens [UN Declaration of Human Rights].
* Freedom of speech to comment and criticise.
* Non-discrimination on the basis of race, gender or sex.
* The right to follow any belief, or none.
* One set of laws for all.
We wouldn’t have these values and principles IF we hadn’t
evolved away from being a religious state. ..........Cont
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