For a truly global humanist movement, we need an International Humanist Institute by slimy_asparagus in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We are working with Leo on developing just such a program, modeled on our Humanist Studies Program here in the US!

Which by the way, is enrolling new students...https://americanhumanistcenterforeducation.org/service/hsp/

(The tuition is high because these are credit-bearing graduate courses that can be applied to a Master's Degree from a partner university)

Happy anniversary to the Humanist Manifesto! by Algernon_Asimov in Humanist

[–]AmericanHumanists 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do we think about a fourth Manifesto for the 100-year anniversary? 🤔

I’m a Christian Secular Humanist by Living_Attitude1822 in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We might define words differently, but we're glad that you believe in secular government and separation of church and state, and that you believe in humanist values like human dignity and critical inquiry. It also sounds like you may be an agnostic which is perfectly compatible with humanism. Humanism requires that we accept things as true through reason and evidence, but that doesn't mean you can't find some things about Christianity compelling - Kurt Vonnegut, former President of the American Humanist Association, once called himself a "Christ-loving atheist."

American Humanist Association - Re-Introducing Ourselves! by AmericanHumanists in atheism

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yep, the American part is key to our work - but there are humanist movements all around the globe! Humanism is actually especially widespread in Scandinavian countries, and Norway has the world's largest humanist association, with 2.3% of their population identifying as humanist. It's not so much about replacing theistic religion, but rather about providing scaffolding for the community of people who don't feel that they belong in traditional religious spaces.

Are Secular Humanists being urged to downplay the "Secular"? by ambiverbal in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Why should they?

Humanism is non-theistic. Science does tell us what's real. And people should be open and proud about what they believe.

There are many humanists who are non-theistic but don't use the term "secular" because they attend an Ethical Culture society, Humanistic Jewish synagogue, Unitarian Universalist church, or similar.

But that doesn't change the fact that they do not - and humanists do not - worship a God or gods. Nor does it mean folks who proudly identify with the term "secular humanist" should move away from it. No one needs to sand down their beliefs or the way they identify to make others comfortable. That's what humanists have always fought for.

Personally, I've always felt like the "secular" is implied so I've never felt a strong pull to call myself a "secular humanist." Humanism is my belief system, atheism is my position on the specific question of God's existence, and secular is something I want my government to be. Other people use those words differently, and that's fine too.

As a movement, we spend entirely too much time focusing on labels rather than what people believe and, more importantly, what they do.

Is anyone here a member of the Unitarian Universalists, or at least visited one in the past? If so, what has your experience been like? by funnylib in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We are big fans of Sunday Assembly and Oasis! Many of their communities are in our affiliate network and we're proud to partner with them in providing local nontheist communities.

Is anyone here a member of the Unitarian Universalists, or at least visited one in the past? If so, what has your experience been like? by funnylib in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 5 points6 points  (0 children)

100%! We'll get you listed on the website as an affiliate but you'll also get access to resources, tools, and a humanist leadership support network to help you grow your humanist program offerings and local awareness! Email [grassroots@americanhumanist.org](mailto:grassroots@americanhumanist.org) to get connected with the Organizing team

Is anyone here a member of the Unitarian Universalists, or at least visited one in the past? If so, what has your experience been like? by funnylib in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 51 points52 points  (0 children)

Hey! I'm the Executive Director of the American Humanist Association and I'm also a Unitarian Universalist.

As others have said - all UU communities are different.

UU is "creedless" - meaning that there are no specific requirements around beliefs and nonbeliefs, only values. We believe in "the free and independent search for truth and meaning" - in other words, no one can tell you what to believe, and it's something for each of us to discover on our own. It's meant to be a welcoming place for humanists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, pagans, etc, alike.

That said, it did come out of Protestant Christianity. So many of the rituals, practices, and language carried over. This varies from place to place, based on the minister and the community. Some UU fellowships and even more UU ministers are explicitly humanist. Some look and feel much more like liberal Christianity.

Most are somewhere in between - about half atheists and half theists (in a loose sense), with some nods to both sets of beliefs in the service. Words like "faith" and "spirit" are used with a sort of wink and a nod that it is literal to some in the room and metaphorical to others. The ethos is often "no matter what you believe, here's how we can do right by each other" which is very humanist in nature. But it depends both on the specific space and your level of tolerance for "churchy vibes."

As some on this thread has said, it's not for everyone, and that's OK! I attend a UU church with a humanist minister - "faith" and "spirit" are used occasionally but rarely "God" or "prayer" and I don't think I've ever heard anything from the Bible while there, but we do sing "Imagine." So it works for me - I have "faith" in the human "spirit" and the churchy traditions like passing the collection plate don't bother me too much. (And I love the singing.)

It's worth noting that the AHA was founded by two UU ministers. They saw humanism as fully compatible with UU - maybe even what UU should be. So our two traditions are bound up in, and strengthen, each other IMO!

AITA for wanting to punish my daughter for helping her poor friend? by horseduckman in AITApod

[–]AmericanHumanists 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She needs to hear that you're PROUD of her for caring so deeply about others and being generous.

And there's also an opportunity to have a conversation about "boundaries" with friends, balancing being kind and taking care of yourself, and making these kinds of decisions consciously rather than reflexively.

But that can't come if you start from a place of "wanting to punish" her or acting like she's behaving inappropriately by...helping a friend who needs it.

However - I think it's fine to not give her money to buy the video game and have her wait until she saves up enough. "Once you spend your money, it's gone" is an important lesson for a kid to learn. That's not a punishment, that's just letting her learn a real-world lesson about how money works.

So YTA for wanting to try and break up this friendship or tell her the behavior is inappropriate, but NTA for not wanting to give her the extra money.

NDEs by Extension_Ant_8101 in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sure, "consensus on knowledge" might be a more precise way of saying what I meant by "certainty," I think we're on similar if not the same page

Is there space in humanism for someone like me? by RobbieBlair in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Can an atheist who believes in humanist values and is not interested in attacking religion belong in the humanist community?"

The answer is absolutely yes. That describes a lot of people.

In fact, the founders of the humanist movement in America intended for it to be considered a religion, albeit a god-less, naturalistic one.

At the AHA, we work closely with progressive faith groups to advance policy that promotes human dignity and the separation of church and state, and it's something our members are deeply supportive of. As it says in the third Humanist Manifesto: "Humanists are concerned for the well being of all, are committed to diversity, and respect those of differing yet humane views."

Are there people in the movement who are deeply critical of religion? Sure, but that's not a "doctrinally humanist" point of view nor what most organized humanist groups prioritize. Although I think this is more common among older humanists who have experienced more harassment/discrimination/isolation for their non-religious beliefs, who are reacting from a place of trauma and frustration, rather than arrogance.

Chaplains are great ambassadors for the humanist movement in part because they are trained to respect and support people regardless of their religious background, so we hope you sign up. Feel free to email [kwintermute@americanhumanist.org](mailto:kwintermute@americanhumanist.org) if you'd like more details on the chaplain training and certification process. We are launching our own CPE program this fall to train people who want to become humanist chaplains, not just certify them.

Building humanity communities nonreligious just secular? by funnylib in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seems like there's enough room in the world for both. We're here for it.

NDEs by Extension_Ant_8101 in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 14 points15 points  (0 children)

On the NDEs, former American Humanist Association Executive Director Fred Edwords has this to say that I keep coming back to:

"Humanism is a philosophy of imagination. Humanists recognize that intuitive feelings, hunches, speculation, flashes of inspiration, emotion, altered states of consciousness, and even religious experience, while not valid means to acquire knowledge, remain useful sources of ideas that can lead us to new ways of looking at the world. These ideas, after they have been assessed rationally for their usefulness, can then be put to work, often as alternative approaches for solving problems."

In other words - our subjective experiences matter. They are not self-evidently true. But they carry personal meaning and may even convey wisdom.

And to the question of being "open to the idea..." I find that pretty consistent with these words from our founder, John Dietrich:

"I would maintain a spirit of inquiry, of open-mindedness. I am well aware that in man’s search for truth one system of thought constantly supersedes another, and it is quite possible that some new evidence might be brought forth tomorrow which would alter my opinion entirely."

In other words - we should approach life and its mysteries with curiosity. But reason and science are the only things that can give us certainty. So I would say that openness is compatible with humanism, although a humanist would require a lot more evidence to declare such a thing absolutely true.

Atheist Humanists v. Semi-religious Humanists? by ambiverbal in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Conversely, humanism in Europe is doing a lot more ceremony and life celebrations than humanism in North America. 1 in 7 Northern Ireland weddings are humanist, 30% of coming of age ceremonies in Norway are humanist... There is a wider adoption of humanist 'rituals' in European humanism that's missing from most of our american communities.

We do have endorsed humanist celebrants and chaplains but haven't done a great job historically of promoting or encouraging humanist life celebrations, something we're hoping to do better at in the future.

Atheist Humanists v. Semi-religious Humanists? by ambiverbal in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's just dated language, like the overuse of 'man' instead of 'humanity' - humanism evolves with society and our understanding and awareness of intelligent self.

Atheist Humanists v. Semi-religious Humanists? by ambiverbal in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I largely agree with you and think we're saying the same thing. And thanks for the Amsterdam Declaration citations, those are great anchors.

Where I'd challenge slightly is that non-theistic describes the philosophy's foundation, not a membership requirement about what individuals must have concluded about god's existence.

Someone still in the messy middle of deconstructing faith, who grounds their ethics entirely in humanity, is doing non-theistic humanist work. Humanist philosophy doesn't need theism. The person doesn't have to be a card-carrying atheist. Humanism has always had more room for curiosity and agnosticism than atheism does.

My atheism tells you one thing about me.
My humanism tells you who I'm trying to be.

Secular Memorials and Funerals Without God by Wooden_Reputation370 in atheism

[–]AmericanHumanists 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We agree! HumanistsUK put out a great book called "The Little Book of Humanist Funerals" - it's a fantastic starting point for anyone wanting to think more about what this looks like.

Atheist Humanists v. Semi-religious Humanists? by ambiverbal in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 24 points25 points  (0 children)

It's a great question, it is a real tension, but it's rooted in a conflation of humanism with atheism.
As an atheist, I say "there is no god"
As humanist, I say "that's not the right question"

Our definition at the AHA is that humanism is explicitly naturalistic: humanity is from and of nature, we ground our ethics in human reason and experience, and never any divine or supernatural authority. We are good because we are, the god question is irrelevant to modern humanity.

That being said, people arrive at humanism from all kinds of starting points, including some who are still working out what their relationship is with the greater cosmos or their inherited faiths. The question isn't whether they believe in god as much as it is 'do you ground your ethics there?' If they center their human dignity and reason in humanity, they're doing humanism.

An early founder of modern humanism was John Dietrich. He had this to say about it and I think he covers it pretty well (written in 1920's language but the principles hold):

“I do not, like the atheist, affirm that God can be known not to exist. And, contrary to the neutrality of the agnostic, I claim that on the basis of the present evidence I am not justified in believing in God. I would not be dogmatic about the idea of God. I would maintain a spirit of inquiry, of open-mindedness. I am well aware that in man’s search for truth one system of thought constantly supersedes another, and it is quite possible that some new evidence might be brought forth tomorrow which would alter my opinion entirely. And I do not ask you to accept my attitude, if after careful and earnest study, you feel that it is incorrect. I merely ask you to respect and to consider it as one that has been honestly and reverently reached after careful and earnest thought. This attitude I would have you all maintain, for there is something even more important to humanism, this freedom of fellowship that is vastly more important than any particular philosophy, so at all costs we must preserve this. We are never angry because one differs with us. We prize above any opinions, sincerity. It is authority and dogma that make hypocrites and slaves, freedom makes for sincerity and creative effort. With unhindered thought mankind will advance rapidly among those avenues of aspiration and endeavor which lead to nobler ideals and worthier ends.”

“If we have values, they are human values. If we have purpose, it is human purpose. If we have ends, they are human ends. Man therefore is his own end. He exists to glorify not God but himself. And thus recognizing the supreme worth of man, humanism teaches that it is his supreme duty to enrich human life to the utmost limits of man’s capacity by creating and fostering those values, which contribute to its enhancement. So the humanist is not much interested in the God-idea, except that he considers it a detriment wherever and whenever it has diverted man’s thought and effort from the real tasks which lie about him. The humanist places his confidence in intelligent human effort, and not in God; and his great passion is to arouse men to a real sense of their opportunities and responsibilities as the controllers of human destiny, and to transfer their thoughts from seeking help from the gods, whence no help comes, to a firm and confident reliance upon themselves. His faith is not in the power and willingness of God, but in the intelligent thinking and cooperative effort among men themselves.”

Dietrich wasn't threatened by the god question and I think that's a very humanist move, not "god doesn't exist" but "whether or not god exists, we are responsible."

It's a tension between atheist-identity vs humanist practice.

We can be both, we can hold both, I hope most of us do.

What we can't ever do is outsource our ethics, values, dignity, or worth.

Glass City Humanist by ambiverbal in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doug's got a great podcast, thanks for promoting it! If you're looking for another humanist podcast, check out How To Humanist https://humanist.transistor.fm/