Humanist

A Humanist perspective on Social Action

Andrew Copson — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:20:59 +0000

A Humanist perspective on Church

Andrew Copson — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:06:25 +0000

Human beings are social animals. Like our closest relative the chimpanzee, we tend to live together in groups, and we have ways of behaving that have evolved over time. This tendency towards community life was hypothesised by Darwin in the nineteenth century:

A Humanist perspective on Gender

Andrew Copson — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:57:34 +0000

For many centuries in the Western world, women were seen as inferior in a number of ways and denied the same rights as men. The past century has seen a growing recognition that, although men and women are certainly different, they should be treated equally and given the same opportunities in life as each other. At the same time, there has been a growing recognition that men may favour roles that were once assigned to women - like staying home to raise a family, for example.

A Humanist perspective on GOD

Andrew Copson — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:38:19 +0000

Humanists certainly do not believe that there can be such a thing as an all-powerful and benevolent god:

A Humanist Perspective on Love

Andrew Copson — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:09:49 +0000

Love matters

Humanists believe that human beings are essentially social animals, and we are very dependent on each other.

My Humanist World View

Andrew Copson — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:58:00 +0000

My Humanist World View

Lots of people today are not religious, and many of them they have beliefs and values that are based not on faith or religious authorities but on reason, evidence. They believe that reason, experience and evidence – not faith – are the best ways of finding out about the universe and the world around us. They base their morality on what will best contribute to human welfare and human fulfillment. Because there is no evidence for it, they don’t believe in god or the supernatural. Instead of these concepts, they believe we only have one life and that we can make it meaningful and fulfilling by being happy, making others happy and by adopting worthwhile goals to give our lives meaning and purpose.

People who believe these things are called humanists and the name Humanism is given to this package of beliefs and values. ‘Humanism’ is not a religion – it is just a word to describe what humanists believe and many people who have humanist beliefs may not have heard of the word or call themselves humanists. I first learned the word when I was a teenager and I realized that it described all the things I believed in.

A Humanist Perspective on Care of the Earth

Andrew Copson — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:47:06 +0000

‘Because I want my grandchildren to be able to see elephants.’

This was the answer given by Sir Hermann Bondi, former president of the British Humanist Association, when asked why he cared about conservation. As the adviser to the Government on the construction of the Thames Barrier, he had – like many humanists – been directly involved in work to do with care of the earth.

A Humanist Perspective on Ritual

Andrew Copson — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:47:04 +0000

Humanists believe it is natural to want to celebrate the most important events in life with a special ceremony, usually involving speech, poetry, music, song, and feasting and dancing. People have always needed to mark the important times in their lives, and to commemorate the lives of people when they die. Public celebrations of 'rites of passage' are different from ordinary parties, which we often hold for events like birthdays, anniversaries or graduations – they are a bit more focused and often more formal, and we usually use special language, music and places.

A Humanist Perspective on Sexuality

Andrew Copson — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:47:01 +0000

Without sex we would not exist – like all other mammals we must have sex to reproduce, and the sexual instinct is hardwired into us as a result. It is a natural instinct, and one that is very enjoyable as a result.

A Humanist Perspective on Body, Health and Diet

Andrew Copson — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:47:00 +0000

Humanists seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs. They use reason, experience and respect for others when thinking about moral issues, not obedience to dogmatic rules. They promote happiness and fulfilment in this life because they believe it is the only one we have. Humanists value personal freedom and choice because they contribute to personal happiness, but only as long as they do not interfere with anyone else's freedom, happiness or security.

A Humanist Perspective on Violence

Andrew Copson — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:46:53 +0000

Human life is all the more valuable if you do not believe in an afterlife, and humanists (indeed any rational person) would think very carefully before supporting any war, because of the loss of life involved. Wars are hugely destructive, ruining lives, wasting resources and degrading the environment. The horrors of war, for example the enormous and pointless destruction and loss of life in the First World War and the genocide against the Jews in the Second World War, have made many people question the existence of a benevolent and omnipotent deity.

A Humanist Perspective on Freedom

Andrew Copson — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:46:52 +0000

Freedom is highly valued by humanists and the prime 'freedom' that is envisaged as an aim is the freedom to pursue one's own ideal of the good life, in so far as it does not compromise the freedom and happiness of others.

Freedom as the essence of human prosperity

A Humanist Perspective on Death

Andrew Copson — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:46:51 +0000

A harsh reality?

Humanists believe that we only live once and that when we die, that is the end of our personal existence. There is no reason to think that any part of the conscious beings that you and I are will endure after our hearts have stopped and the cells of our brains have ceased to spark.

Can religion tell us more than science?

Alan Murray — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:54:17 +0000