Nineveh
Merely Christian
The Berean said:Nice try wickwoman. Granted Secular Humanism sounds good but if you look beneath the words it's a different story. It's really just an offshoot of Communsim with different lingo...
The Humanist Manifesto III
Humanist Manifesto III, a successor to the Humanist Manifesto of 1933*
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.(1)
The lifestance of Humanism—guided by reason, inspired by compassion, and informed by experience—encourages us to live life well and fully. It evolved through the ages and continues to develop through the efforts of thoughtful people who recognize that values and ideals, however carefully wrought, are subject to change as our knowledge and understandings advance.(2)
This document is part of an ongoing effort to manifest in clear and positive terms the conceptual boundaries of Humanism, not what we must believe but a consensus of what we do believe. It is in this sense that we affirm the following:
Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis. Humanists find that science is the best method for determining this knowledge as well as for solving problems and developing beneficial technologies. We also recognize the value of new departures in thought, the arts, and inner experience—each subject to analysis by critical intelligence.(3)
Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change. Humanists recognize nature as self-existing.(4) We accept our life as all and enough, distinguishing things as they are from things as we might wish or imagine them to be. We welcome the challenges of the future, and are drawn to and undaunted by the yet to be known.
Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. Humanists ground values in human welfare shaped by human circumstances, interests, and concerns and extended to the global ecosystem and beyond.(5) We are committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity, and to making informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility.
Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals. We aim for our fullest possible development and animate our lives with a deep sense of purpose, finding wonder and awe in the joys and beauties of human existence, its challenges and tragedies, and even in the inevitability and finality of death. Humanists rely on the rich heritage of human culture and the lifestance of Humanism to provide comfort in times of want and encouragement in times of plenty.(6)
Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. 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. Progressive cultures have worked to free humanity from the brutalities of mere survival and to reduce suffering, improve society, and develop global community. We seek to minimize the inequities of circumstance and ability, and we support a just distribution of nature’s resources and the fruits of human effort so that as many as possible can enjoy a good life.(7)
Humanists are concerned for the well being of all, are committed to diversity, and respect those of differing yet humane views.(8) We work to uphold the equal enjoyment of human rights and civil liberties in an open, secular society and maintain it is a civic duty to participate in the democratic process and a planetary duty to protect nature’s integrity, diversity, and beauty in a secure, sustainable manner.
Thus engaged in the flow of life, we aspire to this vision with the informed conviction that 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.
(1) Secular humanism (SH) affirms there is no God. It also affrims that we have a responsibility to lead ethical lives. Why is this? If there is no God and moral absolutes then why should man treat each other ethically? IF man simply evolved then there is no reason to act ethically.
2) SH simply wants to push a atheistic evolutionary agenda. Fuuny, how when so-called "creationists" want to teach a God centered creation they are accused of wanting to indoctrinate young people. But when SH wants to push it's atheistic evolutionary teachings it considered proper?
3) This is simply man's desire to worship himself, seeking inner experiences to please oneself. That proabably explain why nasty and degrading pornographic material is considered "art" these days?
4) Another reference to evolution.
5) Ethical values are derived form human need and experience. That's just plain silly. If I "need" that money in the bank, I can just go in and take it?
6) Humans can rely on the rich heritage of human culture to get and the lifestance of Humanism to provide comfort in times of want and encouragement in times of plenty? So basically SH is arguing that only it's way of thinking can lead to happiness. That seems like circular reasoning me.
7) This is simply communism in "sheep's" clothing. :Commie: SH wants to "redistribute wealth" to everyone. And what happened when communism took over entire nations? The bloodiest century in human history. Under communism (and athesim) millions upon millions were killed.
8) What defines "humane" views? Are "Humane" views whatever SH defines it to be? It talks about civil liberties and human rights but it doesn't define them. My guess is that this human "rights" include abortion and euthanasia.
Any "belief" systems that denies God is a foolish belief system. A belief system that denies God is usually one that seeks to glorify man as if man is the highest form of intelligence and man can solve it's own problems. Over 5,000 years of recorded human history says otherwise.
And that is my $.02...
Post #8
Great post
