HUUmanist Group

Comment

Comment by Lance Haworth on January 19, 2010 at 8:32pm

Our group attempted to develop a very brief “I believe” statement defining hUUmanism a few years back. Needless to say, an impossible task! No single sound-bite satisfied everyone (we’re UU’s, after all), but here are three illustrative attempts:
1) HUUmanists rely on reason, compassion, and creativity, freely derived from human experience, as the basis for ethics, morality and community.
2) If a thing needs doing, only humans will do it.
3) HUUmanists celebrate a philosophy of humanity and the universe based on human experience and reason. We embrace an ethics and way of life that precludes the supernatural.

Comment by Phyllis Woodring on January 19, 2010 at 2:44pm

Bill's and Judy's definitions are both excellent. Merriam Webster.com definition: is a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason. That is pretty good too.I have the impression that most of the people who come to the Huumanist group would agree with that meaning.

Comment by Judy King on January 19, 2010 at 2:19pm

To me, it means that we humans are on our own here.
We are not guided or protected by a god.
So it seems wise to learn to get along with one another
and to take care of our earth and fellow animals.
It means this life is IT, so love it and live with care and appreciation.

Comment by Bill Fogarty on January 18, 2010 at 9:35pm

I think there are many definitions that have been offered over the years. I have not been able to go to many HUUmanist meetings, and I imagine wiser people will come up with better definitions, but try this one: "Humanism is being good without God." This is a quote from a recent book I just bought ---Good Without God, by Greg Epstein, the Humanist Chaplin at Harvard University. Check out his introduction, which provides a good explanation (in my opinion) about Humanism.

Comment by Chad Ohlandt on January 18, 2010 at 12:53pm

Just wondering if anyone wants to provide a definition of humanism? At least in the sense of how the group addresses it.
Thanks
Chad