[Kokomoxcvcv]

Do we have any humanists here, and if you consider yourself a humanist, how do you define your belief system or philosophies?

Thanks.
G

[otheloComRole]

This is the first that I have ever heard of this word...what is a humanist in your thoughts.

[ulw7A8Po]

Humanism is a movement, a philosophy, a world-view, which non-theistic. It has been around for over 150 years. Most people have some humanistic views, but don't know it or don't call them that. Humanists strongly emphasize the following:

Innate Value of Persons
Ethics
Democracy
Education
Justice
Equality
Environmental Responsibility
Tolerance
Reason
The Arts
Tolerance, Open-Mindedness
Many, many other things.

Which, clearly, many or most of us here, at ULC Tribal already do. The difference is that humanists do not believe there is a God, gods, goddess(es), or any deity or spiritual world whatsoever. All faith or matters of belief are based SOLELY on reason and science. (Which is okay, I respect that.) Many humanists practice religious-type rituals such as a sort of baptism, ceremonial and ritualistic weddings (very like Christian weddings, pagan weddings, etc.), graveside services and funerals, as well as festivals like the Solstices, but all rituals are based on science and reason and are intellect-honoring, and nothing about the afterlife, God, god(s) or spirits is mentioned.

John Lennon was a humanist (So are/were the rest of the Fab Four, guys! Incidentally, all 4 Beattles were ordained by ULC.); Voltaire was a humanist; Carl Sagan, Albert Schweitzer, Kurt Vonnegut, Gloria Steinem either were or are humanists.

Humanism is not the same as atheism. Atheism is non-theist, and that's it. No god - period. Humanism is a complete and comprehensive world-view, covering many ethical and life issues. Atheism is only one aspect of Humanism.

It's actually very interesting. I've starting studying a little bit of every religion and philosophy I can find, and this one in particular, some Eastern Religions, as well as "Ethical Culture," have caught my eye.

[Sheelldaw]

Here's a link if anyone is interested.

http://spiritualhumanism.org/

[jaydicassdhy]

I was going to provide a link to the spiritual humanist site, but I was too late! They had a pretty active forum but it seems to have disappeared. (I never heard why)

I don't really consider myself to be a humanist though. Agnostic seems to sum it well for me.

[erepsysoulperj]

Once again, another belief system I "almost" agree with.
I can't say for certain if there is a God, and honestly I couldn't care less.
I trust science about as much as I would trust a rabid platypus.
The values inherent to Humanism are (for the most part) of great value to me tho'.

[Swidemaiskikemu]

Well, the values are fabulous for the most part..but I am definatly not a humanist...I have a spiral on my index finger..oddly it represents intense faith...of which I have.

[AngelinaTheElf]

I trust science about as much as I would trust a rabid platypus.

...and remember what happened last time you trusted a rabid platypus....


What I have seen of humanists, they have a pretty simple straight forward value system.

[ovenco]

Oh great Mary, just tell everyone why dont'cha!!! LOL

[hujdrftgkas]

I am ordained by the Spiritual Humanists too. I can lean either way as far as the deity/reason thing goes on any given day.

If you're not a humanist you can experiment with it by pretending that you're debating and explaining some of life's greatest marvels and mysteries with someone, without using the words deity, goddess, god, etc.

[Shipsyspeepay]

You guys are all so interesting.

[AXGreg]

We're just us GM.......there's a little of almost every belief set here. I have always thought that many more people lean towards agnostic/atheist/humanist than admit it at times. They say that questioning one's religion only makes it stronger, so it would seem looking at it from different viewpoints might be part of that process for some people.

[MontyP@thon]

I can't say for certain if there is a God, and honestly I couldn't care less.
I trust science about as much as I would trust a rabid platypus. I knew there was something I liked about you TX folks.

[qp0yfHOf]

You should try it in E-Prime too!!

[ViagraPriceBuying]

I knew there was something I liked about you TX folks.

[Barbshowers]

We're just us GM.......there's a little of almost every belief set here. I have always thought that many more people lean towards agnostic/atheist/humanist than admit it at times. They say that questioning one's religion only makes it stronger, so it would seem looking at it from different viewpoints might be part of that process for some people.

I agree. It's the struggles that make us grow, develop and adapt.

They need to (I need to) create a whole new type of Agnostic for me...lol

[Tzqowwyt]

This is the reason I've always called myself progressive and I hang around places like this. I'm not your standard Christian. I have a seminary education and all that, but I'm not right out of the box.

I believe there is so much truth in other beliefs, and so much beauty in world religions. My "churchy" friends (even my husband doesn't understand this) kind of blow a gasket when I start talking about a lot of it, but you guys get me.

[Lt_Apple]

Yes, we get you.
I'm not even your standard Discordian!!!

[chootsonege]

I'm not even your standard Discordian!!!

That's because there is no such thing!!

...but you guys get me.

And even if we don't (which we do get you), we accept them the same and try to learn from and about them. If the whole world was as accepting as tribal there would be world peace!!

[halfstreet]

So true, so true. If only

> If the whole world was as accepting as tribal there would be world peace!!