Is Secular Humanism Really a Religion? Part 2
by Kathy Brown on May 19th, 2009 | 2 comments
As previously noted in "The Humanist Manifesto I", the Secular Humanist admits to being religious in nature. "The Humanist Manifesto II" was first published in "The New Humanist" (September/October 1973). In it, we see tenets of this faith:
1. "We believe, however, that traditional dogmatic or authoritarian religions that place revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a disservice to the human species."
2. "But we can discover no divine purpose or providence for the human species. While there is much that we do not know, humans are responsible for what we are and will become. No deity will save us; we must save ourselves."
3. "We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational, needing no theological or ideological sanction. Ethics stems from human need and interest."
4. "We believe in maximum individual autonomy consonant with social responsibility. Although science can account for the causes of behavior, the possibilities of individual freedom of choice exist in human life and should be increased."
5. "Short of harming others or compelling them to do likewise, individuals should be permitted to express their sexual proclivities and pursue their life-styles as they desire."
6. "The state should encourage maximum freedom for different moral, political, religious, and social values in society. It should not favor any particular religious bodies through the use of public monies, nor espouse a single ideology and function thereby as an "instrument of propaganda or oppression, particularly against dissenters."
7. "We deplore the division of humankind on nationalistic grounds. We have reached a turning point in human history where the best option is to transcend the limits of national sovereignty and to move toward building a world community. . ."
8. "Ecologic damage, resource depletion, and excessive population growth must be checked by international concord."
*Can you find the one item above that seems very relevant to our current public government school system and reinforces the move toward setting students free from one religious worldview?
Do you recognize the following signers of "The Human Manifest II", and can you identify how they are connected to the public schools today: Alan F. Guttmacher (President Planned Parenthood), B.F. Skinner (Professor of Psychology, Harvard University), Betty Friedan (Founder NOW)?
* Answer: #6
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2 Comments Add your comment
Jane June 13th, 2009
I really like your post. Does it copyright protected?
Kathy Brown June 16th, 2009
Jane, the website is copyrighted; however, everything on it is to be shared and used.
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