In Reply to: confucius 2555th birthday posted by susie on September 30, 2004 at 01:32:52:
I recently attended a book fair where I met persons from the local Humanist Association. They were interested in my story and asked if I'd speak at one of their monthly meetings. They also gave me a folder, titled Humanism: Ethics for the Non-Religious, containing various informational materials. One of the documents was the Declaration of Humanist Principals, which I reproduce below.
1)Humanism aims at the full development of every human being.
2) Humanists uphold the broadest application of democratic principles in all human relationships.
3) Humanists advocate the use of the scientific method, both as a guide to distinguish fact from fiction, and to help develop beneficial and creative uses of science and technology.
4) Humanists affirm the dignity of every person and the right of the individual to maximum possible freedom compatible with the rights of others.
5) Humanists acknowledge human interdependance, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity.
6) Humanists call for the continued improvement of society so that no one may be deprived of the basic necessities of life, and for institutions and conditions to provide every person with opportunities for developing their full potential.
7) Humanists support the development and extension of fundamental human freedoms as expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and supplemented by UN International Covenants comprising the United Nations Bill of Human Rights.
8) Humanists advocate peaceful resolution of conflicts between individuals, groups, and nations.
9) The humanist ethic encourages development of the positive potentialities in human nature, and approves conduct based on a sense of responsibility to oneself and to all other persons.
10) A fundamental principle of humanism is the rejection of beliefs held in absence of verifiable evidence, such as beliefs based solely on dogma, revelation, mysticism or appeals to the supernatural.
11) Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings.
12) Humanists affirm that human beings are completely a part of nature, and that our survival is dependent upon a healthy planet which provides us and all other forms of life with a life-supporting environment.