The Humanist Fellowship of San Diego

Humanists - What kind of people are they?

Are you a Humanist… perhaps without knowing it?

If your response to most of these points is “yes” then you won’t be far off the mark if you say, “Yes!  I’m a Humanist too!”

• The universe is natural, neither for us nor against us
• Natural events have natural causes
• Morality is a challenge to be figured out by human beings from experience
• Compassion and reason are good guides to deciding right from wrong
• We are responsible to ourselves and to each other to do what is right
• People need each other to make it in life
• Reason is a useful and powerful tool for solving problems
• The methods of science seem to work better than other methods of knowing
• It's better to go to work on your problems instead of expecting God or the government to solve them for you
• Your happiness is more likely to be created by you than just happening to you
• You're not born sinful or doomed, just human, with possibilities and opportunities, not burdens of guilt, and there are no promises of special privilege to anyone
• What happens to you often results from choice and by chance, not determined by stars and planets, or by gods
• It's beneficial to be willing to learn from others and to hear their views
• Freedom of choice is critical to personal well-being and worth defending
• We human beings are part of nature and have kinship with all life

This is one variant of the internationally recognized Humanist symbol, the Happy Human. Think of a man or woman who is governed by reason and compassion, who considers that, so far as we know, there's nothing in the universe more important to humans than human well-being.

But what about religion? What about God or the gods?

Humanism is not about anything supernatural; it's about what's human. Humanists consider that human beings, acting responsibly, can enhance the human condition. They are more likely to work than to pray when things need change and improvement. It's an approach that gets results!

And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. Man's reason and spirit have often solved the seemingly unsolvable - and we believe they can do it again.
--John F. Kennedy

Some roots of Humanism are in classical Greece, harmonizing with humanistic ideas in the teachings of Confucius and others outside the Greek tradition. 

Humanism has always stood for the best of rational thought and respect for the human ability to inquire into nature. 

Humanism emphasizes what is natural, and does not occupy itself with alleged metaphysical things outside nature, supposedly known by faith rather than by evidence.

The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason. I have never used any other, and I trust I never shall.
--Thomas Paine

The term "Humanism" originated 500 years ago during the Renaissance. Intellectuals and artists such as Leonardo da Vinci gave attention to what is human rather than what is alleged to be divine. Erasmus of Rotterdam, Thomas More, Lorenzo Valla and many others advanced Humanism. The leaders of the Reformation benefited greatly from Humanist influence. England's Queen Elizabeth I was educated by Roger Ascham, a Humanist.

Humanism has influenced literature and art, has set people free, and has honored human life.

It's progressive philosophy is the mainstream of Western Civilization.

All religions are inconsistent with mental freedom. Shakespeare is my bible,
Burns my hymn-book.
-- Robert Green Ingersoll