Humanism - What Is It? A rational philosophy ... informed by science ... motivated by compassion ... inspired by art
The Humanist "Happy Person"
This is our variant of the internationally recognized Humanist symbol, the Happy Person. 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? Well, Humanism is not about anything supernatural; it's about what's human. Humanists consider that human beings, acting in self-responsibility, 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 works.
SOCRATES
The 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 things alleged to exist outside nature, supposed to be known by faith rather than by evidence.
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The term "Humanism" originated 500 years ago in the Renaissance. Thinkers 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 magnificent Queen Elizabeth 1 was educated by Roger Ascham, a Humanist.
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Humanism sets people free
Humanism has influenced literature and art, set people free and honored human life. It is the mainstream of Western Civilization.
Although there are a few fundamentalists, inadequately informed, who imagine that Humanism is somehow marginal, Humanism is in fact central, right in the mainstream of Western Civilization.
There are "fundamantalist atheists," too, who think their place is on the margins railing at the mainstream. That is not what Humanism is.
Front and center, leading the way forward - that is Humanism's place today as it has been since the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.
The Humanist Fellowship of San Diego symbolically claims its rightful place in the very heart of its community and so meets almost always downtown, mostly at the Central Library, bringing a clear Humanist message to San Diego each week.
Humanists - What kind of people are they?
Humanists, Silicon Valley
These Humanists are in the Humanist Community of Silicon Valley and Stanford University. We Humanists here in the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego would like to be able to photograph happy scenes of lots of Humanist children like this image by Sena Havasy, however we're not there yet.
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF HFSD - the 25th anniversary dinner party.
Susi Reed, contact person for the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego Mel Lipman, president of the national American Humanist Association Jack Sanders, founding president of the HumanistFellowship of San Diego, 1982 at the birthday banquet, February 2007, celebrating HFSD's first 25 years
Are you a Humanist perhaps without knowing it? If your response to most of these points is yes then you wont be far off the mark if you say,Yes - Im 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 a pretty good guide to deciding right from wrong
We are responsible to ourselves and to each other to do whats 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
Its 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
Youre not born sinful or doomed, just born 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
Its right to be open to learn from others and hear their views
Individual freedom of choice is part of being human and worth defending
We human beings are part of nature and have kinship with all life
Human life is a do-it-yourself job with nobody waiting around to rescue us
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What do you think of these points? We discuss Humanist ideas along with the official statements of organized Humanism and of Ethical Culture, every third Sunday, mostly at the San Diego Central Library, 820 E St., downtown. Free off-street parking at rear of Library building while you attend these meetings - the Five Star lot, Eighth and Broadway - but be careful; this is the only Five Star lots that is free for your use while attending the meeting in the Library building.
The Humanist Fellowship of San Diego is a non-profit educational organization.
