I am proud to announce that I am now a life member of the Humanist Association of Toronto ("HAT"). For those unfamiliar with the concept of humanism, it is defined in the HAT constitution as follows: "Humanism is a rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art and motivated by compassion. We seek to understand and improve the human condition through the development of secular ethics, for the benefit of all."
HAT's declared principles are as follows:
- Freedom of Inquiry: Every individual should be free to inquire into any and all areas of thought, to explore, to challenge, question or doubt. Without freedom of inquiry, we lose the ability to improve the human condition.
- The Use of Reason: Reason provides a common standard against which we can test our perceptions. Without reason there is no valid tool for making judgements.
- Knowledge: The only thing that can be called knowledge is that which is firmly grounded in human understanding and empirical verification. Without human comprehension and verification we lose our connection with the natural world around us.
- Creativity: Human creativity is essential to the ability to solve problems, expand knowledge, and fulfill our cultural needs.
- Fallibility: Human knowledge and human ethics have changed over time and will continue to change. Without acknowledging fallibility we risk descent into dogma.
- The Natural World: The physical world is the world in which our ethics must operate, rather than in any imagined Utopian societies or afterlife. Because the physical world is the only one of which we have empirical knowledge, it is irrational to sacrifice benefits in this world for supposed gains in imaginary ones.
- Human Ethics: Ethical decisions should be made in the context of real people, real situations, real human needs and aspirations and the consideration of real consequences. Humanism combines personal liberty with social responsibility. It affirms the dignity of every person, the right of the individual to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others, and the need for community. Without this context we risk the worst excesses of ideology.
For more information on HAT events and how to become a member, please visit their website at: http://humanist.toronto.on.ca/index.php Also, please visit the Humanist Toronto blog (which you can access through HAT's homepage) and you will see that they display exceptionally good taste in their list of "Blogs of Interest".
8 comments:
To Tam- sounds like a great idea but its just so full of contradictions , bias, flaws,and human reasoning which can be so self serving,
that these principles have no real value in real life.
The Humanist Association of Toronto is, essentially, a chapter of the much larger (and more diverse) Humanist Association of Canada (HAC).
The HAC's first and longest serving President was Dr. Henry Morgentaler, a Canadian physician and (in)famous proponent of the pro-choice movement in North America.
Humanism has been around for more than a century. But it is still a very ambiguous creature. Most traditional humanists have one thing in common: a fervent belief that society should govern itself without regard for (but not necessarily with outright disbelief of) concepts like afterlife, God and heaven.
Not every "humanist" (whatever that means, exactly) is an atheist, and vice-versa. Although the two are becoming more and more synonymous.
"Human Ethics: Ethical decisions should be made in the context of real people, real situations, real human needs and aspirations and the consideration of real consequences. Humanism combines personal liberty with social responsibility. It affirms the dignity of every person, the right of the individual to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others, and the need for community. Without this context we risk the worst excesses of ideology."
Too bad this belief cannot be substantiated in reality.
Yes Paul, we all know that people are intrinsically evil and morality can only be found through religion .... [dripping with sarcasm].
Morality, as you seem to idealize, is only defendable in an objective reality with objective "right and wrong." Otherwise morality becomes an individual's preference, with one preference having no more weight than any other. I have already demonstrated this. Relativism and morality cannot exist in the same reality.
Paul, nothing that I can say or write will dissuade you from seeing through the fog of Roman Catholicism. It has become the truth as you perceive it. I understand and respect that but, quite frankly, I don't speak your language. I suggest that you spend some time talking with priests who have spent decades as "Brides of Christ" and who have eventually decided to leave the Church. That will take courage on your part but I think you will find it eye opening. Who knows, perhaps it will solidify your faith.
You also might find the following books interesting:
Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic by Christ Castaldo
The Catholic Undertow: A Manual for Former Catholics by Mary Ann Collins
Catholicism Unveiled by Mary Ann Collins
Heretic: Confessions of an Ex-Catholic Rebel by Jerome Tuccille
Good job. You have successfully reduced your defense down to belittling me. Yes, I view the world through the lens of Catholicism, but that does not make me any less valid. You continue to preach your "morality," and judge those who does not share it, even after I have clearly pointed out that your worldview does not allow for the existence of morality.
I merely ask that you stop accusing me, and Christians in general, of being ignorant when you, my friend, are choosing to be just as ignorant.
Paul, I have not belittled you. I save my derision for Roman Catholicism and all other supernatural belief systems.
Regardless of my worldview, I act in a morally upstanding manner, at least most of the time. I don't like to cheat or lie or hurt people. To be perfectly frank, I'm not even sure why and I'm not sure that I really care. I think Richard Dawkins put it well when he was interviewed recently by D.J. Grothe on the podcast For Good Reason: "We can be as good or as bad as we want to and let's try and be good."
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