Humanist Panayote Dimitras faces judicial harassment and smear campaigns in an apparent attempt to prevent his work to defend human rights in Greece.
Dimitras co-founded Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) and Minority Rights Group – Greece (MRG-G) in 1992; he has been the Spokesperson of GHM ever since.

Find out more about the history of the case here: https://humanists.international/case-of-concern/panayote-dimitras/

I am a 42 year old male in the UK and was raised a Catholic, went to a Catholic school, and attended church every Sunday. However from an early age I did not believe there was a God. Friends would ask me and I'd describe myself as an Atheist. I believe something happened 2000 years ago that caused several scholars to write a book about some higher being, however he was probably a normal man in a society on the brink of change. Right place right time to declare a new god exists.

One thing I was raised as and what I truly believe is that it is important to always be kind, to encourage and to believe that by working together we can achieve so much more.

Now at 42 years of age I saw a link on a Wikipedia article for Humanist and got a little curious as to what it meant. I have found my people, I finally realised that I did have correct beliefs....just minus all the religious stuff. I felt so at home reading through article after article, all the time confirming my beliefs.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello. I'm actually feeling great that I have found you, Stuart

I had a particular experience over the holidays when a family member asked me to light a Hannah candle. I politely declined and thanked him for the offer. I understand that for many people, these traditions do not require a belief in god. However, on balance this felt like an activity that doesn’t align with my own beliefs/values. Someone else lit the candles and we moved on without mentioning it again. I think at some point I will explain that I am a humanist and what this means, doing this in a way where I show tolerance to religions and where they don’t feel judged.

I am curious how others approach these situations. And where you draw the line in terms of which religious activities you will partake in. Do you cite humanism as a justification for your own boundaries, and how is this received.

Founding member of the Hungarian Atheist Association, Gáspár Békés was fired by the Budapest City Hall for his secular journalism and activism unrelated to his position of employment.

He became the subject of an intensive government-funded hate campaign encompassing dozens of newspapers, radio, and TV stations, receiving threats against his life, which the authorities have repeatedly refused to investigate.

Find out more about the history of the case here: https://humanists.international/case-of-concern/gaspar-bekes/

Or recommend? Which one(s) do you feel has the most impact to support the values you believe in?

In the US, I'm aware of the American Humanist Association and ACLU.

All locations welcome!

Now I’ll admit, I’m not a dictionary when it comes to political titles. But I am curious to see if anyone else thinks like I do. Now, I’m a bit of a history buff, and because of that I would definitely call myself radical in my beliefs. I want the transformation and or replacement of fundamental principles of a society or political systems. But of course I am a humanist, so that also means I want things to be humane, equitable, sustainable, and overall lead with empathy and rationality.

In essence, if it where up to me, many social structures specifically in my country of the US would have a massive overall. Because historically many were created specifically as a way to oppress people and force all our money and resources into the hands of the tiniest fraction of our population. What will be in their place are systems that actually serve and protect our community. Making sure not one single person goes without. That there is freedom, education, and our plentiful resources aren’t constantly waisted or restricted. Not to mention no long squeezing Mother Nature for all she’s worth white beating her over the head till she’s bloody and bruised and has nothing left to give of course.

Of course that is the sparks note version of my overall view on things, but yeah. Tell me if you can relate.

Edit: I am loving all the references and recommendations I’m getting from you guys!

Pakistani atheist Mommad (true name concealed for security reasons) was granted asylum in Greece in August 2021. Lawyers funded by Humanists International appealed Greek authorities’ original decision to reject his claim.

Find out more about the history of the case here: https://humanists.international/case-of-concern/mommad/

Young Humanists International is the youth section of Humanists International.
We help young humanists (ages 18-35) get connected through our programs and annual events.

We have presence in Africa, the Americas, North America, Asia, and Europe, through our Regional Committees headed by the Regional Coordinators.

For more about Young Humanists International please visit https://humanists.international/about/young-humanists-international/

Hi r/humanism! I'm Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at Harvard & MIT, and author of the books Good Without God, and Tech Agnostic.

I'll be answering questions over at r/IAmA today (Wednesday 1/22) until noon EST. I'd love to hear from you! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1i7c9pk/im_greg_epstein_the_humanist_chaplain_for_mit_and/

Hello everyone! I'm James Croft, I'm the University Chaplain and Lead Faith Advisor at the University of Sussex, and the only Humanist to lead the chaplaincy at any university in the UK. Before that, I led the Ethical Society of St. Louis, a Humanist congregation in St. Louis, Missouri, and worked with the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard.

I've recently started Deep Humanism, a YouTube channel dedicated to explaining and exploring Humanism in a rich and compelling way. This is my first YouTube channel and I am very much still learning, but I intend this to become the best place to go on YouTube for content specifically about Humanism. There are hardly any YouTube channels specifically about Humanism, and I'm trying to fill that gap.

Right now I've got two main videos up, one about the 10 Biggest Misconceptions about Humanism, and one about the 6 Core Values of Humanism (What Humanists DO Believe).

I'd love it if you would subscribe to my channel to help the content reach more people, and if you have questions or comments, comment on the videos - that will help people see it too.

https://youtu.be/XxOVZwrtrSQ?si=ITHZzyXxfq6tYEQz

I may not agree with her religion, but what a fantastic end to her sermon while Trump & Co squirmed in their seats.

Essentially this - my personal belief is that there is some sort of original awareness that created and infuses the universe.

I believe this awareness is with all of its creations, and encourages creatures to overcome primal urges and actively work to evolve peacefully.

This is true for every intelligent species in the cosmos.

In essence, I believe that God is an ethical humanist.

So… does that count as being a humanist? Is the humanist tent big enough for this kind of belief? Or do I belong elsewhere?

I’ve been pagan for a while now but I have taken an interest in humanist views. Can I be humanist and pagan? I’ve searched a lot but can’t really find anything.

Just War Theory is a framework used to evaluate the morality of engaging in war. Various theologians like Saint Augustine theorized it, but it can also be used in secular philosophy.

Jus ad Bellum (Just Cause for War)

This set of principles determines whether it is just to go to war:

• Just Cause: There must be a compelling reason, such as self-defense.
• Legitimate Authority: Only duly recognized leaders or governments can declare a war.
• Right Intention: The intention behind the war must be good, e.g., to promote peace or justice.
• Probability of Success: There must be a reasonable chance of success.
• Proportionality: The benefits of waging war must outweigh the costs and harms.
• Last Resort: All other means of resolving the conflict must have been exhausted.

Jus in Bello (Just Conduct in War)

These principles determine how war should be conducted:

• Discrimination: Combatants must distinguish between military targets and non-combatants.
• Proportionality: The use of force must be proportional to the desired outcome.
• Necessity: Only use as much force as is necessary to achieve military objectives.

Jus post Bellum (Justice After War)

This set of principles pertains to the aftermath of war:

• Order: Establishing a stable and just peace.
• Justice: Fair treatment for all parties, including punishment of war crimes.
• Compensation: Addressing harms caused by the conflict.

It is impossible for both sides to fight a Just War. The only Just Wars are primarily defensive ones where one side is acting very unjust. Ultimately, I see Just Wars in the same way I see the police killing a terrorist or spree shooter. It's sad it has to happen, but some actors must be stopped before they cause more harm.

Here are wars I view that are just from a Humanist Perspective:

• Finland in the Winter War
• World War 2 in general by the Allies.
• Ukraine's side in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
• Controversial, but I would say Iraq fighting the USA in the Iraq War was just, even if the Iraqis had a low probability of victory.
• Ironically, I would call the Gulf War of 1991 by the Coalition Just.
• The Mujahideen in the Soviet-Afghan War were just.

Honestly, any war where there is a clear aggressor or invader, and said attacker doesn't have a solid moral justification, would be a just war for the defending side. I can't think of many conflicts where the invaders were the good guys. Except for maybe Operation Bollebank. With Civil Wars, it is hard to call a side just or unjust.

This workshop will give an introduction to the Freedom of Thought Report and explore how to undertake research to update country entries.

The aim is to provide participants with an understanding of the Freedom of Thought Report and the research process with a view to volunteering as a researcher.

Dates & Times:

Tuesday 25 February 11am GMT

Thursday 24 April 2pm GMT

Thursday 24 July 10am GMT

Thursday 11 September 1pm GMT

Get updated on events at Humanists International at https://humanists.international/get-involved/events/

While browsing one of the theist Subs I happened upon a very interesting conversation between a christian and atheist. At one point in the discussion the christian said that "Humanism is essentially christianity for people who are to arrogant to acknowledge god's existence." And that, "Without christian ethics and morality humanism wouldn't be possible." I as a Satanist I doubt this is true but I want to know what practicing Humanists think about this statement since so many christians seem to believe this.

I saw a post about bibles in a hotel room . It got me thinking what would be a book to leave there for study from a humanist or atheist perspective? Some sort of meditation book? Something that denounces religion? Something that praises science or knowledge?

—— best books to find in the hotel nightstand:

The good book - ac grayling

The skeptic’s annotated bible - steve wells

The little book of humanism - andrew copson

Good without god - greg epstein

Self Reliance and nature - ralph waldo emerson

De Rerum Natura (the way things are) - rolfe humphries translation

Thinking, Fast and Slow - daniel kahneman

Unpopular Essays - bertrand russell

The Jefferson Bible - thomas jefferson

—-

It would be really cool if a group of humanists could come up with a book of how to be a great human and atheist in this world. Obviously not one right answer but like the bible… stories and anecdotes of real humans?

—— best answer to the above is: The good book - ac grayling

—-

Would love to hear others thoughts on this.

Thanks

Edit (some valid suggestions):

Humanist manifesto - American humanist association https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/manifesto3/

The good book - ac grayling

The skeptic’s annotated bible - steve wells

The little book of humanism - andrew copson

Good without god - greg epstein

Self Reliance and nature - ralph waldo emerson

De Rerum Natura (the way things are) - rolfe humphries translation

Thinking, Fast and Slow - daniel kahneman

Jefferson bible - thomas jefferson

Unpopular Essays - bertrand russell

Appreciate the suggestions and input!

Restore Leo Igwe’s Facebook Account: A Voice Against Witch-Hunting Needs Support!

Leo Igwe, a prominent advocate for human rights and a leading voice against witchcraft accusations in Africa, has had his Facebook account disabled by Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook. This is deeply concerning, as his account serves as a platform for raising awareness, rallying support, and protecting those falsely accused of witchcraft.

Witch-hunting leads to harassment, abuse, and even murder of vulnerable people, including women, children, and the elderly. Leo Igwe has dedicated his life to combating these injustices, but disabling his Facebook account silences his critical work and emboldens perpetrators of these crimes.

Please sign this petition to restore Leo Igwe's account 👉🏽 https://www.change.org/p/restore-leo-igwe-s-facebook-account-a-voice-against-witch-hunting-needs-support

For example, choosing to save a dangerous, local, almost extinct specie over saving human lifes ethical to you?

Harold John Blackham was born in 1903 near Birmingham. He studied literary theory and was a teacher for two years. Then he addressed himself to philosophy and adult education. In the early thirties he became a leader in the British Ethical Union.

Together with leaders of the main churches he set up a ‘moral education program’ in Great Britain, of which he was quite proud.

Blackham played a key role in the founding of IHEU, and acted as its Secretary until 1967. In 1965 he represented IHEU in its contacts with the Vatican Secretariat for Non Believers.

For more on the history of IHEU, now Humanists International, visit https://humanists.international/what-is-humanism/history-of-humanists-international/

Humanists care about many things: humanity and other non-human animals, human rights, democracy and secularism, the environment, and the future. Our members and individual humanists will work and campaign as humanists on any number of ethical issues.

As an organization, Humanists International has a strategic focus on a range of human rights priorities and issues based on humanist values, which are promoted through our advocacy work. They are issues which unite humanists, or on which humanists have a specific and unique input, issues which represent trends across international boundaries, or concerns that are sometimes overlooked or underrepresented on the international stage.

Find out more about the strategic issues we focus our advocacy on here: https://humanists.international/what-we-do/advocacy/issues/

Hi friends! My name is Ryan and I am the Exec Director of Sunday Assembly Los Angeles, a humanist community that gathers to celebrate life, help others, and build connections. We focus on shared values like humanism, reason, and compassion, all without any religious or supernatural beliefs. Think of us as a supportive, inclusive space where everyone’s welcome – no gods required!

Right now, we’re putting those values into action by supporting victims of the recent fires here in California. The devastation has been heartbreaking, and we’re stepping up to provide relief in any way we can. We've opened our venue as a day shelter and donation drop off/pick up site!

This is part of our ongoing mission to “Help Often,” one of the pillars of Sunday Assembly. If you’d like to get involved, there are a few ways you can help:

• Donate supplies or funds to our efforts sundayassemblyla.org/donate
• Spread the word about what we’re doing to help more people find us.
• Share resources, advice, or connections that could make a difference for those impacted.

If you’re curious about SALA or want to check us out, visit us online here or join us at one of our upcoming assemblies. We promise good vibes, thought-provoking talks, and fun singalongs.

Thanks for reading, and let’s keep making a difference together!

https://preview.redd.it/qhemrkrpj9ce1.png?width=940&format=png&auto=webp&s=e02880d10719c68e9e82f98dc172c7bf1b459ef7

The American Humanist Association is pleased to invite you to the virtual launch of Humanist International’s 2024 Freedom of Thought Report. The Freedom of Thought Report assesses every country in the world on the basis of human rights and the legal status with regard to humanists, atheists, and the non-religious.

Event details are as follows:

Thursday, 30 January 2025, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET Zoom Webinar

To attend, please register here: https://humanists.international/event/freedom-of-thought-report-2024-launch-event/

Humanists International celebrates the release of Mubarak Bala, almost four-and-a-half years after his arbitrary arrest from his home in Kaduna State.

President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, Mubarak Bala, was apprehended at his home in Kaduna State on 28 April 2020 in connection with a complaint filed against him relating to his Facebook posts.

At the time of his arrest in April 2020, serving police officers were among those who publicly threatened to kill him. Nigeria’s history is rife with mob killings and deadly riots over alleged ‘blasphemy’ against Islam.

Read more at: https://humanists.international/2025/01/nigeria-humanist-leader-freed-at-last/

I really needed some good news like this honestly. You may remember my last post here about Mr. Bala: Story of Mubarak Bala And yesterday we received very good news: he is finally out of prison after years of legal battles. He was improsoned unjustly for speaking publicly in favor of critical thinking.

Andrew Copson, President of Humanists International commented:

Today, we celebrate the long-awaited release of Mubarak Bala, President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, after nearly four and a half years of unjust imprisonment.

This victory is a testament to the power of collective action. Through tireless advocacy, unwavering support from our global network, and the dedicated efforts of our partners, we have secured Mubarak's freedom.

While we rejoice in Mubarak's release, we must remember that he should never have been imprisoned in the first place. We remain committed to fighting for the freedom of all individuals unjustly imprisoned for their beliefs.

We hope that Mubarak will soon be able to return to his homeland and resume his important work.

Read more at: Humanists International Press Release - Nigeria: humanist leader freed at last