I love human intelligence because it can imagine machines that fly through the air, machines that roll along the ground and on rails; it can imagine machines that traverse the ocean surface and plunge into its depths; it can imagine machines that travel into space, the moon, Mars and beyond; it can imagine things that travel through our blood vessels to attack invaders; and it can even imagine a world without poverty, a world without hunger and homelessness, a world where we love, respect and celebrate each other regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ideology, occupation or anything else.

CNN Article: Atheist chaplains are forging a new path in a changing world

Just wanted to share this with y'all. So you don't have to go back and read my history, I'm an Atheist chaplain.

My relationship with religion was, at the time, a duel to the death: one of us had to give up so the other could survive. With its death came my resurrection, so to speak.

I was born in a Catholic family. When I was four, I started studying at a feminist Catholic school. At the age of twelve, my dad decided to change his religion. I didn’t even know that was possible.

The questions started to bloom: What was God for? Was he real or an invention? Was it a who or a what? Was it him or her? Why was it so easy to change religion? Is there only one truth?

I tried to understand my dad when he told me that there were many religions and that they all taught the same thing: love. With time and many experiences based on other philosophies such as Buddhism, I returned to the initial point: doubt. I decided it was not necessary to have a religion in order to be a ‘good’ person; that ethics is not entangled with one belief.

In my country, Guatemala, where everybody says ‘God bless’ for every farewell, I say ‘take care’ because I respect their beliefs and share to wish them well; because I appreciate it, but never understand how a god who sees everything can bless me (selectively) and not many people who suffer from hunger in the same country and die with a rosary in their hands.

For more Young Humanists stories around the world, visit: https://humanists.international/about/young-humanists-international/young-humanist-faces/

After the US election and all.

Becoming a humanist was sort of an inevitability for me as someone who comes from a family that is multi-religious and multi-ethnic. Along with another foreign ethnic identity of Indian ancestry, I have three state-recognized ethnic affiliations. My mother’s side of the family practices Buddhism, which is the dominant religion in Burma, and my father’s side practices Islam, which is one of the dominant religions worldwide.

My lifelong experience of discrimination and being a witness to the forced conversion my mum had to endure — such intersectional oppression—had a profound impact on me.

Despite all of the emotional hardship my journey entailed, I am grateful that it inspired me to learn more about religions, ethics, morality, compassion, love, humanism, progressivism, and sympathy.

For more Young Humanists stories around the world, visit: https://humanists.international/about/young-humanists-international/young-humanist-faces/

As a Kashmiri-Canadian who has lived all over the world, I love exploring ethical, existential, emotional, and equity issues.

At the age of 18 at university, I discovered Humanism and realized that there was a group of like-minded individuals who loved to debate major social and philosophical issues facing society. It was through these discussions that I felt a sense of community and realized that I wanted to express my care for humanity through advocacy for vulnerable and marginalized populations.

After doing a number of different roles, I recently became the youngest accredited Humanist Chaplain in Canada. Bringing my humanist story full-circle, I have the privilege of serving the student and employee community at the University of Ottawa.

For more Young Humanists stories around the world, visit: https://humanists.international/about/young-humanists-international/young-humanist-faces/

Every year, Humanists International, as part of its Growth and Development Plan, awards a series of grants to support the projects of our Members and Associates around the world.

These projects tackle issues such as:

•Promotion of humanism

•Promotion of critical thinking or scientific and evidence-based information

•Capacity building of humanist organizations

•Promotion/protection of women’s rights and sexual health and reproductive rights

•Promotion/protection of the rights of the child

•Promotion/protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief

•Promotion/protection of secularism and democracy

•Campaigning to repeal apostasy and blasphemy laws

•Assistance to humanists at risk

•Promotion/protection of the right to free artistic expression

•Non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity

•Anti-racism and caste-based discrimination initiatives

•Initiatives to combat harmful traditional practices

Over 36 projects have been executed worldwide under the Grants Program.

Read more about the executed projects here: https://humanists.international/what-we-do/growth-and-development/supported-projects/

Consider donating to our Growth & Development Plan here: https://humanists.international/what-we-do/growth-and-development/

I love human intelligence because it gave us the written word, factual and fictional, for the written word allow us to discover the universe of human thought and knowledge spanning the centuries, continents and cultures from the ancient Mesopotamians to the Renaissance and into the twenty-first century; the written word enables us to appreciate humanity's wisdom from the First Nation's people and African proverbs to the Islamic golden age and the Renaissance to contemporary digital influencers; and it stirs our imaginations with epic tales of hobbits, vampires, superheroes and galaxies far, far away.

Hello all! I’m very recently quite intrigued with Humanism. I grew up in an evangelical Christian house, got a theology degree, was a music pastor for about 10 years and left religion around 2018-2019. I’ve struggled with finding a “label” of where I belong in terms of my beliefs. I believe humans are inherently good and that kindness and empathy are the most important traits. I still feel like there is something bigger than all of us in the universe, whether that be god or something else.

Anyway, I stumbled upon Humanism not too long ago and it felt right to me. What are some good books/podcasts/videos that you’d recommend for learning about Humanism? Although l do have a theology degree, I really can’t handle heavy/dense material when it comes to books if that makes sense. I prefer a writer who writes simply and clearly.

Appreciate any and all suggestions!

Humanists International Casework & Campaigns Manager, Emma Wadsworth-Jones, will deliver a 1.5-hour interactive training session to take you through how to go about researching and updating a Freedom of Thought Report entry.
She will cover everything from the basic dos and don’ts, to what the best sources are.

If you’re thinking about signing up as a volunteer, we highly recommend you attend one of these sessions.

This online event will take place over Zoom on 15 November 2024 at 11 am (UK time).

Register here: https://humanists.international/event/fotr-training-6/

Humanists International Casework & Campaigns Manager, Emma Wadsworth-Jones, will run a drop-in session on the Freedom of Thought Report this Friday 25th of October (today) at 2 pm (UK time).

Working on a country entry for the Freedom of Thought Report? Are you stuck or have a question? Sign up for this session, to brainstorm and get advice. Open to anyone currently working on an update. To join, please let us know you’re coming here. Register at the link below.

Need some advice, but you aren’t able to make it to one of these sessions? Please email: report@humanists.international. We will be happy to help.

Register here: https://humanists.international/event/fotr-trouble-shooting-drop-in-session-10/

Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.

Humanists International is made up of more than 120 Member organizations and associated groups across the globe. You can find your nearest group here. While the definition of humanism may vary slightly between organizations and groups, the Amsterdam Declaration serves as the definitive guiding principles of modern humanism for everyone in our global community.

Read more here: https://humanists.international/what-is-humanism/

Hello, fellow Humanists. I'm just curious, is there anyone here who doesn't really feel they fit into the spectrum of specific labeled Humanism? I considered myself a Secular Humanist for a long time. However, I became somewhat disillusioned with this frame of thought of association due to the strong Anti-theist beliefs that many Secular Humanists seem to have. I get a lot of people who are Secular Humanists probably used to be a member of Christianity, and were harmed in some way. I used to be as well.

However, I've come to realize for my own personal viewpoints, you don't need to believe in something personally to tolerant and care for others. I know this is counterproductive to religious notions and evangelicalism/extremism. However, I feel as Humanists, we should be better than that. I am perfectly fine with others being religious, having faith in religion, etc. There are other forms of Humanistic-type beliefs which do incorporate different religious type rituals or ceremony I would argue, such as Unitarian Universalism. I would even argue that there are probably forms of Christianity that could be more Humanistic, or at least people who believe in more Humanistic values, more likely your more "liberal" Christians obviously, compared to conservatives Christians. Humanistic Judaism could probably be another example of things that believe in Humanism, but also in the value of religious type "ceremony" or "ritual" according to Jewish culture.

I get that for many people, these add value and meaning. I, personally, don't believe in anything supernatural. I'd liken my Humanism more akin to those bumper stickers sort of that say "COEXIST."

However, I do still believe in secular values and my own spin on life, philosophy and any kind of "spirituality," as I believe one can also be spiritual without being religious, should one desire to.

I'd say my Humanism beliefs are kind of a blend almost between religious Humanism and Secular Humanist notions. This is simply why I prefer to call myself "Humanist."

At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International has warned UN human rights investigators of the challenges of traditional, historical, religious and cultural attitudes.

The statement was delivered by Humanists International’s European Advocacy Officer, Tania Giacomuzzi Mota by video. The statement was made at the Annual Panel Discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/10/humanists-international-warns-of-misuse-of-religion-as-a-barrier-in-un-human-rights-investigations/

Rahaf al-Qunun is singular in her courage and tenacity. Yet she is not the first and will not be the last woman to attempt to flee sexual apartheid under Islamic regimes.

In April 2017, Dina Ali Lasloom, a Saudi Arabian woman, attempted to flee an arranged marriage and leave her family in Kuwait to seek asylum in Australia. But she was stopped at the airport in the Philippines by customs officials who seized her passport and prevented her from boarding her connecting flight because her uncles — supposedly empowered by Saudi guardianship laws — were on their way to take her back to Saudi Arabia.

Just a few weeks after Lasloom was deported back to Saudi Arabia, in May 2017 sisters Areej and Ashwaq al-Harby also attempted to flee from Saudi Arabia to Turkey. The sisters said that they were being physically abused by their family and being forced to live as prisoners in their own homes.

Find more stories of escaping sexual apartheid here: https://humanists.international/blog/rahaf-was-not-the-first-woman-to-flee-sexual-apartheid-and-she-wont-be-the-last/

Hi everyone! I’m hoping that I can receive some help from you all! I’m a high school social studies teacher and I’m teaching about Renaissance Humanism. For one of my lessons I thought it would be interesting to see how the concept of humanism has changed since then. I’ve found passages from the Renaissance but I’m struggling to find ones for modern day. (For example, I have an excerpt from Hamlet and Don Quixote.) I would love to have some input for ideas for our modern-day humanists! Thanks!!

At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International has warned UN human rights investigators of the challenges of traditional, historical, religious and cultural attitudes.

The statement was delivered by Humanists International’s European Advocacy Officer, Tania Giacomuzzi Mota by video.

The statement was made at the Annual Panel Discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/10/humanists-international-warns-of-misuse-of-religion-as-a-barrier-in-un-human-rights-investigations/

In a joint statement made at the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International and ETHOS Slovakia have called for the protection of reproductive rights, LGBTI+ rights, and children’s rights.

The statement was delivered by Andrej Lúčny, Chairman of ETHOS, an Associate organization of Humanists International. Lúčny made the intervention via video at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council during the adoption of Slovakia’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR)* report.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/10/at-un-humanists-call-for-protection-of-women-and-children-in-slovakia/

In a joint statement made at the UN Human Rights Council, the Humanist Society of New Zealand, the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists, and Humanists International have commended progress on human rights issues in New Zealand, while warning against risks to advancements.

The statement was delivered by Mark Honeychurch, Vice President of the Humanists Society of New Zealand, a member organisation of Humanists International.

Read more here: https://humanists.international/2024/10/at-un-humanists-highlight-human-rights-issues-in-new-zealand/

I'm kicking myself for not thinking of this sooner. I've lived in Texas for over twenty years. One of the first things I learned when I moved here is that if you order iced tea, the default that you get is "sweet tea." If you want iced tea without a metric ton of sugar in it, you have to specify "unsweet tea."

That's asinine if you think about it. Shouldn't the base state for tea be just "tea" and "sweet tea" be the abnormal variant?

"Atheism" is the "unsweet tea" of declarations of belief. It makes no sense. I shouldn't have to justify why my belief system lacks an adulterant. The burden should be on theists to defend why they feel the need to pour all that theistic sweetener into their philosophy.

That's why I'm a Secular Humanist (with capitals) first and an atheist (lower-case) a distant second.

During the General Assembly, when Andrew Copson, President of Humanists International, announced that Humanists Malaysia was ratified as a member of Humanists International, I suddenly felt like I was in a great, big family of like-minded people.

I was a closeted humanist for many, many years. However, after living life and observing how other people live, I have concluded that religion divides humanity and the belief in gods certainly does not further the evolution of humankind.

I hope that the work we do at Humanists Malaysia will outlast the current members and myself because humanism is important for Malaysia and undoubtedly, for the rest of the world.

Read more at https://humanists.international/blog/we-are-humanists-malaysia/

To this point, I have only read The Demon-Haunted World from Carl Sagan’s works, and I rate it very, very highly. I’d like to read more of his books, but I’m wondering if any of them would be counter-productive because the science has moved on so much in the decades since they were written?

Are there any you would particularly recommend?

At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Ahmedur Tutul Chowdhury, on behalf of Humanists International, called on the interim government of Bangladesh to investigate human rights abuses and to ensure the protection of fundamental rights.

His statement, delivered during a General Debate, focused on the killing of protestors and the persecution of secular bloggers and religious minorities.

The statement highlighted the need for accountability following the deaths of hundreds of protestors, many of whom were allegedly killed by police in extrajudicial actions.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/09/at-un-tutul-chowdhury-calls-for-respect-of-freedom-of-expression-in-bangladesh/