Secular humanism is an ideology that views rationality as paramount to the practical advancement of humanist principles, while viewing religion as irrational, and therefore not suited for the humanist view of an ethical life.
The term "secular humanism" was coined to distinguish its ideology as separate from the more inclusive humanism, and this distinction typically appeals to atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, rationalists, skeptics, and materialists.
While the term "secularism" does not itself denote a non-religious view but rather a separation of religious matters from matters of governance, secular humanists often consider religion as a symptom of irrationality and therefore barring to any association with mainstream secular humanism.
Secular humanism may be described as beholden to the following principles:
- Humans matter and can solve human problems.
- Science, free speech, rational thought, democracy and freedom in the arts go together.
- There is nothing supernatural
- or, religious belief should not impose divisions or constraints upon matters of common principle
History
Secular humanism became prominent in the 1970s, and the term was coined to describe a secular branch of humanism that attempts to avoid the dogma inherent in faith-based initiatives , such as traditional religion. Secular humanism is based on the idea that dogmas and ideologies whether religious, political or social, must be analyzed and tested by each individual and not simply believed without question. Secular humanists may be atheists who reject all supernaturalism or anti-dogmatists who see existing localized religions as divisive rather than inclusive and antithetical to the core principles embodied in humanism. Secular humanism, like humanism in general, emphasizes the use of critical reason, factual evidence, and scientific methods of inquiry, rather than faith and mysticism, in seeking solutions to human issues and answers to human questions.
Secular humanists affirm the possibility of an objective truth and accept that human perception of that truth is imperfect.
Secularists may or may not be opposed to religion, but secular humanism as a social movement is especially concerned with religious law, whereby a strict doctrine conflicts with religious freedom. Regarding politics, secular humanism advocates separation of government from influence of religion in order to facilitate adoption and application of secularist rules.
There are ten Humanist Manifestos and Declarations:
Notable secular humanists
The individuals who previously and/or currently promote secular humanism includes notable figures such as Dr. Paul Kurtz, Steve Allen, Dr. Corliss Lamont [1], and Gene Roddenberry.
Debate
Secular humanism often conflicts with religious fundamentalism, especially over the issue of state involvement in religion. Corliss Lamont is the author of The Philosophy of Humanism, "...a work that has become a standard text and reference in the ongoing debate that swirls around secular humanism..." (The New York Times). One issue in particular, state funding (and thereby de-facto control) of institutions such as schools, managed by churches and other religious organisations, excites continual debate and controversy world-wide.
See also
Humanist and Related Organizations
Related Philosophies
External links