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Secular humanism is a philosophy, belief system, or life stance that embraces human reason, logic, secular ethics, and philosophical naturalism, while specifically rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, and superstition as the basis of morality and decision-making.[1][2][3][4]
Secular humanism posits that human beings are capable of being ethical and moral without religion or belief in a deity. It does not, however, assume that humans are either inherently good or evil, nor does it present humans as being superior to nature. Rather, the humanist life stance emphasizes the unique responsibility facing humanity and the ethical consequences of human decisions. Fundamental to the concept of secular humanism is the strongly held viewpoint that ideology—be it religious or political—must be thoroughly examined by each individual and not simply accepted or rejected on faith. Along with this, an essential part of secular humanism is a continually adapting search for truth, primarily through science and philosophy. Many secular humanists derive their moral codes from a philosophy of utilitarianism, ethical naturalism, or evolutionary ethics, and some advocate a science of morality.
Humanists International, founded by Julian Huxley and Jaap van Praag, is the world union of more than one hundred humanist, rationalist, irreligious, atheist, Bright, secular, Ethical Culture, and freethought organizations in more than 40 countries. The "Happy Human" is recognized as the official symbol of humanism internationally, used by secular humanist organizations in every part of the world.
The term itself is not uncontested. "Secular humanism" is not a universally used phrase, and is most prevalent in the United States. Most member organisations of Humanists International, for example, use simply the term "humanism" to refer to this concept, with some commentators remarking that "'hyphenated humanism' easily becomes more about the adjective than its referent".
^Council for Secular Humanism. "10 Myths About Secular Humanism". Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
^Edwords, Fred (1989). "What Is Humanism?". American Humanist Association. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2009. Secular Humanism is an outgrowth of eighteenth century enlightenment rationalism and nineteenth century freethought... A decidedly anti-theistic version of secular humanism, however, is developed by Adolf Grünbaum, 'In Defense of Secular Humanism' (1995), in his Collected Works (edited by Thomas Kupka), vol. I, New York: Oxford University Press 2013, ch. 6 (pp. 115–48)
^Compact Oxford English dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2007. humanism n. 1 a rationalistic system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters.
^"Definitions of humanism (subsection)". Institute for Humanist Studies. Archived from the original on 18 January 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2007.
Secularhumanism is a philosophy, belief system, or life stance that embraces human reason, logic, secular ethics, and philosophical naturalism, while...
John Dewey and Julian Huxley; scientific humanism is largely synonymous with secularhumanism. Secularhumanism: coined in the mid-20th century, it was...
Claims of the Paranormal (founded by Kurtz in 1976) and the Council for SecularHumanism (founded by Kurtz in 1980). The Center for Inquiry Inc was registered...
Humanist Laureate in The International Academy of Humanism, and Chairman of the Council for SecularHumanism, and received the Distinguished Service Award...
the United States [citation needed]. "Secularhumanism" has become the most popular form of organized Humanism. However, the American Humanist Association...
2012) was an American scientific skeptic and secular humanist. He has been called "the father of secularhumanism". He was Professor Emeritus of Philosophy...
of secularity... are literally unthinkable without their Christian humanistic roots." The initial distinguishing factor between Christian humanism and...
and Humanism and Its Aspirations (2003, a.k.a. Humanist Manifesto III). The Manifesto originally arose from religious humanism, though secular humanists...
Humanist Association (BHA), is a charitable organisation which promotes secularhumanism and aims to represent "people who seek to live good lives without religious...
Secular theology is a term applied to theological positions influenced by humanism and secularism, rejecting supernatural metaphysical positions related...
Secular morality is the aspect of philosophy that deals with morality outside of religious traditions. Modern examples include humanism, freethinking...
Buddhist ones, taking alternative stances. Secular Buddhism has its roots in Buddhist modernism and secularhumanism, and is part of the broad trend of secularization...
1 August 2007. "A Secular Humanist Declaration". Council for Democratic and SecularHumanism (now the Council for SecularHumanism). 1980. Archived from...
relieve women from exercising a crucial aspect of their moral agency. Secularhumanism is an ethical framework that attempts to dispense with any unreasoned...
synagogues List of Jewish atheists and agnostics Reconstructionist Judaism Secularhumanism Felix Adler Karesh, Sara E.; Hurvitz, Mitchell M. (2005). "Humanistic...
doctrine or faith (fideism). Two common forms of humanism are religious humanism and secularhumanism. Humanism, term freely applied to a variety of beliefs...
Religious liberalism Secular ethics Secularhumanism Secularism Secular state Secularity Secularization Rod Dreher (6 April 2011). "Secular Liberalism as Consensus"...
Religion for Atheists Religion of Humanity Religious humanism Scientism Secular ethics Secularhumanism Separation of church and state Spiritual but not religious...
(AHA) is a non-profit organization in the United States that advances secularhumanism. The American Humanist Association was founded in 1941 and currently...
cultural and literary movement based in Weimar that sought to establish a new humanism by synthesizing Romantic, classical, and Enlightenment ideas. The movement...
The National Secular Society (NSS) is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that...
Atheism, agnosticism, scepticism, freethought, secularhumanism or general irreligion are increasing in Australia. Post-war Australia has become a highly...
abstract or idealised conception of good. Secular ethics are often considered within the frame of humanism. It can be seen by many of the organisations...
Sackett considers herself a secular humanist and has been active in Humanism since 1989. She was introduced to secularhumanism by Roddenberry after finding...
(philosophy) Negative and positive atheism New Atheism Post-theism Secularhumanism Scientism State atheism Cline, Austin. "Atheism and anti-theism: What's...
self-characterisations as a continuation of humanism and Enlightenment thinking correspond with this view. Some secular humanists conceive transhumanism as an...
affinity with secularhumanism, which is about 9.4% of the total population. Erasmus and Coornhert are important early representatives of humanism in the Netherlands...
original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2010. "Council for SecularHumanism". secularhumanism.org. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018...