Humanism

[Trillian]

IKWYM about ingrained beliefs and refusal to acknowledge that others have merit as a separate entity - especially since locally there has been a rise in the all-singing-all-dancing evangelical religions. I do find it somewhat bemusing that those that follow a Christian belief system cannot allow themselves to accept that there are other doctrines that are just as good, but different to their own. I think a lot of criticism of other religions/ideologies etc comes forth because they simply do not understand it or it makes them question their own beliefs. It concerns me that there would be some who would be more than happy to see things stay as they are and not introduce Humanism into schools - but what makes their *claim* on RE in schools just as valid? It's like saying 'ours is better than yours' and that is a scary road to start travelling down.

[Inanna]

I think personally that behind all racisim, religionisim etc is fear of the unknown. I too have a giggle when I hear this Christian religion biting about that Christian religion... I think that bigotry is given it's fertiliser with fear...

Us humans find it difficult to embrace that which is different - and how many wars has that caused???

[Aimz]

Another of the Humanism Core Principles is relevant here...

Children shall not be subjected to physical and mental abuse, nor to religious or political indoctrination by parents or others. The rights of children should be codified in a charter of children's' rights.

While parents, guardians and elders have a responsibility towards their children (and vice versa) this responsibility does not give a carte blanche for them. Today most legal jurisdiction interdict physical and sexual abuse of children by anybody including parents. This is as should be. But what the law does not do is to prevent the political and religious indoctrination of children. Religions are allowed to conduct ceremonies like Baptism in Christianity, circumcision in Judaism and Islam and the thread ceremony of Hinduism. Children are incapable of understanding what is done to them in such ceremonies. Humanists should deny the existence of such rights for parents, priests and the like. This rule does not mean that children should not be inculcated in ethical standards. But these should be a basic non-religious kind of ethical standards. There is still no formal charter of Children's' Rights. The biggest impediment to the creation of such a charter will come not from theists who will not give up their right to automatically impose their religion on their children.

It doesn't say anything about teaching ALL religions to children, which is what I will personally be doing - so I don't agree completely with this statement. But the part about religious groups feeling it's their right to impose their beliefs onto children is just so true - its a general assumption that this will happen if you belong to one of those groups. But I do agree with the part about only teaching basic ethical standards to a child which are non religious - Athiests and the like do this anyway - at least that's how I was raised.

[Trillian]

I agree with that completely. This is the reason why My siblings and I were never baptised/christened because Mum and Dad were different religions (mum was a presbyterian and dad was Lutheran) and they couldn't agree on which one, so they decided not to and give us the *freedom* to choose our own religion if we wanted to. I fine it applies to so many people that I know - people who've been brought up as one religion, but as they grow older, they find that it's not *their* religion, so they go in search of the one that is right for them and they convert. I think if the freedom was given to children from the very start that it would remove all of that concern/guilt that they have about not liking the religion they were forced to be.

Striving to have a strong moral and ethical code you live by should be something that everyone should learn and embrace - even before Christ they still lived by their own belief system and ideology - it was just that they worshipped many Gods instead of just one. They weren't the godless heathens they were made out to be.

[tiggerandpooh]

wow - and I thought I was being all coy and original when someone asked me what I 'was' and I replied a humanist - not knowing that there was a whole movement out there lol. wonderful to "meet" like minded individuals. I'll be reading some more on this....

[NaeNae]

I really like the idea of Humanism being taught in schools and hope that when I have children that it is taught along side other religious classes as mandatory which may just open the younger generations eye to the acceptance of ALL beliefs and life followings.

Maybe when this happens there will be far less bigatory or religious wars about which is the right religion the one and only religion because everyone will be more accepting of each persons choice.

I am just curious about one aspect of Humanism so if you don't mind me asking, what's the go when it comes to death? is it just that the person dies and is buried and becomes worm food thus replenishing the earth with nutrients??

Though I do not consider myself to be religious I like to think my baby became and angle and not just left as a pile of ash that we scattered on our farm kwim??

[Aimz]

It's a tough one for me to answer Nae, knowing what you have been through this year. I don't want to discredit your beliefs at all. But it's a really good question and one that can be answered.

Humanists don't believe in Heaven or Hell or that there is a place after death where people's spirits go. Humanists also do not believe in reincarnation. But I wouldn't put it as insignificant as they just become food for the worms. It is actually a lot more than that. Humanists believe that a person's influence can remain long after they are gone. Kind of like when you throw a pebble across the surface of a pond - the ripples remain long after the pebble has sunk to the bottom. Each person leaves their mark on another and long after they are gone their effect on the world carries on in other people.

The effect that your little girl had on you has changed you. And because of that you will affect somebody else - and so it continues.

And just a side note - Humanists believe that this is the only life humans beings have and that we must strive to make it as worthwhile and happy as possible, for ourselves and others. Humanists believe that human beings must face the problems of this world without the prospect of supernatural help. Therefore we do not believe in an after life of any kind but strive to make THIS LIFE the best it can be.