How Humanist Are You?

The meaning in my life comes from:

1. Nowhere. There is no higher power and life has no meaning.

2. A higher power, who has a plan for us.

3. The pursuit of my goals, ambitions, hobbies, and projects.

4. My connections with others, my experiences, and the emotions I feel.

When I die…

1. I will go on to exist forever in another place.

2. I will be reborn into a new body.

3. I see no evidence that I will continue in any way, so death will most likely be the end of me.

4. I don't know what will happen, so I have no opinion.

I am most likely to believe something is true if:1. It is written in a sacred text or told to me by an authority.

2. I feel it in my gut.

3. Trustworthy people tell me they've seen evidence that they judge to be valid.

4. I personally see evidence that I judge to be valid.

I think the universe:

1. Is a natural place. But I do also believe there is another, supernatural, layer to reality.

2. Was created as part of a divine plan.

3. Is a natural place and can be understood best through science.

On the question of whether there’s a god:

1. I think that there is a god.

2. I think that there are a number of gods / goddesses.

3. I see no evidence for any gods or goddesses, so I don't know.

4. I see no evidence for any gods or goddesses, so I don't think they do exist.

When it comes to religion, I think governments should:1. Reflect the majority religion in the country - if the majority are one

religion, that religion should take precedence.

2. Promote atheism - no religions are true and governments should act accordingly to tell people so.

3. Be impartial - governments should not favour or discriminate against any person because of religion.

I can tell right from wrong by…

1. Consulting a holy book or listening to a religious leader.

2. Picking whatever will work out best for me. No need to worry about others.

3. Thinking for myself about the probable consequences of my actions and their effects on others.

When I look at a beautiful natural view I think that…1. It must have been designed by God to be so perfect.

2. We have been granted dominion over this land to do with as we want.

3. We ought to do everything possible to protect this for future generations.

4. This is what life is all about. I feel good.

Other people matter and should be treated with respect because… 1. God created us all in his image.

2. They are useful to me.

3. They are people with feelings like mine.

4. We will all be happier if we treat each other well.

Other animals should be treated…

1. However we see fit. They don't have souls and were created for us to use.

2. With respect because they are part of God's creation.

3. With respect because they can suffer too.

Add up your answers

Results

• Mostly or All 3s & 4s: You’re most likely a Humanist!

• Few or no 3s & 4s: You likely have a religious faith but you may agree with Humanists on some issues.

‘Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.’

-American Humanist Association 2003

‘Humanism is an approach to life based on humanity and reason –humanists recognise that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience alone and that the aims of morality should be human welfare, happiness, and fulfillment. Our decisions are based on the available evidence and our assessment of the outcomes of our actions, not on any dogma or sacred text.’

-British Humanist Association 2011

International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU)Amsterdam Declaration 2002

1. Humanism is ethical

2. Humanism is rational

3. Humanism supports democracy & human rights

4. Humanism insists that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility

5. Humanism is a response to the widespread demand for an alternative to dogmatic religion

6. Humanism values artistic creativity & imagination

7. Humanism is a life-stance aiming at the maximum fulfillment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living

ReasonCompassion

Hope

A (very) brief history of Humanism & freethought

‘That Muhammad could predict certain events does not prove that he was a prophet: he may have been able to guess successfully, but this does not mean that he had real knowledge of the future. And certainly the fact that he was able to recount events from the past does not prove that he was a prophet, because he could have read about those events in the Bible and, if he was illiterate, he could still have had the Bible read to him.’-Abu Isa al-Warraq 9th Century CE

‘The fools of the world have been those who have established religions, ceremonies, laws, faith, rule of life.’-Giordano Bruno 1585

Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory.-Leonardo da Vinci

Jean Jacques-Rousseau

Voltaire

Baron d’Holbach

Charles Bradlaugh MP

Karl Marx

Friedrich Nietzsche

Robert Ingersoll

Ernestine Rose

Susan B Anthony

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Catholic

ProtestantOther Christian

Other religion

No religion

BRITISH COLUMBIA 2001

Catholic

Protestant

Other Christian

Other religion

No religion

BRITISH COLUMBIA 20112001 2011

Catholic 17% 15%Protestant 31% 16%

Other Christian 6% 13%

Other religion 14% 24%

No religion 36% 44%

Do you participate in or practice a particular religion or faith?

Justason Marketing Intelligence

• Sample size: n=600

• Represents: BC adults 18+

• Telephone-online hybrid

• Field dates: 15-23 April 2013

• Margin of error: +/- 4.0 percentage points

…do you believe in a higher power?

How often do you attend religious services?

Current campaigns

•Physician-assisted dying

•Awareness of Humanism

•Freedom of expression

•Human rights

•Humanist action

•Humanist marriage

•Reproductive freedoms

•Science

•Secular Schools

•Secularism

Ian Bushfield

www.bchumanist.ca

exdir@bchumanist.ca