Changes

'''Humanism''' is a philosophy that generally relies entirely on [[reason]] without [[religion]], based originally on Greek philosophy.

'''Humanism''' is a philosophy from the European [[Renaissance]] (based on classical philosophy). It puts man at the center and downplays the need for religion. It had a major impact in shaping modern art and ways of thought.

==Origins==

==Origins==

==Secular Humanism==

==Secular Humanism==

Secular humanism is a [[Atheism|atheistic]] philosophy that relies entirely on reason without religion, based originally on Greek philosophy. Humanism rejects the idea that there is a supernatural being responsible for the creation of the universe. Humanists believe instead that people are responsible for their actions and that purpose in the universe is far more complicated than a faith in a God. The IHEU has a Minimum Statement on Humanism:

Secular humanism is a a 20th century [[Atheism|atheistic]] philosophy that relies entirely on reason without religion. Humanism rejects the idea that there is a supernatural being responsible for the creation of the universe. Humanists believe instead that people are responsible for their actions and that purpose in the universe is far more complicated than a faith in a God. The IHEU has a Minimum Statement on Humanism:

 

<blockquote>"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."</blockquote>

<blockquote>"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."</blockquote>

A principal element of humanism is the assumption of fundamental human rights - which may include a right to life, to liberty, freedom of speech, the right to pursue happiness, a right to a family life, and similar things. Humanism does not claim these rights are given by a God, but are an inherent property of human intelligence and worthy of defending, although the exact definition of rights is not universally agreed upon by humanists. Humanists encourage self will and independent thought in all matters, which can include [[Judeo-Christian]] as well as Humanist principles.

A principal element of secular humanism is the assumption of fundamental human rights - which may include a right to life, to liberty, freedom of speech, the right to pursue happiness, a right to a family life, and similar things. Humanism does not claim these rights are given by a God, but are an inherent property of human intelligence and worthy of defending, although the exact definition of rights is not universally agreed upon by humanists. Humanists encourage self will and independent thought in all matters, which can include [[Judeo-Christian]] as well as Humanist principles.

It was originally created as a religion by the Unitarian clergyman Charles Francis Potter<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0914FB3458137A93C7A9178BD95F468685F9"CHARLES POTTER, CLERGYMAN, DEAD"], ''New York Times'', October 5, 1962, Friday, Page 33, 609 words </ref> and offered up as a substitute for Christian [[fundamentalism]]. In the early 1980's media controversies involving secular humanism as a religion emerged<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ZcVSiD1BU3EC ''Making the Manifesto: The Birth of Religious Humanism''], William F. Schulz, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, 2002, ISBN 1558964290, 9781558964297, 148 pages </ref>.

It was originally created as a religion by the Unitarian clergyman Charles Francis Potter<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0914FB3458137A93C7A9178BD95F468685F9"CHARLES POTTER, CLERGYMAN, DEAD"], ''New York Times'', October 5, 1962, </ref> and offered up as a substitute for Christian [[fundamentalism]]. In the early 1980's media controversies involving secular humanism as a religion emerged<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ZcVSiD1BU3EC ''Making the Manifesto: The Birth of Religious Humanism''], William F. Schulz, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, 2002, ISBN 1558964290, 9781558964297, 148 pages </ref>.

==Criticism==

==Criticism==

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Humanistic Psychology]]

*[[Humanistic Psychology]]

*[[Thomas More]]

*[[Thomas More]]

*[[Christian Humanism]]

*[[Christian Humanism]]

==References==

==References==

[[category:philosophy]]

[[category:philosophy]]

[[Category:Worldviews]]

[[Category:Worldviews]]