"For a real Humanism
with a human face"

Human-ethics, or secular humanism are both terms used in Swedish (see also: Humanism) which express that our life stance is based upon the ethics of Humanism without any thought or belief in supernatural forces or spiritual beings. Only together, we human beings, can create a good and just world. In this way we have a rational and scientific understanding of life and world and we are adversary of all forms of superstition, religious beliefs and fundamentalism.

We are quite aware that we ourselves, as individuals, must set a good exemple when we assert to be ethical and liable humanists. Without this insight we will never get any support or understanding for our sensible, wise and beautiful ideals. As human beings we are able to take care of each other and to understand the consequences of our way to act. This is the key to understand the ethics of Humanism.

One of our tasks is to examine in what way religious belief has common features with the ideals of Humanism and in what manner religious belief cause disruption, disagreement and war through history until our days. When we read about the conflicts on Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan and so on, we can't isolate those conflicts from the historical-religious causal connections to those bloody wounds in the body of our world.

The ethics of Humanism can simply be summarized by: "Treat others as you would like them to treat you" or: "Do not do to others what you would not like for yourselv". These quotations are called "The Golden Rule" of human behaviour. Christians say it was Jesus who quoted this, but ancient scriptures teach us that this rule was known long before. As early as 550 BCE (Before Common Era) the golden rule was known in Jainism, Confucianism and Budhism. Also Hinduism, Judaism and the Greek philosopher Epictetus teached this rule many centuries BCE. Later also Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Bahai adopted this universal ethical rule. Socrates, Epicurus and the school of stoicism give some important ideas to our view of life as ethical humanists.

"Do humanists have a belief?"

Yes, in some way we do. But our belief is rational, not religious. We only believe such matters when there are rational reasons to believe. (Ingemar Hedenius in "Faith and Knowledge"). Of course we are atheists but this gives only the answer on one particular question, and that's: "No, we don't believe there is or can be some god or gods". This non-belief don't say anything about other opinions and comprehensions. As Humanists we do believe in mankinds possibility to create a better world, that it is meaningful to work for our own happiness and for the progress of others, and that the discussion about "the meaning of life" has definitely nothing to do with a belief in God or in an existence of an "afterlife".

We do believe:

That human beings have evolved from simpler forms of life through natural processes as mutations and selection, taking millions of years.

That morality comes from understanding human nature; it does not come from a god. It reflects human experience, thought, feeling and commitment.

That people find more happiness and fulfilment when they are behaving well towards others.

That human beings alone are responsible for the future of this planet and all the life on it. There is NO god to care or help.

That human beings today have more power than ever before, to be creative or destructive. We all must therefore work together to secure the future of life on earth.

That life should be as fulfilling as possible for every individual.

That all human beings have an equal right to dignity and opportunity, without discrimination by race, sex or age etc.

We don't believe:

...In a god or gods. Some describe themselves as agnostic (a-gnostic = 'not knowing' i.e. a person who claims not to know). They say nobody can really know whether there is a supernatural power or not. All humanists live their lifes as atheists (a-theist = without God).

...In life after death. But we do believe that many of the things a person does will have consequenses that live on.

...That there is a supernatural power to guide us or help us.

...That human beings are born "sinful".

...That women are inferior to men.

...That we should be embarrassed about sexual matters.