1. Humanism Andrew Copson Chief Executive, British Humanist Association
President, International Humanist and Ethical Union

2. Myths about Humanism Western – confined to Europe in origin
Recent – arising in the enlightenment
Western – confined to Europe in origin
Parasitic – reliant on religions for its context

3. Reality Global – occurring across the world independently
Ancient – at least as old as written human thought
Global – occurring across the world independently
Positive as well as reactive

4. Perennial and everywhere
Europe, 6th century BCE to 6th century CE
China, 6th century BCE onwards
India, 6th century BCE onwards
Arab world in middle ages (c12th century CE)
Modern world, c17th century to the present

5. Accept naturalism and use scientific method to gain knowledge
Humanists…
Accept naturalism and use scientific method to gain knowledge

6. Who paints the peacocks, who makes the cuckoos sing
Who paints the peacocks, who makes the cuckoos sing? There exists here no cause excepting nature.
- Charvaka writing, 3rd century BCE

7. Humanists…
Accept naturalism and use scientific method to gain knowledge
Accept this one life is all we know we have

8. I believe that when I die I shall rot… and nothing of my ego will survive…
- Bertrand Russell

9. Humanists…
Accept naturalism and use scientific method to gain knowledge
Accept this one life is all we know we have
Accept morality arises out of human nature and culture

10. The feeling of commiseration is the beginning of humanity; the feeling of shame and dislike is the beginning of righteousness
- Mengzi, 4th century BCE
But there is no evidence

11. Humanists…
Accept naturalism and use scientific method to gain knowledge
Accept this one life is all we know we have
Accept morality arises out of human nature and culture
Believe what is right is what promotes human welfare and fulfillment

12. because we are naturally social beings; we live in communities; and life in any community, from the family outwards, is much happier, and fuller, and richer if the members are friendly and co-operative than if they are hostile and resentful
- Margaret Knight, 1952

13. Humanists…
Accept naturalism and use scientific method to gain knowledge
Accept this one life is all we know we have
Accept morality arises out of human nature and culture
Believe what is right is what promotes human welfare and fulfillment
Believe we can/should create meaning and purpose in life

14. Events are what they are, but what we make of them is up to us.
- Diogenes, 5th century BCE

15. Humanism for the world
Based on latest knowledge of reality: perfect for scientific age
Based on universal human dignity: perfect for a global age
Present in all places at all times: perfect for a diverse age

16. Aims of Humanist Organisations
Promoting understanding of humanism to humanists who don’t know they are;
Promoting humanism to non-humanists in the hope of persuading;
Proving services to non-religious people;
Promoting a secular state (sometimes self-interested);
Promoting humanist and scientific solutions to questions of public interest.