1. Education Day 2018

2. Worldviews: Mapping Misconceptions
Luke Donnellan, Head of Education

3. The IslaNd

4. The price of knowledge and freedom
No more god
No more neighbour
No more self
‘The four families’

5. The IslaNd

6. conservatives
The IslaNd

7. conservatives
The IslaNd
determinists

8. conservatives
The IslaNd
determinists
individualists

9. conservatives
The IslaNd
humanists
determinists
individualists

10. What does the humanist discover?
The questions she must answer
People have been living here for a long time – time enough to come up with answers

11. conservatives
The IslaNd
humanists
determinists
individualists

12. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
The IslaNd
humanists
determinists
individualists

13. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
humanists
determinists
individualists

14. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
humanists
determinists
individualists

15. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
individualists

16. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
scientism
individualists

17. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
scientism
individualists

18. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
scientism
utopianism
individualists

19. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
scientism
utopianism
trans-humanism
individualists

20. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
scientism
utopianism
egoism
trans-humanism
individualists

21. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
scientism
utopianism
egoism
hedonism
trans-humanism
individualists

22. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
scientism
utopianism
relativism
egoism
hedonism
trans-humanism
individualists

23. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
scientism
utopianism
relativism
egoism
hedonism
trans-humanism
postmodernism
individualists

24. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
humanists
determinists
anarchy
scientism
utopianism
relativism
egoism
hedonism
trans-humanism
postmodernism
individualists

25. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
humanists
libertarianism
determinists
anarchy
scientism
utopianism
relativism
egoism
hedonism
trans-humanism
postmodernism
individualists

26. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The IslaNd
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The IslaNd
technocracy
totalitarianism
nihilism
humanists
libertarianism
determinists
anarchy
scientism
utopianism
relativism
egoism
hedonism
trans-humanism
postmodernism
individualists

27. The humanist wager The humanist believes he can live here
The humanist wants to have her cake and eat it
There is no better place to live
The humanist needs to be a juggler
Take what is best from the other families

28. conservatives humanists determinists individualists The Island
authoritarianism
theocracy
fundamentalism
The Island
technocracy
totalitarianism
nihilism
humanists
libertarianism
determinists
anarchy
scientism
utopianism
relativism
egoism
hedonism
trans-humanism
postmodernism
individualists

29. non-religious worldviews
1) Which of these are non-religious worldviews?
2) Which of them should be studied in RE?
Humanism
Atheism
Agnosticism
Secularism
Existentialism
Confucianism
Buddhism
Communism
Capitalism
Nationalism
Fascism
Liberalism
Nihilism
Hedonism
Postmodernism
Vegetarianism
‘Spiritual’ but not religious

30. The Commission on RE: Examples of Non-religious worldviews
Can be studied:
Humanism
Atheism
Agnosticism
Secularism
Existentialism
Confucianism
Not included:
Communism
Nationalism
Capitalism

31. The Commission on RE: Examples of Non-religious worldviews
‘There has been some discussion about which non-religious worldviews are appropriate for study. The landscape is complex and many of those who identify as non-religious do not adhere to a particular institutional nonreligious worldview. Many non-religious worldviews do not have the same institutional structures as religious worldviews. Having said that, the worldviews to be included should be those which make ontological and epistemological claims (claims about the nature of reality and how we know things) as well as political and moral ones. Humanism, existentialism and Confucianism are examples of suitable non-religious worldviews for study in an age-appropriate way, while nationalism, global capitalism and Communism are examples of worldviews which would not be included in Religion and Worldviews, although they may be appropriate for study in other curriculum subjects.’

32. Could this atheist be a humanist?

33. Could this atheist be a humanist?

34. Could this atheist be a humanist?

35. Could this atheist be a humanist?

36. Worldviews
Two parts
Epistemological and ontological – what there is and how we can know
Ethical – how we should live
It is possible to share the humanist approach in one of these and not the other

37. Understanding unbelief
Templeton funded
Researching the landscape – exploring the complexity
Confusion between the ‘non-religious’ and ‘unbelievers’
The non-religious may have religious beliefs – but most don’t
Unbelievers may still label themselves as religious – e.g. atheist Jews
Humanism is one of the two, perhaps the most, dominant worldview in the UK.
Dr. Lois Lee, University of Kent

38. Misconceptions Need to be aware of the misconceptions
Beliefs that ‘if it’s not this, then it must be that’
Think carefully about what you say and the possible misconceptions that could be made

39. Problematic definitions
Religious humanism
Human-only-centred humanism
Yuval Noah Harari’s humanism (author of Sapiens and Homo Deus)

40. Yuval Noah Harari

41. Yuval Noah Harari
Involves the belief that ‘Homo sapiens has a unique and sacred nature that is fundamentally different from the nature of all other beings and phenomena.’

42. Yuval Noah Harari
Involves the belief that ‘Homo sapiens has a unique and sacred nature that is fundamentally different from the nature of all other beings and phenomena.’
Is a family of religions that ‘worship humanity, or more correctly, homo sapiens.’

43. Yuval Noah Harari
Involves the belief that ‘Homo sapiens has a unique and sacred nature that is fundamentally different from the nature of all other beings and phenomena.’
Is a family of religions that ‘worship humanity, or more correctly, homo sapiens.’
Seeks to perfect humanity or sees the perfection of humanity as ‘the supreme good.’

44. Yuval Noah Harari
Involves the belief that ‘Homo sapiens has a unique and sacred nature that is fundamentally different from the nature of all other beings and phenomena.’
Is a family of religions that ‘worship humanity, or more correctly, homo sapiens.’
Seeks to perfect humanity or sees the perfection of humanity as ‘the supreme good.’
Claims ‘the rest of the world and all other beings exist solely for the benefit of [our] species.’ Argues that the environment should be controlled and manipulated for human needs.

45. Yuval Noah Harari
Involves the belief that ‘Homo sapiens has a unique and sacred nature that is fundamentally different from the nature of all other beings and phenomena.’
Is a family of religions that ‘worship humanity, or more correctly, homo sapiens.’
Seeks to perfect humanity or sees the perfection of humanity as ‘the supreme good.’
Claims ‘the rest of the world and all other beings exist solely for the benefit of [our] species.’ Argues that the environment should be controlled and manipulated for human needs.
‘Is founded on monotheistic beliefs.’

46. Yuval Noah Harari Humanism is divided into three groups
each with a supreme commandment
Liberal humanism (freedom of the individual)
Socialist humanism (equality within the species)
Evolutionary humanism (encouragement of our evolution into superhumans)

47. Yuval Noah Harari Liberal humanism
Founded on the belief that ‘every individual has a sacred inner nature, indivisible and immutable, which gives meaning to the world and which is the source of all ethical and political authority. This is a reincarnation of the traditional Christian belief in a free and eternal soul that resides within each individual’.
Everything justified in terms of human feelings
Humanist ethics: what I feel to be good is good
Humanist politics: the voter knows best
Humanist economics: the customer is always right
Humanist aesthetics: beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Humanist education: think for yourself

48. Yuval Noah Harari Socialist humanism Evolutionary humanism
Believe liberals over focus on our own feelings instead of other people’s experiences
Decisions should be made by the party or the trade unions
Includes communism
Evolutionary humanism
Some humans are superior to others
Need to avoid extinction
Bring on the rise of the superhumans
Includes Nazism

49. Yuval Noah Harari The humanist wars of religion
The crimes of Nazism, Stalinism, and environmental destruction can all find their origins in the central tenets of humanism. Humanism is responsible for ‘an age of intense religious fervor, unparalleled missionary efforts, and the bloodiest wars of religion in history (the conflicts of the 20th century).’

50. Yuval Noah Harari Harari’s definition of humanism therefore includes:
Communism
Capitalism
Nationalism
Nazism
Utopianism
Human-sanctification
Transhumanism

51. Future threats to humanism
‘Liberal humanism… is built on a dogmatic belief in the unique worth and rights of human beings - a doctrine which has embarrassingly little in common with the scientific study of Homo Sapiens.’
No free will
Not individuals
We are a collection of algorithms
Humanists argued that ‘God is the product of our human imagination’. Dataism now gives humanists a taste of their own medicine and tells them, ‘Yes, god is a product of the human imagination, but human imagination in turn is just the product of biochemical algorithms.’

52. Future threats to humanism
Are we focussing our attention in the right place?
Developments in our understanding of human nature
Changes to our bodies and minds
Potential future inequalities brought about by technology
The rise of the machines
Can humanism tackle these questions?

53. Programme Worldviews: mapping misconceptions Aims of the day
Position statement
Humanism and Secularism on the exam specifications
The changing landscape or religion and belief
Update on the national situation
Delivering effective assemblies / SACRE reps Q&A
The Commission on RE

54. Aims of the day Develop your knowledge
Raise your confidence in unfamiliar areas
Share expertise and good practice
Answer your questions
Our education aims
Young people learn about humanism
Develop curious, creative, critical, and confident thinkers

55. What else have we done? School speakers area on the website
New feedback process
Network of charities school speakers programmes
Teachers conference
Speaking at national teachers conferences
Humanist teachers
The MOOC
MOOC 2

56. What can you do? Communication with the office Flyers, handouts, books
Talk to teachers on your SACRE
Letters from parents:
RE Teachers Conferences:
Get quotes and photos of student’s work
Schools speakers support volunteer
SACRE reps coordinator

57. Neil McKain, Head of RS, Pipers Corner School
Speaking about humanism in schools: humanism and secularism on the exam specifications
Neil McKain, Head of RS, Pipers Corner School

58. Lunch

59. Jeremy Rodell, Dialogue Officer
The changing landscape of religion and belief: how might a humanist respond?
Jeremy Rodell, Dialogue Officer

60. The state of the nation: an update on humanism and education
Richy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs and Policy

61. Delivering Effective Assemblies
Teddy Prout, Director of Community Services

62. Key Note: The Commission on RE
Samira Ahmed

63. Questions and feedback
Any questions?
Please fill in the evaluation form.
Thank you for your participation!

64. Thank You event
The Oyster Shed 1 Angel Ln London EC4R 3AB (nearest tubes Mansion House, Monument, London Bridge)

65. Goodbye!