What We Believe
We believe people can pursue knowledge, find meaning, and derive responsible ethical codes entirely free from reference to supernatural forces. We are steadfast in our optimism about the good which humans can achieve. We believe secular humanism can bring about the fullest realization of the best we are capable of as human beings.
On Knowledge
We are committed to the application of reason, science, and experience to better understand the universe and to solve human problems. We disapprove of efforts to denigrate human intelligence.
We welcome new ideas, but we are skeptical of untested, unverifiable, or supernatural claims to knowledge.
We encourage the pursuit of the creative arts and sciences. Activities in both areas are essential to the growth of humanity.
In Our Social World
We are committed to the separation of church and state.
We are concerned with securing justice and fairness in an open, pluralistic, and democratic society.
We wish to eliminate discrimination and intolerance based on race, religion, gender, nationality, class, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, and we strive to work together for the common good of humanity.
We encourage negotiation and compromise to resolve differences and achieve mutual understanding.
We believe in helping the disadvantaged and disabled so they will be better able to help themselves.
We respect the right to privacy and believe in the right to sexual and reproductive freedom commensurate with the acceptance of sexual and reproductive responsibility.
We want to protect and enhance the earth, to preserve it for future generations, and to avoid inflicting needless suffering on other living beings.
On Morality
Humanist ethics are derived from critical reasoning and their moral principles are tested by their consequences. We believe in guiding our lives by reason, compassion, responsibility, integrity, altruism, and unselfishness. We do not accept moral authority based on the supernatural.
We are deeply committed to the moral education of children.