Here are my thoughts on week 1:
What am I hoping to get out of the course?
Whilst i have some understanding of humanist thinking, i want to expand that understanding and be more confident in being able to discuss/argue about it publicly.
What is humanism?
Responses include:
- Living ethically,
- not believing in a god or gods,
- thinking of others,
- not believing in an afterlife,
- living our one life positively,
- supporting human rights,
- scepticism,
- empathy,
- evidence-based
The responses fall into two categories: how humanists try to live their lives (ethically, empathetically, supporting human rights, etc.) and what humanists don't believe in (no god or gods, no afterlife, no ghosts, etc.).
A humanist is someone who doesn’t think there’s any supernatural side to this universe we're living in but thinks the universe is a natural phenomenon. They believe morality comes from us, not imposed from a supernatural body. The starting point of our reality comes from our senses. It is also an evidence-based approach. There is no life after death. The meaning of our lives comes from ourselves and is therefore different for everyone. Moral decisions take place in a context of other people's feelings and the implications of the decisions. Humanism is not secularism (the belief in the separation of religion and the state) but they can overlap in many people.
What does it mean to be a human being?
Physically we are mammals that have evolved to stand on two legs and use our hands to manipulate tools. Internally, we are self-aware and want to develop our individual interests.
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