Humanism
Humanism is a tradition that focuses on human potential and emphasizes personal responsibility for ethical behavior. Modern-day Religious Humanism is largely derived from the writings of early American Unitarian Humanists, including Joseph Priestley, Thomas Jefferson, and John Haynes Holmes.
Rev. Sarah Oelberg describes Humanism as including the following values:
"Showing love to all humans is a worthy goal.
Immortality is found in the examples we set and the work we do.
We gain insight from many sources and all cultures, and there are many religious books and teachings that can instruct us about how to live.
We have the power within ourselves to realize the best we are capable of as human beings.
We are responsible for what we do and become; our lives are in our own hands."
Almost half of Unitarian Universalists today may define themselves as Humanists, making Humanism the largest spiritual identity group within Unitarian Universalism.
More information about the relationship between Unitarian Universalism and Humanism is available in the pamphlet "The Faith of a Humanist," on the website of HUUmanists (a Unitarian Universalist Humanist group) and in the following UU World articles:
For more information contact info @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, October 9, 2009.
