Sandi Toksvaig on humanism

"how wide are the margins of humanism?" - let's hope the course answers that question. The answer should be better than knowing nothing about it and making assumptions..

Jane I did think that it was too obvious which of the answers in the quiz would point to which labels. More devious and complex questions would have been better.

The quiz says I am 24% humanist and I obviously have a religious faith. To me the questions were too simplistic and some answers didn't really reflect how I would probably answer. Not for me I don't think

Did the quiz - I am 100 per cent Humanist! Thanks for this, Elegran. I've just signed up for the course.

*Twiceasnice" Quiz and course are not constructed by the same people, so the course will, I hope, be less simplistic. Certainly sounds like it so far. The quiz was a bit like those "Which vegetable do you most resemble?" types on Facebook to get you onto a website - fun but not necessarily all that deep.

The following is a quote from the Information about the course

This course is not designed to present a body of facts about humanism as though it were some doctrine or creed. Instead its aim is to present a series of questions and issues that many humanists grapple with today and explore how they might respond. There is diversity within humanism, and a humanist outlook on life involves the belief that everything is open to question. This course will therefore try not to lay down ‘absolute truths’ about the nature of humanism, nor to generalise its claims as representative of all humanists. Some of the content will express personal opinions about humanist beliefs and values. Nonetheless there is much consensus between humanists on many of their beliefs and values and we will try to reflect this.

Nor are we trying to argue the case for humanism, but rather we aim to develop your understanding of why humanists believe it is the most reasonable and responsible approach to life. You will not be expected to agree with the humanist’s conclusions. The humanist’s story is just one of many examples of how human beings have tried to understand how things are, what we can know, and how we should live. However, it is important to recognise that, although its contribution to contemporary thinking and modern society is often not recognised or identified, it is an approach to life that has had a significant impact on the beliefs and values of a large and growing number of the world’s population today.

This course therefore aims to increase your knowledge and understanding of humanism as well as the tensions and dilemmas contained within it.

You will find videos to watch and articles to read, as well as links to further resources to deepen your understanding.

The desired goal, however, is not purely to pass on such knowledge, but for you (whether you agree, disagree, or lie somewhere in between) to use what you learn to support your own journey to find answers to the questions that are explored. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to share your own thoughts and ask your own questions, and we hope that you will engage with your fellow learners wherever there is the opportunity.

It is hoped that you will see the content as a stimulus, as something to be discussed and disagreed with, interrogated and improved upon. Hopefully it will encourage debate and awaken the hunger to learn more.

A note. When we use the word ‘humanists’ in this course, we do not claim to speak for all humanists. However, it would be cumbersome to say ‘some’ or ‘many’ or ‘most’ humanists every time we speak about something on which the majority of humanists would agree, even if there might not be unanimous agreement. Where, on the other hand, disagreement is more prevalent among humanists, we will be more explicit about it.

An old thread but while I’m ‘in the mood’ ? I feel compelled to make a point about the title ‘Humanist’ My belief has always been to respect individual choices and that people should get on together in a world filled with personal opinions and rightly so. The word humanist irks me as it suggests that people of faith do not respect the human race to the same extent. Spirituality and humanism walk hand in hand in my humble opinion. ? ? I think I’ll do the quiz although I’ve no doubts about my result. ?

I think the humanists I know have what used to be called "christian" principles without the trappings of religion.In other words we care for the sick ,the elderly and vulnerable .We help those in need ,we try not to be judgemental of others choices or habits .We have no need of churches or ministers who in my opinion are often bigots about their own beliefs ,not all but many that I have come accross .I have been in a business for 50 years where I met on average 3 ministers and priests a week so I have met more than a few .
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The larger religions are money making machines ,taking from their poorer congregations and stockpiling properties and wealth that they say is needed by "the church" .Didn't Jesus say that buildings and things weren't important? That wherever people gather in his name was the church.Religion will die unless it moves with the times ,its a fiction that can be updated to suit the times IF it must continue .

Well like others I m 100% humanist according to that quiz
But I m not into being labelled and a few questions I had to pick the nearest not necessarily exact answer

70% humanist. If my DC are to be believed the other 30% is witch.

90% humanist. That’s OK. Not sure I’d like to be 100% anything.

Heavens, I am a humanist! Must look up what that means......

Didn't Jesus say that buildings and things weren't important? That wherever people gather in his name was the church. I have been propounding this principle on another thread. This is very hard for Christians to embrace because it means letting go of the trappings that they hold dear. I do understand why this might be, but it is a long way from the central message that I take away from the bible. No doubt I have got hold of the wrong end of the stick.

By the way, I did this course on humanism and it was interesting but not world-shattering.

Luckygirl only you can decide if you ‘have the wrong end of the stick*. You are picking bits from scripture which suit your beliefs, this is your choice . The central message is far more than you say.

I think that all Christians pick the bits they want to believe from the bible; it would be worrying if they did not - there is some dangerous stuff in there! I have never yet met a Christian who believed every word; or who does not interpret the writings in their own way. That is not a criticism by the way; it is a necessity.

I should have said The Gospels, not scripture sorry

The fundamentals of all world faiths and none are more or less the same. Some churches however, have accreted layers of customs/habit/ritual that are completely man made and often related to the acquisition of wealth and power. No church should be wealthy while people struggle to make ends meet.

Paddyann your view of church finances is woefully incorrect

Agree mumofmadboys it suits atheists to say it.

Haven't done the quiz yet, I suspect I will come out as humanist -the only problem being there are some people I really can't stand!!

I agree mumofmadboys

I have also, in all the years I have encountered members of the clergy (some in the family), 'come across' one who was bigoted.

I should have said I have only come across one who was bigoted.

The Christian church (like all churches) is full of a variety of people, some good, some bad. That is to be expected. I have enormous respect for those who have a faith of some sort; I simply do not share it.

But the principle of eschewing rich trappings seems to me to be central to Christian belief, but it does not happen in many branches of that faith. I think that is fundamentally wrong.

I would describe myself as a "don't know" and would go even further than that to say there is no way that I or anyone else can know whether a god exists and what the implications of that are in terms of behaviour. Knowledge does not come into it with religion - it is about belief - you either believe or you don't. Why some some do and others don't......who knows?

I am happy to embrace the "not knowing" as the human condition and I just get on with it.

I will say however that if the existence of god were clear and unequivocal (and the implications for behaviour) then there would simply be one religion, as any god wanting to be at all helpful would have made its presence known globally and very clearly indeed. All this groping around for knowledge, taking different forms all over the world, would be unnecessary. It does seem somewhat obtuse of any such a being to be so opaque.

Just thought I'd mention that although this is an old thread, the Humanist course starts again on 7 January 2019. It's free and takes approx 3 hours per week for 6 weeks.