Caitriona Quirke
Humanists do not believe in any of the following:
• A code of behaviour handed down from a God or gods
• A God or gods
• Heaven or an after life
• Any power greater than the human person
Humanists do believe the following
• That actions are either right or wrong depending on their effect on other people
• That only human people can solve human problems
• That that life started from simple life forms and evolved into more complex life forms over millions of years through natural processes
• That only humans can influence the future of life on the planet earth
• That all humans have equal rights
Humanism and the Golden Rule
The Golden Rule
• Has something to say about right and wrong, about good and evil
• Is worded differently in different religions.
• Expresses a similar attitude towards right and wrong
While humanists do not believe in a God or gods they do believe in the values expressed through the
“Golden Rule”
.
Buddhism
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful
Christianity
In all things do to others as you would have them do to you

Hinduism
This is the sum of duty: do naught to others that would cause you pain if done to you
Islam
No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself
Judaism
What is harmful to you; do not to your fellow men
Question
What value might humanists see in each Golden Rule of each religion?
A List of Humanist Values
Humanists value all qualities that make people distinctively human
Here is a list of some examples
• Justice
• Tolerance
• Open communication
• Courage
• Feelings
• Independence
• Freedom
• Co-operation
• Concern for the world and for the future
Remember
A value is a motive for action.
When a person values something it causes them to act in a particular way .

Humanist Values
Humanists live by each value for a particular reason
Humanists believe that it is important to hold values for a reason
Each value is seen as important
Match the value with the reason why it is thought to be important
Justice Independence Tolerance
Courage Freedom Open communication
Feelings Co operation
Concern for the world and for the future
• Each person has a right to their own opinions as long as other people don’t suffer due to those opinions
• Each person has a duty to understand others so that people can learn about each other and help each other
• Each person must be able to feel with sensitivity and passion in order to live life fully
• Each person is to strive together to achieve progress in the world
• Each person is valuable and is entitled to be treated fairly and with equality
• To live full lives people must have as much freedom as possible as long as this does not interfere with other peoples’ freedom
• Due to evolution all people are united with the earth so all people must take responsibility for the future of the earth
• Each person must be able to face difficulties and to stand up for what they believe to be true if they are to live full lives
• Each person must be able to work at their problems themselves because there is no supernatural power that can solve problems
Answers
Tolerance
Each person has a right to their own opinions as long as other people don’t suffer due to those

opinions
Each person has a duty to understand others so
Communication that people can learn about each other and help each other
Feelings
Co-operation
Each person must be able to feel with sensitivity and passion in order to live life fully
Each person is to strive together to achieve progress in the world
Justice
Each person is valuable and is entitled to be treated fairly and with equality
Freedom
Concern for earth
Courage
Independence
To live full lives people must have as much freedom as possible as long as this does not interfere with other peoples’ freedom
Due to evolution all people are united with the earth so all people must take responsibility
for the future of the earth
Each person must be able to face difficulties and to stand up for what they believe to be true if they are to live full lives
Each person must be able to work at their problems themselves because there is no supernatural power that can solve problems