Consider Humanism Campaign Underway

The American Humanist Association, of which I am a proud member, is undertaking a major public relations campaign.  It includes advertisements in print and on video which contrast ancient texts with the modern moral position of humanists.  You can find information about the whole campaign at their new site, considerhumanism.com.

Here are a couple of my favorites and a video featuring Richard Dawkins:

On Women:

The Bible: “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” I Timothy 2 (New International Version)

Humanism: “The rights of men and women should be equal and sacred—marriage should be a perfect partnership.” Robert Ingersoll, in a letter dated April 13, 1878

On Slavery:

The Bible:“If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.” Exodus 21:20-21 (New International Version)

Humanism:“We are committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity, and to making informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility.” Humanism and Its Aspirations

On Homosexuality:

The Bible: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” Leviticus 20:24 (New International Version)

Humanism: “Humanists reaffirm the validity of sexual equality and supports local, state, and federal action, to legalize same-sex marriage.” AHA Resolution on Sexual Equality and Support of Same-Sex Marriage, 2004

Of course, many will say that they don’t really follow those things that the bible says anymore.  That’s the whole point here.  Humanism affirms the power of humanity to express its own morality, appropriate to the times, without recourse to ancient texts.  We don’t pretend that the text says something that it doesn’t, or worse, hold up the text as a source of current morality.

I strongly urge you to look at the campaign and share it with others.

Consider Humanism – Richard Dawkins from American Humanist Association on Vimeo.