The Humanist Alternative To Traditional Religion

First Principle: We humanists offer ennobling ideals that don't insult your intellectual and emotional integrity, because we ask more modest, but more interesting, questions--focused on human, rather than theological, concerns.

Second Principle: Humanists have no social or religious creed, but do have a distinctive character--an approach to life that cherishes a diversity of traditions.

Third Principle: We believe in people. We honor the possibilities of human personality--in the individual and in the entire human species.

Fourth Principle: Naturalistic humanists hold that the scientific project of explaining everything in the universe without recourse to non-natural entities is sound. The God of the gaps in dead. We see the world as seamless.

Fifth Principle: Accepting our finitude and the transient nature of life itself, Humanists cherish the fleeting moment even more. "Now" is all you ever have.

Sixth Principle: The image of humanity as a child of the stars is a scientific metaphor that puts the human species "in its proper place"---This planet is my home, all life forms are my body. I am the key to all future human possibilities. In this context I write a story with my life, using my unique gifts to their fullest.

Seventh Principle: Humanist communities can be regarded as either "secular," "religious," or both---depending on how these words are defined.

Eighth Principle: Some clergy oppose access to sex education, birth control, abortion and assisted suicide; interfere in sexual issues; curb artistic expression. We won't let them foist their partisan mores on us; we will resist their use of the State to intrude into our lives.

Ninth Principle: We acknowledge that intelligent people of goodwill may disagree with us. Therefore, we enter into honest dialogue with people of varied beliefs and unbeliefs, cooperating with them for the greater good.

Tenth Principle: In supporting these or any other principles, we acknowledge that new circumstances and insights could make us reconsider them.