Are you a Humanist?

[Hibbyradge]

http://www.humanism-scotland.org.uk/content/quiz/

[Gatecrasher]

I dont know what a humanist is but apparently I'm a traditional thinker. A lot of the options didn't cover what I thought about stuff.

[lapsedhibee]

"Secret Humanist"

Oops!

[Beefster]

'Secret Humanist' apparently.

Humanism just fulfils another need for people to feel that they 'belong' to something akin to religion so that they can try and 'spread their beliefs'.

[RyeSloan]

The quiz is a bit strange and the options presented are hardly likely to cover individuals actual positions or thoughts. Seems clear that the intended outcome is for the majority to be informed that they are (shock of shocks) secret humanists.

Dunno what it is but I find the name humanist a bit creepy.

As for being a secret humanist.....the implication of deliberately hiding something that seems based on compassion for the world and others without the need if a god is also a bit strange.

[easty]

I'm a secret humanist. Suppose ill have to change my cv from 'moody atheist'.

[CropleyWasGod]

The quiz is a bit strange and the options presented are hardly likely to cover individuals actual positions or thoughts. Seems clear that the intended outcome is for the majority to be informed that they are (shock of shocks) secret humanists.

Dunno what it is but I find the name humanist a bit creepy.

As for being a secret humanist.....the implication of deliberately hiding something that seems based on compassion for the world and others without the need if a god is also a bit strange.

Indeed. Marketing of an insidious kind, which really does them no favours in my book.

For an organisation which seems to dislike organised religion, my conclusion from that quiz is that they are doing their best to be one themselves.

[hibby rae]

Secret humanist as well. I agree that some of the options could perhaps be revised. For example on the last question regarding belief ofgod I picked 'I don't know but I hope/think so etc. However, I don't necessarilly hope/think so I just don't know because it hasn't been proven.
I also think some of the questions could be multiple answers, for example my parents did teach me a 'moral code' when young. But I also developed my own beliefs and morals as I grew up.

[Scouse Hibee]

Surprise, surprise I'm also a secret humanist! A bizarre marketing ploy/recruitment drive from the humanist society!

[--------]

The quiz is a bit strange and the options presented are hardly likely to cover individuals actual positions or thoughts. Seems clear that the intended outcome is for the majority to be informed that they are (shock of shocks) secret humanists.

Dunno what it is but I find the name humanist a bit creepy.

As for being a secret humanist.....the implication of deliberately hiding something that seems based on compassion for the world and others without the need if a god is also a bit strange.


I'm shocked - apparently I'm "obviously religious".

Nothing escapes those humanists, does it? :faf:

I agree that the questions are more than somewhat skewed to lead the majority to the conclusion that they're really humanists and should join up to the HSS immediately - or at least log on to the site, which preumably helps with the advertising ....

I would suggest that half-a-dozen 4-option multiple-choice questions are hardly sufficient to define any belief-system other than one superficial in the extreme.

BTW, I am NOT 'religious'. Christianity is about faith in, and a personal knowledge of, God our heavenly Father through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

:tin hat:

[(((Fergus)))]

The quiz is a bit strange and the options presented are hardly likely to cover individuals actual positions or thoughts. Seems clear that the intended outcome is for the majority to be informed that they are (shock of shocks) secret humanists.

Dunno what it is but I find the name humanist a bit creepy.

As for being a secret humanist.....the implication of deliberately hiding something that seems based on compassion for the world and others without the need if a god is also a bit strange.

Exactly. The questions are selected and phrased in such a way that only a complete extremist, religious or materialist, would allow themselves to choose anything other than the nice "humanist" answers.

Which in itself is revealing about humanism.

[Phil D. Rolls]

http://www.humanism-scotland.org.uk/content/quiz/

I know it's meant to be lighthearted and encourage people to discuss humanism. I thought it was pretty obvious what the cool answers were.

I am a secret humanist, which is a bit of a surprise. I've read some of Carl Rogers stuff, and reckon he's got it pretty much on the nail.

I think I failed because I said I believe in god. I think Secret Spiritualist is a more apt description. I don't want the humanists to find out though!

Seems to me, they are becoming a religion, whether they think it or not. Why else have a daft question that means you have to a) disagree with climate change; b) agree with Jeremy Clarkson.

A man (or woman, or transgendered) sets of seeking justice (or whatever option he feels is best for humanity) and ends up wanting a crown (or whatever form if he headgear is appropriate to his (or hers) tastes (or needs for self actualisation, or full enjoyment).

Still, humanist thinkers have my unconditional positive regard.

[WindyMiller]

I believe in a lot of what the Hunanists "promote", but think that questionaire is just crass.

[Sir David Gray]

What a pointless exercise. As others have already said, the possible answers they've put down there for the questions are totally ridiculous and meant to sway people towards being told that they're a Humanist.

I'm not a Humanist by the way. A "traditional thinker" apparently.

No surprise there.

[Dinkydoo]

Some of the answers were so biased that the quiz loses all credability (if it had any in the first place) by the second question. Seven questions to determine my philospohy on life and the afterlife, I wish everything else was that simple. :rolleyes:

-- "Secret Humanist"

[Steve-O]

Traditional thinker
Are you a humanist? Not quite. You're getting close, but you tend to rely on tradition and authority for your beliefs, whereas humanists try to think for themselves. Why not take the quiz again, or come on in, and join the conversation?

Why don't you take a moment to see what humanists believe?

Secret humanist
Congratulations – you're a secret humanist! Lots of people are, without even knowing it. It's obvious that you care about the world you live in and the people in it, and you make sense of your life using compassion and reason. Come on in, and meet some other people like you. Together, we can change the world!

[Purple & Green]

I went to a humanist wedding once, it was just like a religious ceremony.

As an atheist, even I find the wording of the religious answers insulting and intolerant.

I thought the suicide question was flippant - the problem isn't physician assisted suicide, it's having the appropriate safeguards in place.

I don't think they really get just how quasi religious they come across as - but I wouldn't be surprised to see a humanist church emerge in the next 20 years.

[Twa Cairpets]

Oddly, I have "devout religious beliefs" apparently.



Nah



Another secret humanist. Wonder what you had to do to be an out-of-the-closet humanist?

[DrSpaceMonkey]

Me generation
Are you a humanist? Er, no! OK, you don’t believe in god, but you don’t seem to believe in much beyond yourself. Humanists realise life's not all about us, and there’s more to it than having stuff. But the fact you're here means at least you're asking questions.

So I'm a selfish prick? Didn't need a survey to tell me that :-p

[Brizo]

I went to a humanist wedding once, it was just like a religious ceremony.

As an atheist, even I find the wording of the religious answers insulting and intolerant.

I thought the suicide question was flippant - the problem isn't physician assisted suicide, it's having the appropriate safeguards in place.

I don't think they really get just how quasi religious they come across as - but I wouldn't be surprised to see a humanist church emerge in the next 20 years.

Been to a couple of humanist funerals and found them extremely moving and very personalised regarding the deceased. Been to a humanist naming ceremony and found it totally contrived and artificial, in effect a religious ceremony minus any religion. Added to this the humanist celebrant (?) charged a couple of hundred quid for a 20 minute gig; and I recognised him from when he used to DJ at Buster Browns. Obviously humanisms a better payer :devil:

No doubt like ministers and priests theres good and poor humanist celebrants. However im not convinced and remain a semi retired pape.

[Caversham Green]

This thread started two days after my mother died. She specified in her Will that she wanted a Humanist funeral (she fell out with God some years ago) which took place yesterday.

Everyone who attended said it was a lovey service and exactly what Mum would have wanted. I had made all the arrangements with the Celebrant and she was very happy to make allowances for attendants with religious views, including a pause for prayers for those who wished to - her words were 'This is not a religious ceremony but we will take time for reflection and personal prayer.' In comparison, any religious ceremony I've ever attended (including my own wedding and my wife's funeral) expected all present to pray to and sing the praises of a God they didn't necessarily believe in - there was absolutely no attempt by the Humanist to 'spread her beliefs' in fact quite the reverse she was absolutely tolerant of people whose beliefs did not coincide with her own.

Whether or not you have a faith and whatever your beliefs, there is a real need for a ceremony to say goodbye to your loved ones, and to do it the way they would have wanted - we played some of Mum's favourite music even though she was the only one present that couldn't hear it. It may not be logical but it's the way it is and will continue to be long after the likes of Richard Dawkins have been dumped in the wheely bin. I'm not about to join them, but the Humanists are alright in my book. The questionnaire is bizarre and to my mind ill-advised, but at the risk of incurring wrath from above (and even worse from the Caldera de la Cruz) I would recommend them without hesitation for ceremonies such as this.

[s.a.m]

This thread started two days after my mother died. She specified in her Will that she wanted a Humanist funeral (she fell out with God some years ago) which took place yesterday.

Everyone who attended said it was a lovey service and exactly what Mum would have wanted. I had made all the arrangements with the Celebrant and she was very happy to make allowances for attendants with religious views, including a pause for prayers for those who wished to - her words were 'This is not a religious ceremony but we will take time for reflection and personal prayer.' In comparison, any religious ceremony I've ever attended (including my own wedding and my wife's funeral) expected all present to pray to and sing the praises of a God they didn't necessarily believe in - there was absolutely no attempt by the Humanist to 'spread her beliefs' in fact quite the reverse she was absolutely tolerant of people whose beliefs did not coincide with her own.

Whether or not you have a faith and whatever your beliefs, there is a real need for a ceremony to say goodbye to your loved ones, and to do it the way they would have wanted - we played some of Mum's favourite music even though she was the only one present that couldn't hear it. It may not be logical but it's the way it is and will continue to be long after the likes of Richard Dawkins have been dumped in the wheely bin. I'm not about to join them, but the Humanists are alright in my book. The questionnaire is bizarre and to my mind ill-advised, but at the risk of incurring wrath from above (and even worse from the Caldera de la Cruz) I would recommend them without hesitation for ceremonies such as this.

Sorry to hear about your loss, CG, and glad to hear that the funeral went as you would have wished.

[Caversham Green]

Sorry to hear about your loss, CG, and glad to hear that the funeral went as you would have wished.

Thanks for that s.a.m. It wasn't unexpected, but still painful when it happened.

[Jay]

My dad (and best friend),died 11 months ago and he had requested a humanist funeral. I had no idea what to expect but the woman who did it was wonderful. She spent hours with us as a family asking questions and listening to storys about him and in the end she really 'got' him. It was a wonderfully personal funeral, with a lot of my dads humour and a fair injection of his passion for Hibs throughout the service. It was a great send off for him and its a day that fills me with pride when i remember it, not sadness.The lady we had also allowed for others beliefs and we had a moment of reflection for those who wanted to say a prayer.

[Bishop Hibee]

No. First question is hilarious. The humanist societies phobic obsession with organised religion is embarrassing for them.

[Speedy]

Stopped after 3 questions, none of the answers reflected my opinion.

[weecounty hibby]

This thread started two days after my mother died. She specified in her Will that she wanted a Humanist funeral (she fell out with God some years ago) which took place yesterday.

Everyone who attended said it was a lovey service and exactly what Mum would have wanted. I had made all the arrangements with the Celebrant and she was very happy to make allowances for attendants with religious views, including a pause for prayers for those who wished to - her words were 'This is not a religious ceremony but we will take time for reflection and personal prayer.' In comparison, any religious ceremony I've ever attended (including my own wedding and my wife's funeral) expected all present to pray to and sing the praises of a God they didn't necessarily believe in - there was absolutely no attempt by the Humanist to 'spread her beliefs' in fact quite the reverse she was absolutely tolerant of people whose beliefs did not coincide with her own.

Whether or not you have a faith and whatever your beliefs, there is a real need for a ceremony to say goodbye to your loved ones, and to do it the way they would have wanted - we played some of Mum's favourite music even though she was the only one present that couldn't hear it. It may not be logical but it's the way it is and will continue to be long after the likes of Richard Dawkins have been dumped in the wheely bin. I'm not about to join them, but the Humanists are alright in my book. The questionnaire is bizarre and to my mind ill-advised, but at the risk of incurring wrath from above (and even worse from the Caldera de la Cruz) I would recommend them without hesitation for ceremonies such as this.

Sorry to hear of your loss. This has been my experience also with Humanist funerals. I have been to a few now, from a girl I knew who died at age 29 to a friends mum who was 84 and a few in between and I have always found them to be the most moving of services as they focus on the person and not about religion/God. I had a humanist wedding (No2) and again it wasn't all about God and religion it was about me and my wife and our life together and the ups and downs we may encounter along the way. My first wedding was in a church and that never felt right as I don't believe. Am I a humanist? I don't know, but it just seemed closer than any thing else to what I felt was right at that time
I can't remember ever believing in God and in truth I am probably verging on Wickan as I believe in the power of nature and the Earth and everything around us rather than one being. But what put the tin lid on it for me and religion was, when at friends sons funeral years ago, the Priest stated something along the lines of " to be a true Christian we must all feel pain as Christ did" The boy was eleven and I couldn't believe what I had just heard. It finished me completely, why would you want to be part of something that was insisting that you had to feel pain to belong.
Each to their own though and I know folk who are regular church/chapel attendees and I wouldn't criticise them for it, it's just not for me.
The questionnaire was a load of nonsense though!

[lyonhibs]

Guess what - I too am a "Secret Humanist".

Humanism seems to equate "being a decent person" with "being a humanist" which is obviously baws.

[--------]

This thread started two days after my mother died. She specified in her Will that she wanted a Humanist funeral (she fell out with God some years ago) which took place yesterday.

Everyone who attended said it was a lovey service and exactly what Mum would have wanted. I had made all the arrangements with the Celebrant and she was very happy to make allowances for attendants with religious views, including a pause for prayers for those who wished to - her words were 'This is not a religious ceremony but we will take time for reflection and personal prayer.' In comparison, any religious ceremony I've ever attended (including my own wedding and my wife's funeral) expected all present to pray to and sing the praises of a God they didn't necessarily believe in - there was absolutely no attempt by the Humanist to 'spread her beliefs' in fact quite the reverse she was absolutely tolerant of people whose beliefs did not coincide with her own.

Whether or not you have a faith and whatever your beliefs, there is a real need for a ceremony to say goodbye to your loved ones, and to do it the way they would have wanted - we played some of Mum's favourite music even though she was the only one present that couldn't hear it. It may not be logical but it's the way it is and will continue to be long after the likes of Richard Dawkins have been dumped in the wheely bin. I'm not about to join them, but the Humanists are alright in my book. The questionnaire is bizarre and to my mind ill-advised, but at the risk of incurring wrath from above (and even worse from the Caldera de la Cruz) I would recommend them without hesitation for ceremonies such as this.


Very sorry for your loss, CG. Very hard to lose a parent, and it's good that you were able to fulfil her wishes.

As far as wrath from the Caldera goes, I have to say I'm rather relieved when people who have no connection with my congregation or with the Christian faith in general decide not to ask me to do the service. A Christian funeral doesn't really resonate with someone whose life was lived outside the Christian faith - it's very difficult to be either on the one hand straight and honest, which is vitally important in a funeral service, or on the other to avoid awkwardness and sometimes even offence.

And the first rule of funerals is that the bereaved make the choices and give instructions to whoever officiates. I would NEVER dictate to a grieving family, and I would always do all I can to accommodate their wishes.

And I NEVER go chasing hearses.

[heidtheba]

Secret Humanist here - but I stress that, if that test is to believed, they just happen to agree with me, not necessarily me with them.

[lapsedhibee]

Secret Humanist here - but I stress that, if that test is to believed, they just happen to agree with me, not necessarily me with them.

Humanists are secret heidthebas :agree:

[Caversham Green]

Very sorry for your loss, CG. Very hard to lose a parent, and it's good that you were able to fulfil her wishes.

As far as wrath from the Caldera goes, I have to say I'm rather relieved when people who have no connection with my congregation or with the Christian faith in general decide not to ask me to do the service. A Christian funeral doesn't really resonate with someone whose life was lived outside the Christian faith - it's very difficult to be either on the one hand straight and honest, which is vitally important in a funeral service, or on the other to avoid awkwardness and sometimes even offence.

And the first rule of funerals is that the bereaved make the choices and give instructions to whoever officiates. I would NEVER dictate to a grieving family, and I would always do all I can to accommodate their wishes.

And I NEVER go chasing hearses.

I hope you took my comment in the spirit it was intended Doddie.

My personal beliefs are variable and ill-defined but fall somewhere between yours and Dawkins which probably means I'm a Humanist, I just don't feel the need to label myself as one. I can happily accept that people have views that differ from my own but what I can't abide is people like Dawkins or the Hovis Witnesses telling me what I must believe. Sadly, that Humanist questionnaire makes it look like that's what they're trying to do as well. If I was being charitable I'd say they were just trying to raise awareness, but it's a very clumsy way of doing so.

Having said that, I made my first post because I felt they deserved a bit of defending - they fulfilled a very important need in my life, and did it without trying to force their views on me or anyone else.

[heidtheba]

Humanists are secret heidthebas :agree:

Lol indeed! But they aren't the full jedi yet my young Padawan... Yey they shall verily be vexed at the intricacies of 'heidthebaness'...

[Hibrandenburg]

I used to call myself a humanist but will now rethink this. It would appear that to qualify as a humanist now I need to join other like minded individuals to celebrate the fact. Sounds like organised religion to me so I'm out. The next stage is when humanist groups start suggesting how I need to live my life. I'll never understand the need by individuals to share their beliefs.

[Twa Cairpets]

I used to call myself a humanist but will now rethink this. It would appear that to qualify as a humanist now I need to join other like minded individuals to celebrate the fact. Sounds like organised religion to me so I'm out. The next stage is when humanist groups start suggesting how I need to live my life. I'll never understand the need by individuals to share their beliefs.

I tend to agree

I'm not a member of any skeptical or humanist group, but read a lot of their output, podcasts etc. It is entirely human I think for like-minded individuals to group together. their role can be to disseminate information and provide a focal point for skeptical speakers, for example, or just to exist to give the opportunity to mix with similar people. It's no different to an extent to any other society or, indeed, a religion, but without the spiritual/supernatural/worship content of the latter.

The Merseyside Skeptics Society, for example, do some excellent Podcasts which I listen to and seem to organise some excellent events, but underlying their activity is the message to "dont take our word for it", which I rather like.

[Hibrandenburg]

I tend to agree

I'm not a member of any skeptical or humanist group, but read a lot of their output, podcasts etc. It is entirely human I think for like-minded individuals to group together. their role can be to disseminate information and provide a focal point for skeptical speakers, for example, or just to exist to give the opportunity to mix with similar people. It's no different to an extent to any other society or, indeed, a religion, but without the spiritual/supernatural/worship content of the latter.

The Merseyside Skeptics Society, for example, do some excellent Podcasts which I listen to and seem to organise some excellent events, but underlying their activity is the message to "dont take our word for it", which I rather like.

I get that and like the sound of it.

Hard to put into words what my feelings are but I think beliefs tend to take on another dynamic when groups are involved. It always seems to degenerate into a pissing contest as soon as more individuals get together under one flag so to speak and the emphasis then becomes political. The logical consequence of which then becomes conflict nomatter how peaceful the original belief was. Maybe that's just human nature or maybe my observations are just wrong. :dunno

[Twa Cairpets]

I get that and like the sound of it.

Hard to put into words what my feelings are but I think beliefs tend to take on another dynamic when groups are involved. It always seems to degenerate into a pissing contest as soon as more individuals get together under one flag so to speak and the emphasis then becomes political. The logical consequence of which then becomes conflict nomatter how peaceful the original belief was. Maybe that's just human nature or maybe my observations are just wrong. :dunno

Also, I think the activity and "militancy" - for want of a better word - of organised groups is down to what it is they are in opposition too. in the US, for example, the atheist/humanist movement is more active as they have more to combat. What this brings is dissent as the bigger the group - especially one formed specifically as a result of lack of belief - will contain more divergent views. A good example is a guy called Thunderf00t. In the heyday of YouTube atheism maybe 3-4 years ago, he issued a great series called "why do people laugh at creationists", and became quite a well known and respected figure. It also turns out he has somewhat dubious views regarding sexism and feminism, which has caused a lot of friction and schism in atheist events, as they tend to be populated by people with liberal views. His argument is that what does feminism have to do with atheism, and he is (probably) right, but it doesn't sit easily.

There does need to be a balancing force against extreme religion, even if the US is theoretically constitutionally set up to provide that protection, but it does bring its own issues, I agree.

[judas]

'Secret Humanist' apparently.

Humanism just fulfils another need for people to feel that they 'belong' to something akin to religion so that they can try and 'spread their beliefs'.

Er, not really. Unless you mean belonging to the human race.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Also, I think the activity and "militancy" - for want of a better word - of organised groups is down to what it is they are in opposition too. in the US, for example, the atheist/humanist movement is more active as they have more to combat. What this brings is dissent as the bigger the group - especially one formed specifically as a result of lack of belief - will contain more divergent views. A good example is a guy called Thunderf00t. In the heyday of YouTube atheism maybe 3-4 years ago, he issued a great series called "why do people laugh at creationists", and became quite a well known and respected figure. It also turns out he has somewhat dubious views regarding sexism and feminism, which has caused a lot of friction and schism in atheist events, as they tend to be populated by people with liberal views. His argument is that what does feminism have to do with atheism, and he is (probably) right, but it doesn't sit easily.

There does need to be a balancing force against extreme religion, even if the US is theoretically constitutionally set up to provide that protection, but it does bring its own issues, I agree.

I saw an interview with one of the members of Crass. He said it all got out of hand when the Vegetarians were fighting with the vegans at one of their gigs.

[Phil D. Rolls]

I was at a humanist funeral. The pall bearers were dressed as clowns, and the bottom dropped out of the coffin when they were carrying it. Apparently the undertaker thought the family wanted a humorous funeral.

[Hibrandenburg]

I saw an interview with one of the members of Crass. He said it all got out of hand when the Vegetarians were fighting with the vegans at one of their gigs.

Like that, mental note to translate into German and use over here.