Principles and Tenets of Spiritual Humanism

1. Behold Nature with reverence.

By instinct we are inspired by the beauty of nature – a fiery sunset, the starry night sky, springtime flowers, or autumn leaves.

2. Base religion upon Reason.

Religious truth can only be found through science, the basis of all the knowledge that makes our civilization possible.

3. Treat all people as equals.

Everyone deserves the same level of respect, opportunities, and right to be happy. No one is born as a superior to anyone else.

4. Act to reduce suffering and misery, and advance contentment, and happiness.

Everyone must obey the same standards of good and bad behavior. Doing good deeds makes the world a better place.

5. Protect things that belong to everyone.

Fresh air, clean rivers, and healthy oceans are all things that every one has a right to enjoy, and no one has a right to spoil. It’s our duty to protect these public treasures.

6. Celebrate seasons and cycles with ritual.

We are part of nature. Recognizing it brings us closer to our natural roots.

7. Cultivate spiritual abilities by application.

By practicing we can get better at being inspired and knowing our own abilities.

8. Exalt the correlation of past, present, and future.

What we do today affects the world of the future. Things done in the past like preserving the environment, finding cures for diseases, or writing an inspiring song, still help us today.

9. Champion these principles.

When you believe in something you must be ready to stand up for yourself and defend it. Otherwise some one else will step in and make things worse.

10. Improve these codes as we learn more.

Only through learning and changing our actions based on the new information can we grow and make the world better. Even our dearest beliefs must always be open to improvement.

News
Minister Ordination for Lady Gaga
Tue, 07 Sep 2010
Lady Gaga has just announced she is seeking to become an ordained minister over the Internet in order to perform wedding ceremonies for her gay fans. Miss Gaga has not revealed which online church or seminary she is pursuing minister ordination with.

Presbyterian minister rebuked for same sex marriages
Mon, 06 Sep 2010
The Presbyterian Church seems to not be able to decide on the status of performing same sex marriages by its ministers. The Reverend Jane Adams Spahr, a Presbyterian minister, violated her church regulations in performing sixteen same-sex marriages in 2008.

Your Real Immortality
Sun, 11 Jul 2010

Last week I attended the funeral service for my aunt. She was not humanist let alone a Spiritual Humanist. As I sat in the pews listening to her minister repeatedly mispronounce my aunt's and my mutual last name (pro tip: there is no silent r)...

Academy of Natural Sciences
Fri, 25 Jun 2010

Despite the tragic history this is great place to start the discussion of the Law of Evolution (yes I have upgraded it!) with kids. Actually the bad history is just as important for kids because we as a civilization will not learn from our mistakes if we hide them from future generations. Truffala trees don't save themselves after all.