Sandi Toksvig: Introducing humanism, non-religious approaches to life

We've teamed up with Sandi Toksvig to launch a new massive open online course (MOOC) about humanism, called Introducing Humanism. Sign up for the course at www.futurelear...

[@alif8884]

The more I'm seeing of this, the more I'm liking it. I may finally have found something to have faith in, which after the last 30 years is quite amazing.

[@rosiejoy4871]

throughout my life I felt unsure whether my thoughts were normal but I realized I was thinking in a humanist way

[@xepic665]

The whole point of Atheism/Humanism is that there's no faith required. You simply don't know or realise that certain supernatural gods exist or are impossible by definition

[@chesterdonnelly1212]

@@xepic665 that is the point of atheism. I'm not sure it's the whole point of humanism.

[@hassjackspirit8879]

Humanism gives a freedom of what to eat, what to wear, what to think and above all respect each and every human being in the universe

[@yootoob4516]

LOVE YOU SANDI! When it comes to *LIFE'S BIG QUESTIONS*, just because I don't have an answer doesn't mean "god" is the default answer. I'm not superstitious, so I don't believe in religion and its fear-based fairy tale.

[@Elaphe472]

The belief that we have only one life, where remuneration and justice happens here and now (when it happens), where all we have is ourselves, and where empathy is urgent... is a refreshing change from religion.

[@nicholsoncharles1813]

I have been looking for this

[@rodjones9138]

I absolutely agree with the philosophy of humanism.

[@TheCyborg94]

Humanism is basically Atheism with a world view added to it and that also includes equality for everyone regardless of their gender, race/ethnic background, sexual orientation, etc. A human is a human and they should be treated with care, love and respect, regardless of who are.

[@michaelhoyle6542]

Herewith a very quick intro to humanism by Sandi Toksvig. PS Fpllowing our discussion, Brian Cox identifies as a humanist 😀 Thank you for today x

[@negativeleftovers5867]

Who else here from school R.E Lol

[@lwrrld]

meee

[@moiscooler]

Who else is here because school happened

[@mrswinkyuk]

7 down votes ha ha ha. You have to wonder what sort of idiot could object to this?

[@djbbdfggh]

Sane humans

[@mrswinkyuk]

@@djbbdfggh ah, the "sane human" type of idiot, thank you.

[@djbbdfggh]

@@mrswinkyuk cry more lefty

[@mrswinkyuk]

@@djbbdfggh How did you know I was left-handed?

[@mrswinkyuk]

@@djbbdfggh You've gone quiet very quickly. Are you going to take another 3 years to think of a come back? 😀

[@sc0ttw22]

Amazing woman so much love

[@DV-dt9sq]

It is interesting how socialism and humanism have lot in common. In fact, Marx said that socialism is humanism. Erich Fromm certanly thought that. It seems that after decades of capitalist dogma and inhuman regime that alienates humans from nature and from each other, people need to discover them yet.

[@frankanderson5012]

D V I think you need to study Marx and Socialism a bit more. Humanism is about people given choices and not being pigeon holed into a single ideology.

[@DV-dt9sq]

@@frankanderson5012 : And I think you should study what capitalism is and what socialism is. I have lived in socialism and it is far more humain system than capitalitic regime. Perhaps you should recognize propaganda from your own system. Or even read Erich Fromm. As long as there is capitalism there will be wars.

[@sirbattlecat]

The way I see it atheism is an adjective, humanism is a philosophy. Seems to be a nice one though. I don't get why you'd have to take a course in this though. If you're conscious enough about yourself to label yourself a humanist I'm thinkibg you already know why you've chosen this or that opinion.

[@fullup91]

Battle Cat ... I disagree. I think there's so much more we can learn, humanist or not.

[@andybeans5790]

Personally I have doubts about such courses. They indicate an arbitrary right/wrong way to do things, which is the definition of dogmatic, i.e. not rational. You don't learn humanism through adhering to a doctrine, you learn it by having an open mind about people you interact with and "meeting them where they're at" instead of pretending they fit some preconception.

[@HumanistsUK]

It's an educational course :) not an instructional one

[@tonyhaywood-biles4949]

I am inclined to give Humanism a 'chance' Christianity has had its, now it's yours tnks

[@1Ma9iN8tive]

Religion - from the Latin meaning... “to reconnect to nature is a way that nurtures a resilient relationship to life.” - that’s without any gods required in the definition... Humanism - the most religious club of non-religious evangelical beings on the planet.

[@sc0ttw22]

Definitions change, your argument is null due to logical fallacy committed. And you are very wrong, humanists are anti-cultist and are not evangelical in anyway? We are secular freethinkers. So that definition you have made up is also null.

[@1Ma9iN8tive]

@@sc0ttw22 - your evangelical defensiveness proved my point Thank you

[@sc0ttw22]

@@1Ma9iN8tive you can’t just put two words together and think they have meaning 😂 evangelical cannot be assigned to a non faith based world view that’s simple and makes you look ignorant. Just because I am devoted and happy to be secular and logically freethinking does not equate in any sense to the blindly following of dogmatic nonsense based on 16,628th hand accounts...

[@1Ma9iN8tive]

@@sc0ttw22 - apparently ... any two words in the entire human lexicon of languages CAN be put together ... and by effect of them being language symbols meaning IS derived from that combination ... You can’t just say, “you can’t put two words together”, and magically NOT make those two words mean anything...See what I did there? I used your own dumb shit against your own dumb shit. And still your over defensiveness proves the etymological origin of the word evangelical derived from the Greek for “one who strongly promotes and attempts to persuade by their logos, pathos and ethos their philosophy of the world as THE “gospel” / “good news” ... The very mention of the two words “free thinker” as you profess your socially conditioned world view of “non-faithism” - like you don’t have “faith” in your secular “non-faith”...ba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha YOU COMPLETE IDIOT... Wait ... I’ll just get my karen popcorn ... next you’re attempt to tell me Trump won the election and Biden is trying to steal it...(insert crunching popcorn sound here...)

[@sc0ttw22]

@@1Ma9iN8tive Reply yes in theory they can be put together but it doesn’t mean they have value or truth. As they could be conflicting words which nullifies all meaning. Ooh swearing at me are you, are you putting money into your swear jar to donate to your church? Attacking personal incredulity just because you can’t fathom something boo hoo :-( Wake up bro definitions change, language evolves. This is simple English Language knowledge, Ancient Greek definitions have no value today apart from comparisons. Also you’d find that most of those philosophers weren’t religious despite using religious vocabulary. Again going back to it, science and humanism isn’t a religion and the more times you argue it the more you sound ignorant... it’s actually quite sad that you sound so cantankerous. Just go back to your Bible readings and preachings, because by the way preaching does nothing and is shown to actually make people want to distance themselves from joining a religious cult not the opposite. And if you didn’t notice this is a Humanist UK post, meaning it is mainly aimed at UK citizens which I am. But no you are not right at all, why would I support (fake) evangelical Trump? He goes against all our views of equality inclusion and safety of minorities. Biden fairly won the election as seen in the thrown out court cases that keep stacking up...

[@Melantrist]

Oh, I really hope humanism isn't like Atheism+ :D

[@Poseidon6363]

Atheism is just a non belief in god or gods, most humanists are atheists.

[@HumanistsUK]

We don't think she was referring to the movement by that name!

[@patmorrow6872]

Melantrist I’d say no. Humanism requires a lot more thought then atheism +

[@metza241]

The more I hear them the more religious it becomes. They tend to forget where they get their so called ethics and values..lol Rinse repeat... more power to man! may you prosper:)

[@TheMrReee]

The end should be "We'll show you how to live your own better life", otherwise its sounds a bit like a religion?

[@petermeyer6873]

Its quite interesting to see, how UK humanists have sucsessfully branded their philosophical standpoint as an exclusive alterative to beeing religious, smelling the potential of the atheistic portion of the population in the UK. First of all: Beeing religious and beeing a humanist are different cathegories, which are non-exclusive to each other, thus they can overlap. In fact, the overlap of UK humanists and UK religious is larger than their differences. Humanism doesnt care about the supernatural. That doesnt make it an opposite to religion, it just is not concerned with that bit. Tamed UK Christianity, on the other hand, even though it still claims universal application, is in its secular effects on the average citizen allmost identical to UK humanism: They both share the same values and yet every individual is free to disagree. Its like drinking two differnt brands of lager during one evening - nobody cares which makes you drunk and both lower your abilities to think.

[@alemartinezrojas5285]

If we have this life solely, it does not matter how we live it.

[@samplemuso]

It does matter

[@herbieshine1312]

It matters even more. One chance to be kind here and now.

[@americanliberal09]

Non-religious has absolutely nothing to do with "humanism". Being non-religious just means that you're not a part of any particular religion. However, it doesn't imply any ethical framework that you must abide by. There are "non-religious theists" who do exist. So, therefore, humanism doesn't apply to all non-religious people. :-P

[@vgrof2315]

Hmmm. I'm a complete atheist, but the last thing I want, or need, is a huffy looking woman telling me what to do. Why do some people feel so compelled to organize and instruct?

[@rovert46]

Be quiet, and pick up your tambourine!

[@ar-4775]

To give their arbitrary life meaning. Humanism has no legs to stand on from an epistemological point of view, it's no better than any other ideology. as a skeptic, its downright confusing

[@HumanistsUK]

It's not an instructional video on humanism, but rather an educational one (e.g. good for schools and other curious learners) fronted by a leading broadcaster who is a humanist.

[@djbbdfggh]

@@HumanistsUK FU MARXIST

[@frosty_soda]

Skeptical and rational? I doubt it. For one, you have zero basis on which to call something immoral.

[@chesterdonnelly1212]

I don't think you need one. Morality is not objective. But a group of people can agree if something is immoral. People agree that murder is immoral. People agree that slavery is immoral. There was a time when there wasn't agreement on slavery being immoral. Morals evolve over time.

[@deanthomas4309]

I can end your humanism right here unfortunately! I have seen spirits/ghosts they do exist so your theory's are wrong, sorry. There is so much more than humanity. You seem like good people so you should be safe. God bless!

[@Mr8erg]

Haha ok, just as long as you’ve seen them 🤪

[@herbieshine1312]

So your original comment was 2 years ago. Have you put together some proof/ evidence yet? I'd love to see it!