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The philosophy or life stance of secular humanism (alternatively known by some adherents as Humanism, specifically with a capital H to distinguish it from other forms of humanism) embraces human reason, ethics, and philosophical naturalism while specifically rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, pseudoscience, and superstition as the basis of morality and decision making.〔(【引用サイトリンク】publisher=Institute for Humanist Studies )〕 Secular humanism posits that human beings are capable of being ethical and moral without religion or a god. It does not, however, assume that humans are either inherently evil or innately good, nor does it present humans as being superior to nature. Rather, the humanist life stance emphasizes the unique responsibility facing humanity and the ethical consequences of human decisions. Fundamental to the concept of secular humanism is the strongly held viewpoint that ideology—be it religious or political—must be thoroughly examined by each individual and not simply accepted or rejected on faith. Along with this, an essential part of secular humanism is a continually adapting search for truth, primarily through science and philosophy. Many Humanists derive their moral codes from a philosophy of utilitarianism, ethical naturalism, or evolutionary ethics, and some, such as Sam Harris, advocate a science of morality. The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is the world union of more than one hundred Humanist, rationalist, irreligious, atheistic, Bright, secular, Ethical Culture, and freethought organizations in more than 40 countries. The "Happy Human" is the official symbol of the IHEU as well as being regarded as a universally recognised symbol for those who call themselves Humanists. Secular humanist organizations are found in all parts of the world. Those who call themselves humanists are estimated to number between four and five million people worldwide. ==Terminology== The meaning of the phrase ''secular humanism'' has evolved over time. The phrase has been used since at least the 1930s,〔See "Unemployed at service: church and the world", ''The Guardian'', 25 May 1935, p.18: citing the comments of Rev. W.G. Peck, rector of St. John the Baptist, Hulme Manchester, concerning "The modern age of secular humanism". (Guardian and Observer Digital Archive )〕 and in 1943, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, was reported as warning that the "Christian tradition... was in danger of being undermined by a 'Secular Humanism' which hoped to retain Christian values without Christian faith."〔"Free Church ministers in Anglican pulpits. Dr Temple's call: the South India Scheme." ''The Guardian'', 26 May 1943, p.6 (Guardian and Observer Digital Archive )〕 During the 1960s and 1970s the term was embraced by some humanists who considered themselves anti-religious,〔See Mouat, Kit (1972) ''An Introduction to Secular Humanism''. Haywards Heath: Charles Clarke Ltd. Also, ''The Freethinker'' began to use the phrase "secular humanist monthly" on its front page masthead.〕 as well as those who, although not critical of religion in its various guises, preferred a non-religious approach.〔 The release in 1980 of ''A Secular Humanist Declaration'' by the newly formed Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism (CODESH, now the Council for Secular Humanism) gave secular humanism an organisational identity within the United States. However, many adherents of the approach reject the use of the word ''secular'' as obfuscating and confusing, and consider that the term ''secular humanism'' has been "demonized by the religious right... All too often secular humanism is reduced to a sterile outlook consisting of little more than secularism slightly broadened by academic ethics. This kind of 'hyphenated humanism' easily becomes more about the adjective than its referent".〔(Humanism Unmodified ) By Edd Doerr. Published in the ''Humanist'' (November/December 2002)〕 Adherents of this view, including the International Humanist and Ethical Union and the American Humanist Association, consider that the unmodified but capitalised word Humanism should be used. The endorsement by the IHEU of the capitalization of the word ''Humanism'', and the dropping of any adjective such as ''secular'', is quite recent. The American Humanist Association began to adopt this view in 1973, and the IHEU formally endorsed the position in 1989. In 2002 the IHEU General Assembly unanimously adopted the Amsterdam Declaration, which represents the official defining statement of World Humanism for Humanists. This declaration makes exclusive use of capitalized ''Humanist'' and ''Humanism'', which is consistent with IHEU's general practice and recommendations for promoting a unified Humanist identity. To further promote Humanist identity, these words are also free of any adjectives, as recommended by prominent members of IHEU. Such usage is not universal among IHEU member organizations, though most of them do observe these conventions. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Secular humanism」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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