Introduction to Humanism by Doug Thomas

In this documentary short film, president of SOFREE (the Society of Ontario Free Thinkers) Doug Thomas presents a brief introduction to Humanism and humanist ethics. This video is primarily intended for use as a learning tool for teachers and students participating secondary school world religions courses, but any individual or organization is welcome to present this video for educational purposes (not for commercial use.) We hope you find it informative. Other similar video presentations will follow on related topics, so subscribe to our channel if you'd like know when those upcoming videos become available.

Best Wishes,
Sofree Media.

[carlossaroufim]

Thank You Mr Thomas for this clarification in a positive and simplified method.

[helenweatherby]

Thank you for the calm, reasoned explanation.

[benhymond]

Who is watching this video in 2021. Thank you for these precious thought s

[greenlitcrit]

Very nice and comprehensive explanation

[RajuGogul]

Sir, A Definite Wonderful Thought Process. Every Student Mindset in the world should be able to "see" the value proposition you are providing in the 15 minute video. Hopefully they get the "fresh perspectives" with "reason", A more profound thoughts are available even to the post modern ones from the ancient wisdom of humanity. As a hint I can say, "Living in the Present Moment". Please explore. I believe it is for next level. AT least some will agree😌

[aheadsup]

Man that was great intro and explanation possibly the best i have heard to date. Good on you, peace

[shelpow]

Very enlightening, thank you! Although I don't see any reason for conflict between living spiritually, with a deep connection to our divine essence, and humanism. If anything, they complement each other. :-)

[blancaroca]

Good informative enjoyable video in general. However I have some important bones to pick too. First the definition here of agnostic is odd as it didn’t mention god or gods or goddesses nor voodoo etc. I googled definition of agnostic “a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.” It seems the definition used here is more general, like a “rationalist”?

[stupidtreehugger]

What about people who really really really like to eat - are they circular humanists on the way to perfection?

[vivienneharris]

This really clarified the aspects of humanism for me.

[yakmanyhad]

I agree with much of what this video says. My quibble is mostly semantic. Is it really possible to believe and not believe in equal measure? This sounds contradictory. I thought agnosticism and atheism dealt with different ontology. Agnosticism/Gnosticism- what one can or can't *know*, atheism/theism- what one *believes* in reference to god(s). It seems incorrect to equate knowledge with belief. What if i asked you if you *believed* in a god or not. Would you say you don't *know* if a god exists or not? Isn't that answering a question i never asked?

[BeatnikBoutique]

I really appreciated this, but I would like to see it corrected to define atheism properly, which is essentially the same as agnosticism: disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. To state that atheism states that "there is no god" is false by definition, and would place the onus on the individual to prove that claim. Thank you...

[spiritualdeist]

there is also deist, that you forget to mention.

[jacher]

That is an interesting explanation! I am the prophesied new God myself and I founded a new modern religion that seems to have things in common with agnosticism. In my Religion44 I teach that we do not have to know everything, but we can "move on"...

But I dislike the idea and the name of " #Humanism ", which suggests that humans are the ultimate "gods" and overlords of the Universe of the Nature and the rest of that is for the "human·(ist)·s" to take advantage of. That is a biblical doctrine!

Therefore my preferred name would be #Natutalism, which suggests, that humans are not the ultimate purpose of the Nature and the Universe, but are just a part of it and should respect the other parts of the world around us.

Other than that, in my doctrine "everything is religious or a religion" so Atheism and Agnosticism are religions too!
(Many) Atheists and agnostics hate to be thought as religious in their own godless way, because it ruins their propaganda method of bashing all possible other religions as "evil". If Atheism and Agnosticism would be properly thought of as religions too, then according to their own propaganda, they would be "evil" too!

[gatorscoops]

How about throwing nationality out the window... Much love from my point of the globe.

[bruceb]

Agnostic means "without Knowledge". An Agnostic does not Know there is a god. But similarly does not Know there is not a god. There is not sufficient evidence either way. An Agnostic does not believe there is a god and does not believe there is not a god - because Agnosticism is not about stand alone belief in any way. An Agnostic does not believe anything that is not Knowledge. So once it is said they don't Know then they also automatically don't believe. Knowledge is Justified True Belief - it has to be all three terms.
Agnostics are not theists and similarly are not atheist. It is just not known,

[allgood]

In Yoga God EXIST... God is a spirit or soul being... spirit is a point source of conscious energy... God is NOT a Muslim, Christian or Hindu.... Gid NEVER wrote the Koran, Bible, or Hindu books.

Human being means body with a soul... you reap what you sow... you don't have to be s guru to treat others how you like to be treated.. it is ATTITUDE.

[peterjones]

hello . a free thinker wouldn`t require education, but that would make all the nurtured genuis`s look stupid . with regards

[littlelulu]

so you don't like Michelle because she answers to God and does not do her own you should take your own advice and just say you don't know if there is a God or believe in experience evidence so you set yourself up to judge Michelle and say she has no experience with God? she says she if she says it is the God that wrote Scripture she is in obedience to the the rightful owner of all that is since she along with all of mankind will be called to face God at the end and give an account to Him of all that they have ever done or said i think she is acting with everyone will give an account to God whether they believe it or you think the wise thing to do would be to ask seriously if this God exists if He would cut you a break and let you know he exists ? after all it is said in his Scripture none can come to him unless he draws them and that if you seek him with all your heart (i think sincerely willing to accept any answer) that you will find reasonable to give it a try

[eklektikTubb]

"We S.H. accept a total responsibility because since we don´t believe in God, we can´t suggest that we´re following any God´s plan - Its our plan totally so we must accept total responsibility for the results of that plan"


I see there a logical fallacy, specifically a slippery slope fallacy:



Not believing in God´s plan => Believing there is no God´s plan => Believing in no other plan than human plan => Believing that we must accept total responsibility.
Not believing in God´s plan =>>> Believing that we must accept total responsibility.


(Four slightly different things, logically not follow.)