HUMANIST CAMPAIGNING Presented by Richy Thompson Director of
HUMANIST CAMPAIGNING Presented by Richy Thompson Director of Public Affairs and Policy 9 July 2019
AREAS TO COVER ● ● ● Human rights: free speech Secularism Ethical issues: ○ assisted dying ○ abortion
RELEVANT GCSE THEMES ● ● ● Religious, philosophical and ethical studies in the modern world Theme d: ‘relationships and families, religious teachings about the nature and purpose of families in the 21 st century, sex, marriage, cohabitation and divorce. Issues related to the nature and purpose of families; roles of men and women; equality; gender prejudice and discrimination. ’ Theme j: ‘religion, human rights and social justice; issues of equality and freedom of religion or belief; prejudice and discrimination in religion and belief; human rights; wealth and poverty; racial prejudice and discrimination’
HUMANIST PRINCIPLES Personal freedom, evidence, empathy, reason, equality, diversity, one life, happiness, respect for human dignity, considering the consequences. The harm principle: The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. John Stuart Mill, On Liberty (1859)
FREE SPEECH I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Evelyn Beatrice Hall, biographer Summarising the views of Voltaire (1906)
ASSISTED DYING
ABORTION
SECULARISM ‘Secularism’ can mean different things to different people. We use it to mean separation of church and state and equal treatment for all, regardless of religion or belief. Someone who supports secularism is a ‘secularist’, hence Humanists UK is a secularist organisation. Humanists UK website
QUESTIONS?
- Slides: 11