secular humanism
Rationalist moral philosophy
Secular humanism is a philosophical worldview that embraces human reason, ethics, and naturalism while rejecting religious dogma and the supernatural.
It holds that humans can lead ethical, meaningful lives without divine guidance, grounding morality in human welfare rather than scriptural authority.
The term is often used by religious conservatives as a pejorative, casting it as a competing faith system threatening traditional values: They blamed secular humanism for the decline of prayer in schools.
Rejection of deities
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- freethoughtReason-based belief formation
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
irreligion · nontheism · disbelief · godlessness · separation of church and state · worldview
Reason as knowledge source
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
- existentialismPhilosophy stressing self-created meaning
- pragmatismPractical problem-solving philosophy
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
materialism · Enlightenment · epistemology · scientific method · human reason · critical inquiry · John Dewey · Bertrand Russell
Right and wrong principles
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- human dignityIntrinsic worth of persons
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- empathySharing another's emotions
altruism · autonomy · responsibility · integrity · justice · fairness · equality · human rights
Fair distribution of opportunities
- equalitySame status for all
- civil rightsGuaranteed individual legal protections
- liberalismPhilosophy valuing reform, tolerance
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
inclusivity · democracy · egalitarianism · feminism · LGBTQ+ rights · reform · advocacy · empowerment
atheism
Rejection of deities
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- freethoughtReason-based belief formation
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
skepticism · irreligion · nontheism · disbelief · godlessness · separation of church and state · worldview
rationalism
Reason as knowledge source
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
- existentialismPhilosophy stressing self-created meaning
- pragmatismPractical problem-solving philosophy
utilitarianism · materialism · Enlightenment · epistemology · scientific method · human reason · critical inquiry · John Dewey · Bertrand Russell · free inquiry
morality
Right and wrong principles
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- human dignityIntrinsic worth of persons
- compassionConcern for others' distress
empathy · altruism · autonomy · responsibility · integrity · justice · fairness · equality · human rights · freedom
social justice
Fair distribution of opportunities
- equalitySame status for all
- civil rightsGuaranteed individual legal protections
- liberalismPhilosophy valuing reform, tolerance
pluralism · inclusivity · democracy · egalitarianism · feminism · LGBTQ+ rights · reform · advocacy · empowerment · education
- religionsChristianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- ethicsmorality, deontology, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism
- philosophiesempiricism, stoicism, nihilism, idealism, materialism
- -ismsatomism, postmodernism, feminism, Marxism, Darwinism
secular humanismreligious fundamentalism
Literal interpretation of scripture
theism · Sharia law · canon law · papal infallibility · clericalism
secular humanismsupernaturalism
Belief in nonphysical forces
religious fundamentalism · theism · creationism · Christian fundamentalism · Islamic fundamentalism
secular humanismtheocracy
Rule by religious authority
divine right · Islamism · Sharia law · papism · monasticism
secular, humanism, hominid, secularist, hominoid, secularization, secularize, hominids, secularity