The document appears to be a survey that assesses a person's level of humanism based on their answers to various questions about topics like the meaning of life, the existence of gods, treatment of animals, and more. It provides summaries of humanism and concludes that those who select mostly option 3 or 4 responses (focusing on evidence, reason, ethics) are most likely to be humanists. The document briefly outlines the history of humanism and freethought and current campaigns of the British Columbia Humanist Association.

2. How Humanist Are You?

3. The meaning in my life comes from:
1. Nowhere. There is no higher power and life has no meaning.
2. A higher power, who has a plan for us.
3. The pursuit of my goals, ambitions, hobbies, and projects.
4. My connections with others, my experiences, and the emotions I
feel.

4. When I die…
1. I will go on to exist forever in another place.
2. I will be reborn into a new body.
3. I see no evidence that I will continue in any way, so death will most
likely be the end of me.
4. I don't know what will happen, so I have no opinion.

5. I am most likely to believe something is true
if:
1. It is written in a sacred text or told to me by an authority.
2. I feel it in my gut.
3. Trustworthy people tell me they've seen evidence that they judge
to be valid.
4. I personally see evidence that I judge to be valid.

6. I think the universe:
1. Is a natural place. But I do also believe there is another,
supernatural, layer to reality.
2. Was created as part of a divine plan.
3. Is a natural place and can be understood best through science.

7. On the question of whether there’s a god:
1. I think that there is a god.
2. I think that there are a number of gods / goddesses.
3. I see no evidence for any gods or goddesses, so I don't know.
4. I see no evidence for any gods or goddesses, so I don't think they do
exist.

8. When it comes to religion, I think
governments should:
1. Reflect the majority religion in the country - if the majority are one
religion, that religion should take precedence.
2. Promote atheism - no religions are true and governments should
act accordingly to tell people so.
3. Be impartial - governments should not favour or discriminate
against any person because of religion.

9. I can tell right from wrong by…
1. Consulting a holy book or listening to a religious leader.
2. Picking whatever will work out best for me. No need to worry about
others.
3. Thinking for myself about the probable consequences of my actions
and their effects on others.

10. When I look at a beautiful natural view I think
that…
1. It must have been designed by God to be so perfect.
2. We have been granted dominion over this land to do with as we
want.
3. We ought to do everything possible to protect this for future
generations.
4. This is what life is all about. I feel good.

11. Other people matter and should be treated
with respect because…
1. God created us all in his image.
2. They are useful to me.
3. They are people with feelings like mine.
4. We will all be happier if we treat each other well.

12. Other animals should be treated…
1. However we see fit. They don't have souls and were created for us
to use.
2. With respect because they are part of God's creation.
3. With respect because they can suffer too.

13. Add up your answers

14. Results
• Mostly or All 3s & 4s: You’re most likely a Humanist!
• Few or no 3s & 4s: You likely have a religious faith but you may agree
with Humanists on some issues.

15. ‘Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and
other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead
ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of
humanity.’
-American Humanist Association 2003

16. ‘Humanism is an approach to life based on humanity and reason –
humanists recognise that moral values are properly founded on human
nature and experience alone and that the aims of morality should be
human welfare, happiness, and fulfillment. Our decisions are based on
the available evidence and our assessment of the outcomes of our
actions, not on any dogma or sacred text.’
-British Humanist Association 2011

17. International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU)
Amsterdam Declaration 2002
1. Humanism is ethical
2. Humanism is rational
3. Humanism supports democracy & human rights
4. Humanism insists that personal liberty must be combined with
social responsibility
5. Humanism is a response to the widespread demand for an
alternative to dogmatic religion
6. Humanism values artistic creativity & imagination
7. Humanism is a life-stance aiming at the maximum fulfillment
through the cultivation of ethical and creative living

18. Reason
Compassion
Hope

19. A (very) brief history of
Humanism & freethought

24. ‘That Muhammad could predict certain events does not prove
that he was a prophet: he may have been able to guess
successfully, but this does not mean that he had real
knowledge of the future. And certainly the fact that he was
able to recount events from the past does not prove that he
was a prophet, because he could have read about those events
in the Bible and, if he was illiterate, he could still have had the
Bible read to him.’
-Abu Isa al-Warraq 9th Century CE

25. ‘The fools of the world have been those
who have established religions,
ceremonies, laws, faith, rule of life.’
-Giordano Bruno 1585
Anyone who conducts an argument by
appealing to authority is not using his
intelligence; he is just using his memory.
-Leonardo da Vinci

26. Jean Jacques-Rousseau
Voltaire
Baron d’Holbach

28. Charles Bradlaugh MP
Karl Marx
Friedrich Nietzsche
Robert Ingersoll

29. Ernestine Rose
Susan B Anthony
Elizabeth Cady Stanton

35. Catholic
Protestant
Other Christian
Other religion
No religion
BRITISH COLUMBIA 2001
Catholic
Protesta
nt
Other Christian
Other religion
No religion
BRITISH COLUMBIA 2011
2001 2011
Catholic 17% 15%
Protestant 31% 16%
Other Christian 6% 13%
Other religion 14% 24%
No religion 36% 44%

36. Do you participate in or practice a
particular religion or faith?
Justason Marketing Intelligence
• Sample size: n=600
• Represents: BC adults 18+
• Telephone-online hybrid
• Field dates: 15-23 April 2013
• Margin of error: +/- 4.0 percentage points

37. …do you believe in a higher power?

38. How often do you attend religious services?

40. Current campaigns
•Physician-assisted dying
•Awareness of
Humanism
•Freedom of expression
•Human rights
•Humanist action
•Humanist marriage
•Reproductive freedoms
•Science
•Secular Schools
•Secularism

41. Ian Bushfield
www.bchumanist.ca
exdir@bchumanist.ca