African Americans for Humanism is engaged in developing humanism in the African American community. We exist for those who are unchurched or free from religion and who are looking for a rational and ethical approach to life. Our organization believes that the solving of problems and attainment of happiness are rooted in reason, free inquiry, and critical thinking. We do not embrace ESP, astrology, numerology, or any other paranormal belief. We strive to deal with the problems of the world by fully developing our minds and properly analyzing ethical ideas.
Racism and slavery have plagued African Americans for centuries. Racial insensitivity and biased Eurocentric thinking have also caused great problems for African Americans. These problems are not always easy to detect and are often found in the least likely places and among the least likely people. AAH strongly opposes racism and challenges long held beliefs which have consistently kept African Americans at a disadvantage socially, politically, and economically.
Traditional Western scholarship, philosophy, and ethical ideas have often been tainted by falsehoods. If world history is to be understood, it must first be understood that there are many different views of history to be examined. Just as there is diversity within the human race, there is diversity in the ways that various individuals and groups report and interpret history. AAH presents many views which certainly come into conflict with many of the established views of traditional Western scholarship. The sharing of ideas will add depth to philosophical thought and will help to create an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding throughout the world community.
Many individuals and groups have dogmatically professed to have the solutions to problems which they have neither thoroughly analyzed nor fully understood. They advocate solutions that, in their opinions, worked admirably in the past. But times, circumstances, and opportunities change. Strategies which seemed to be effective in the past could prove to be utterly disastrous if attempted in the present or the future.
AAH recognizes the accomplishments of religion, but also acknowledges its many shortcomings. No text - religious or otherwise - offers the last word on morality or solutions to human problems. As the world becomes more complex, so do its problems and the solutions to those problems. Humanists believe in what Robert G. Ingersoll called the trinity of science: reason, experience, and observation.
AAH believes that it is unwise and impractical to despair of the human race. In the words of Thomas Paine: "We live to improve, or we live in vain." AAH ...
Humanism has a rich, though neglected, history in the African American community. Great humanists include:
By utilizing this strong humanist heritage, African Americans will have a better understanding of their problems and the potential solutions. Humanists encourage critical examination of all ideas and no concepts are regarded as sacred.
AAH does not profess to have all the answers to every world problem. And because our views are not engraved in stone, we are inclined to implement changes when the need arises.
CFI SUMMIT
OCTOBER 24-27 2013
TACOMA, WASHINGTON
Joint Conference of the Council for Secular Humanism, Center for Inquiry, and Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
The transnational secular humanist magazine
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