Values

• Humanism is a system of thought that hope to establish a way of living a good, happy life without any reference to God, religion or spirituality. The focus of humanists is on the scientific approach. Moral decisions are based on reason, empathy and a focus on people.
• Humanist values

  • The dignity of the individual and the importance of care for all people
  • The centrality of reason and the importance of using science for good.
  • Importance of human rights and democracy
  • The freedom of the individual combined with the need for social responsibility.
  • The need that people have to replace religious systems with something else.
  • The aim for fulfilment in all aspects of life.
• For Humanists all belief is personal and therefore any religious belief has no part to play in wider society.
• Humanists believe faith schools to be discriminatory.
• Humanists believe that as societies are pluralist, so too should be governments and common institutions.
• Spirituality

  An exploration of the beliefs and experiences of faiths, feelings and values, of learning about oneself, others and the surrounding world, and the use of imagination and creativity as well as the ability to reflect.
• Religions share a wide range of principles such as the importance of truth, care for others, peace, forgiveness. One principle shared is the Golden rule. For Christians this is 'do to others what you would have them do to you.' - Matthew 7:12
• Some Christians believe in the importance of Gospel values, which are the values found in the Gospels.
• Human values of goodness are given religious 'flavour' in different traditions but they are all essentially the same.
• Human values come first historically and have been adopted and adapted by religions.
• Religions would not disagree to the values of humanism and those are non-religious.
• Spiritual values in their fullest require belief in God who is the final purpose for these values. For example answering why it is that we forgive.
• Some Christian ethical values are different to some secular values.
• It could be argued that there is a problem with definition. Richard Dawkins does not reject spirituality as thinking beyond the physical. However, he does dispute a findable external plane of existence.
• It could be true there are no such things as human or spiritual values. An exhaustive list would be impossible to gather.
• Many humanists and secularists would argue against faith schools. There is no need for bringing a faith bias into education.
• Faith schools just add another option of school that people can go to. They can choose not to go, and go elsewhere.
• Some argue that kids shouldn't be taught religion and school as it is indoctrinating them into a sometimes harmful way of thinking. However, some argue that the emphasis of schools on science and technology is indoctrinating students into a non-spiritual way of life.
• Some point to the fact that one of the British values is to appreciate the traditions of your country. These values are taught in schools and as Britain is a Christian nation, should it not be so that we teach Christianity.
• Some argue that we can adapt with modern times without the need to remove Christianity. Moreover, just add in understanding of other faith traditions.
• Christian heritage in the UK is seen in our art, literature, etc. Even Richard Dawkins recognises himself as a cultural Christian.
• The UK would lose its identity entirely without a Christian influence and this may lead society to change for the worst.
• Christianity should be a significant contributor but this does not mean other faiths and beliefs should not.
• Christian ethics apply to everyone. So they can be applied by all and shouldn't be removed from society.
• It is time to leave aside the past. Society must change, it does not need to change with Christianity as a part of it.
• Christianity may contribute to individuals but it should leave society alone.
• The heritage of other cultural traditions and other religions is also valuable and incorporating this too would better reflect the UKs actual makeup.