Humanist Manifestos One and Two

de Paul Kurtz

In 1933 a group of 34 liberal humanists in the United States defined and enunciated the philosophical and religious principles that seemed to them fundamental. They drafted Humanist Manifesto I, which for its time was a radical document. It was concerned with expressing a general religious and philosophical outlook that rejected orthodox and dogmatic positions and provided meaning and direction, unity and purpose to human life. It was committed to reason, science, and democracy. Humanist Manifesto I, important as it was in its time, has since been superseded by events; though significant, it did not go far enough. It did not and could not address itself to future problems and needs. In recognition of the pressing need for a new, more relevant statement, 40 years later Humanist Manifesto II was drafted. This more extensive and comprehensive document addresses itself not only to the problems of religion and ethics, but to the pressing issues of civil liberties, equality, democracy, the survival of humankind, world economic growth, population and ecological control, war and peace, and the building of a world community. - Preface.