'Humanism Works,' says Idaho group – Ethics not dependent on supernatural deities

(Moscow, ID – July 24, 2012) – Local humanists and atheists are once again announcing their presence in the Palouse with a billboard campaign. The “Humanism Works” campaign began July 23 with the placement of a billboard on Highway 95, south of Palouse River Drive. The six-week campaign is the first in a planned series of advertisements aimed at educating the public about humanism—the idea that you can be good without belief in a god.  Humanism is "guided by reason, inspired by compassion, and informed by experience."

This first billboard reads “Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. Humanism Works!” This statement is one of the current principles of humanism adopted by the American Humanist Association (AHA). Additional principles will be highlighted in future ads. A complete list can be found in Humanism and Its Aspirations is published at the AHA website.

“Our billboard campaign aims to introduce the idea that ethics don’t have to come from an ancient text like the Bible or Koran,” said American Humanist Association Executive Director Roy Speckhardt. “Upon discovering humanism, we find many who say, ‘That’s what I’ve believed all along.’”

The American Humanist Association and Humanists of the Palouse, a local AHA chapter, are working together to build on past campaigns and events, including the highly successful “Darwin on the Palouse” two-day festival held in February.

Speckhardt continued, “We are proud to be working with the Humanists of the Palouse again to bring more humanists and atheists in the area together.”

More information about Humanists of the Palouse can be found on their website: http://humanistsofthepalouse.org

D. Beeksma

One of the growing crowd of American "nones" herself, Deborah is a prolific writer who finds religion, spirituality and the impact of belief (and non-belief) on culture inspiring, fascinating and at times, disturbing. She hosts the God Discussion show and handles the site's technical work. Her education and background is in business, ecommerce and law.

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  • mom of 3

    just more of the secular colleges trying to take God out of everything and separate children from the values they are taught, to me shows more how education does not equal intelligence.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-OBrien/100001338658769 John O'Brien

      Your right mom of 3 we need more biblical values! We need these kids to understand that r@pe, genocide, having multiple wives, bigotry and many other things are ok. This is what the bible teaches and they need to know it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/peter.olsen.121 Peter Olsen

    Religion is better than the people who practice it.

  • http://www.houseofbetazed.com Mriana

    I agree. Humanism works better than anything else I've found. :D

  • Rob S

    Humanism is what Jesus taught – along with a few other things. I have no reason to believe He was wrong. I like the part where He is reported as saying to some folks "If you can't believe what I say, then believe what you are seeing with your own eyes." But that was then and this is now. I also noticed that He did not hang onto this life with both hands as most of us do. I wonder why.