Humanist Association of Manitoba

Inside HAM

Become a member

The Humanist Association of Manitoba and affiliated regional and national humanist groups provide atheists, agnostics and other freethinkers with a growing network of people who share their philosophy and support their way of life, and outreach programs.

Further, by mobilizing their human resource networks and skills, humanist organizations are effective vehicles for initiating social and political reform in Canada and elsewhere on issues dealing with marriage, health, employment and education.

In addition the Humanist Association of Manitoba is a not-for-profit organization.

For member information or general inquiries please contact HAM outreach via email to

Sophie Shulman sbshulman@shaw.ca

We also hold open dinner (and other) meetings most months. See the events page or our most recent newsletter for times, location, and theme.

Humanist Principles

There are a variety of different lists though they are similiar. Here are ours:

That we can live full, meaningful lives, without religious doctrines, by relying on rationality, honesty, cooperation, fairness, and respect for each other.
That we use democratic principles, logic, and scientific inquiry to find realistic solutions to problems.
That we foster good ethics, virtues and critical thinking in our children to help them grow to be decent, responsible and active members of society.
That we protect and improve the Planet for future generations by scientific breakthroughs, in medicine and technology and by not inflicting needless suffering on other species.
That separation of religion and state is upheld in all levels of government to ensure equality and fairness for all.

The Humanist Association of Canada (HAC) has written a Declaration of Principles (offsite) that are worth reading.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) has a larger set of principles they call the Amsterdam Declaration 2002 (offsite).

The American Humanist Association use a concise version in their FAQ:

As Kurt Vonnegut succinctly described: being a Humanist means trying to behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after you are dead.

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.

The many humanist associations around the planet have stated principles in general agreement with the ones above. We as Humanists are very much individuals, each with his or her own worldview. To be a Humanist is also to be free of dogma and be enslaved to no book or tract. Therefore each list or declaration is a bit different in emphasis. A good summary of values is:

Humanism is a dynamic life stance that is guided by rational thought, scientific inquiry, responsibility, compassion, fairness, and equality.

Are you a Humanist?

From the article in The Manitoban, (vol 92 issue 21):

When it comes to celebrations, February is most commonly associated with the groundhog’s shadow and romantic valentines. But one group in Manitoba believes there is another important date this month that should be recognized — Feb. 12, the birthday of the famous scientist Charles Darwin. Meet the Humanist Association of Manitoba, a secular group that advocates the use of scientific method and thought as a guide to help differentiate fact from fiction. The association has written to Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz, asking him to declare the 12th as “Darwin Day.”

– Read the rest at themanitoban.com.

Humanist Association of Manitoba
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Inside HAM Membership Editorials Secular marriage Photos Library Shopping Support HAM Newsletters Camp Quest In the News	Become a member The Humanist Association of Manitoba and affiliated regional and national humanist groups provide atheists, agnostics and other freethinkers with a growing network of people who share their philosophy and support their way of life, and outreach programs. Further, by mobilizing their human resource networks and skills, humanist organizations are effective vehicles for initiating social and political reform in Canada and elsewhere on issues dealing with marriage, health, employment and education. In addition the Humanist Association of Manitoba is a not-for-profit organization. For member information or general inquiries please contact HAM outreach via email to Sophie Shulman sbshulman@shaw.ca We also hold open dinner (and other) meetings most months. See the events page or our most recent newsletter for times, location, and theme. Humanist Principles There are a variety of different lists though they are similiar. Here are ours: That we can live full, meaningful lives, without religious doctrines, by relying on rationality, honesty, cooperation, fairness, and respect for each other. That we use democratic principles, logic, and scientific inquiry to find realistic solutions to problems. That we foster good ethics, virtues and critical thinking in our children to help them grow to be decent, responsible and active members of society. That we protect and improve the Planet for future generations by scientific breakthroughs, in medicine and technology and by not inflicting needless suffering on other species. That separation of religion and state is upheld in all levels of government to ensure equality and fairness for all. The Humanist Association of Canada (HAC) has written a Declaration of Principles (offsite) that are worth reading. The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) has a larger set of principles they call the Amsterdam Declaration 2002 (offsite). The American Humanist Association use a concise version in their FAQ: As Kurt Vonnegut succinctly described: being a Humanist means trying to behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after you are dead. 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. The many humanist associations around the planet have stated principles in general agreement with the ones above. We as Humanists are very much individuals, each with his or her own worldview. To be a Humanist is also to be free of dogma and be enslaved to no book or tract. Therefore each list or declaration is a bit different in emphasis. A good summary of values is: Humanism is a dynamic life stance that is guided by rational thought, scientific inquiry, responsibility, compassion, fairness, and equality. Are you a Humanist? From the article in The Manitoban, (vol 92 issue 21): When it comes to celebrations, February is most commonly associated with the groundhog’s shadow and romantic valentines. But one group in Manitoba believes there is another important date this month that should be recognized — Feb. 12, the birthday of the famous scientist Charles Darwin. Meet the Humanist Association of Manitoba, a secular group that advocates the use of scientific method and thought as a guide to help differentiate fact from fiction. The association has written to Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz, asking him to declare the 12th as “Darwin Day.” – Read the rest at themanitoban.com.
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