What does a humanist believe?
•
•
•
•
•
•
So what would be a
humanist’s attitude
to
Discuss with your partner
what you think a
abortion?
HUMANISTShumanist would say..
freedom, justice,
happiness for everybody
Quality of life
Take action to help
Use reason, logic &
science
No prejudice
No God
A woman has received a
letter from a Catholic priest,
about why abortion would
be wrong. Write her a letter
of advice from a humanist,
perhaps disagreeing with
some of the things the
priest might have said.
- Quality of life, unborn not a
Humanists think that an unborn baby is not a person yet, so
they don’t worry about its happiness. It does not have
feelings or rights. So the mother’s right of choice comes first.
- reject the idea of “Sanctity of Life” – because they do not
believe in a God who gives human life holiness.
- consider “Quality of life” ( a person’s feeling of wellbeing and satisfaction with life).
A humanist would carefully and logically about the options –
of abortion on the quality of life of the mother/ parents
• if it is disabled, could it be cared for?
• if aborted, will mother be able to have children later, or
feel too much guilt?
Humanists do NOT think abortions a good solution to
unwanted pregnancy – it is better to reduce abortion by
better sex education/ access to contraception.
Peter
Singer:
“SpeciesAism”
healthy baby is able to do far more than an animal. But
SCENARIO
1. Why does Peter Singer
You are
pushing
pram along
think
that aanimals
have
the pavement
rights? with a 2 month
old
it. A dog
runs out
in
2. baby
Whyindoes
he think
that
front of you. You crash into it
sometimes, animals
and the baby gets thrown out
more Itrights
than
of thehave
pushchair.
is lying
on
humans?
the ground,
its legs in a strange
3. What
does he
think
position,
bleeding
and
crying.
thatthe
wedog
should
Nearby,
is alsoalways
yelping
in pain.
try and do? Do you
agree?
A
passer by
calls an
**What
would
he ambulance.
say about
It
arrives in 5 minutes. The
abortion?
paramedics take the dog into
the ambulance. They tell you:
“we will come back for the baby
a severely retarded infant, is unlikely to ever want more
than eat, excrete and avoid pain.
A non-person is a member of the human species, who is
unable to think, feel, make decisions. An ape may be of
more value than a disabled child or a person with
dementia. If an ape and a disable baby were caught in a
fire, we should rescue the ape - the ape has a higher
mental capacity, and so more ways of being happy, than
the disabled child.
We should always maximise happiness in the world. So
the ape should be saved first, because it can enjoy life
more and get more from it. We should consider killing the
disabled or demented, if they cause suffering to others.
Animals have rights because they also want things – to
What does Singer say about humans,
in comparison to animals?
Do you agree? Are you speciesist?
Catholic Responses to Singer
1. Pick out the 4 best
responses to
Singer.
2. Write them out.
**Explain how much
you agree with him.
Singer says we should always act
to increase happiness overall. But
this makes no sense: making one
person happy does not make a
difference to others! If someone
sees their football team win, the
people in China are no better off.
Singer is wrong to judge by
human standards – having
higher mental abilities may
not make other creatures
happier or more valuable.
Singer says we should only make
rational decisions about the value
of other people . But we have
emotions and instincts to care for
others, even when it isn’t
“rational”. Singer himself cared
generously for his elderly mother
Human beings are
still “persons”
even when they
lose their mental
abilities eg the
unborn, those in a
coma, the
demented elderly.
Singer is wrong to compare
humans with animals - how
can you compare the
happiness of a monkey with
a disabled child?
If Singer says all animals
have rights, why isn’t it
speciesism to destroy
wasp’s nests, or cull
badgers, or eat meat?
The highest creatures
are not those with most
mental capacity, but
those with a spiritual
soul, made in the
image of God. A dog
and a human baby are
not “equal”. But this
does not mean that we
can disrespect .
Summarise the
Catholic
responses a brief
headings around
a mindmap
Number them in
order of how
good an
argument they
are
Was Jesus a
humanist ..?
Yes because….
- Showed sympathy
for others
- Had no prejudice
- Took action:
offered help
No because…
- didn’t use science
- emphasised faith
to obtain results
- Was “not logical”
in putting love
first
Treat others as you
would like them to
treat you
• Write out the points
• Give evidence for 2 points on
each of your Yes and No
columns
**Overall, was Jesus a humanist?
A woman, afflicted with
bleeding for 12 years,
had spent all she had
on many doctors, but
was no better.
Believing in Jesus, she
reached out and
touched his cloak, and
instantly her bleeding
driedNo
up.man has greater
love than he who
lays down his life
for his friend.
When Jesus saw the man
who had been paralysed for
38 years lying there, he
asked him, "Do you want to
Jesus felt sorry for them,
for they were like sheep
without a shepherd…
(teaching & feeding of the
5000)
Jesus taught the Parable of
the Good Samaritan – the
Samaritan was the one that
Jesus praised, because he
alone helped the man who
had fallen among thieves, no
matter if he was a Jew or
Samaritan
For truly I tell you, if
you have faith the size
of a mustard seed, you
can say to this
mountain, ‘Move from
here to there,’ and it
will move. Nothing will
What would
Jesus say if he
met Stephen Fry,
the humanist?