W1+Philosophical+Foundations


 * PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SECULAR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM***

Secular Humanistic Jews are committed to behavior and practices that are consistent with the following principles and world view:


 * __Universalism:__** We recognize the need, and respect the right of all people to congregate in groups and live in dignity and harmony. We support a free and open society which enables enrichment of our own culture and permits us to share with surrounding cultures. As Jews and humans, we need to take our place in the world to work for the common good of humanity, to secure justice and fairness in society, to ensure equal rights and freedoms for all and to eliminate discrimination and intolerance.
 * __Jewish Pluralism:__** There is unity in diversity and membership in the Jewish People should be open and inclusive. Only Jewish pluralism will guarantee the survival of the Jewish People.
 * __Jewish Peoplehood:__** We are a unique, not a chosen, people, among many unique peoples. We identify with the history, culture, and future of the Jewish People and are proud of our membership in it. We value the contributions of Jews and Judaism to the betterment of our world, and affirm the value of preserving Jewish identities.
 * __Judaism:__** Judaism is the historical experience and cultural creator (civilization) of the Jewish People which has evolved, and will continue to evolve, based on the needs and influences of the time. Judaism consists of many traditions. Secular Humanistic Judaism is a logical result of the lessons of Jewish history that taught us that we are and must be self-reliant.
 * __Social Ethics:__** As social animals, humans cannot be self-fulfilled in isolation. We have a moral obligation to be self-reliant and to ensure conditions which encourage self-actualization for all. This can best be achieved in a democratic society where individual rights and group rights are balanced. We value all social structures that promote well being (e.g. friendship, family, community).
 * __Ethics:__** Ethics is the study of what humans ought to be and evolves out of experience and understanding of the consequences of our actions. All actions ought to satisfy human needs primarily for survival, pleasure and dignity, the harmonization of which leads to happiness. We should glean from all available sources the ethical values that serve these needs.
 * __Moral Authority:__** Human beings are the arbiters of morality and must have the freedom and power as well as the responsibility to be the masters of their own lives.
 * __Solving Problems:__** Human beings are responsible for solving their problems and we are committed to the view that the application of reason and science can lead to the improvement of the human condition. We cultivate the arts of negotiation and compromise as a means of resolving differences and achieving solutions.
 * __Purpose or Meaning of Life:__** Self-actualization for every human being gives life purpose. Only the individual can create specific meaning in her or his life. Perpetuating life and improving its quality can add profound meaning to human life. We believe in optimism rather than pessimism, hope rather than despair, learning in the place of dogma, truth instead of ignorance, joy rather than guilt or sin, tolerance in the place of fear, love instead of hatred, compassion over selfishness, beauty instead of ugliness, and reason rather than blind faith or irrationality.
 * __Nature and Reality__**: Human beings are part of the evolving natural universe that we view through our senses and understand through rational thought. The universe exists independently of any individual and is free from supernatural intervention.
 * __Nature of Truth__**: Truths can be discovered through reason using scientific method and empirical evidence by testing hypotheses generated from intuition, observation, faith or any other way. Truths are universal, not ethnic and the value of ideas is judged by their truthfulness, not their Jewishness. Uncertainty is a condition of life and our conception of truths evolve as our knowledge and understanding deepen.


 * Adapted from Eva Goldfinger and Secular Humanist.