In their social outlook Humanists are secularist because they want to free society from the stranglehold that religious be liefs still have on it, whether it be collective worship in British state schools or depriving women of education in Afghanistan. Humanists are freethinkers because they refuse to hand over their minds to any church or cult but remain free to think thing s through for themselves. Humanists hold that every responsible human being should be free to make his or her own choices and live their own life style as long as they do not violate the freedom of others. This is the Humanist Golden Rule 'do as you woul d be done by'. Unlike believers Humanists see no virtue in faith, blind obedience, unworldliness, chastity or pointless self denial.
Humanism stands for the open mind in an open society.
O ne of the most persistent accusations levied against Humanism is its supposed lack of moral guidance. It is overlooked that it is human society that has created systems of morality and it is religious man, who with uncalled for humility, has attributed their authorship to God. The Humanist Golden Rule as described above is as good as anything religion has to offer and the proof of it can be found in the virtual absence of Humanists from prison whilst most of the country's notorious villains, including Myra Hindley and Peter Sutcliffe were and still are committed Christians. Believers can ask God's forgiveness and wipe the slate clean so that they can start sinning all ove r again. Humanists do not stand before God but before man and must account for their actions in this world.