The way Traderboy defines it,5 big stars! My understanding is that this philosophy is basically the "Golden Rule"-that we should treat others as we'd like to be treated.I do not believe humans are so debased that they need the Bribe of Heaven or the Threat of Hell to behave.On the contrary,all of the fighting over Theology has caused more harm historically than just about anything else except pure greed.When Greed masquerades as "Religious Conviction"-watch out!!!

They are committed to the application of reason and science to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems. They deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outside nature for salvation. They believe that scientific discovery and technology can contribute to the betterment of human life. They believe in an open and pluralistic society and that democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human rights from authoritarian elites and repressive majorities. They are committed to the principle of separation of church and state. They cultivate the arts of negotiation and compromise as a means of resolving differences and achieving mutual understanding. They are concerned with securing justice and fairness in society and with eliminating discrimination and intolerance. They believe in supporting the disadvantaged and the handicapped so that they will be able to help themselves. They attempt to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based on race, religion, nationality, gender, creed, class, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, and strive to work together for the common good of humanity. They want to protect and enhance the earth, to preserve it for future generations, and to avoid inflicting needless suffering on other species. They believe in enjoying life here and now and in developing their creative talents to the fullest. They believe in the cultivation of moral excellence. They respect the right to privacy. They believe in the common moral decencies of altruism, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, and responsibility. They are deeply concerned with the moral education of their children, wanting to nourish reason and compassion. They are engaged by the arts no less than by the sciences. They are citizens of the universe and are excited by discoveries still to be made in the cosmos. They are skeptical of untested claims to knowledge, and are open to novel ideas and to seeking new departures in their thinking. They affirm humanism as a realistic alternative to theologies of despair and ideologies of violence and as a source of rich personal significance and genuine satisfaction in the service to others. They believe in optimism rather than pessimism. They believe in the fullest realization of the best and noblest that we are capable of as human beings. Now.....if THAT ain't a manifesto that'll take you places, I don't know what is.

This is what I consider myself to be--a secular humanist. I do this because I have faith in humanity, and because while I am a moral person, I do not believe that morals necessarily have to come from religion. I also believe that all humans are naturally good, and will continue to improve themselves in the future.

As long as they're not pushing their beliefs on everyone, I'm fine with it. Personally, I don't see anything harmful in thinking that humans are capable of making moral decisions on their own.