Background: Humanism, in its religious and secular shades, has a long and vigorous history within Unitarianism and specifically UUCCSM. Besides the 7 Principles, Unitarianism draws inspiration from the 6 Living Traditions, the fifth of which is Humanist teachings “which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.” In our worship space we celebrate the diversity and richness that the world’s faith traditions bring to our practice with the colorful parade of banners that decorate the upper walls of the Sanctuary. Conversations between the church leadership and members who identify as atheist/humanist earlier this year resulted in the suggestion that we gather support from the congregation and make a proposal to the UUCCSM Board of Directors to add a banner that symbolizes the Humanist worldview to join the others as a show of inclusivity for believers and non-believers alike. For more information see the article from the September Newsletter.

Petition: “With my signature, I am lending my support to the campaign by AAHS (Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists & Secularists) to ask the UUCCSM Board to add a banner symbolizing the Humanist worldview to the upper walls of the Sanctuary. Whether or not I identify as a non- theist, I appreciate the shared history of Unitarianism and Humanism, the overlap of Unitarian and Humanist values, and the diversity of views that we welcome at UUCCSM, and I would like everybody to feel invited to be a part of the UUCCSM community.”

Here is one possibility of what a Humanist banner might look like in the Sanctuary, using a variation of the “happy humanist” icon that has become the recognized symbol of humanists around the world.

Please note in the comments section whether you are a member or friend of the congregation.