After we have lived our lives, as we approach death, it is common to reexamine how our life went. Did we live a successful life? The end of life offers a unique opportunity to do this, because at this time, the ego, our learned self-centered beliefs, loosens its influence on us, And the spirit becomes our predominant reviewer.

At this point in the cycle of life, it no longer matters how much money we made, the size of the house we lived in, the job we had, or anything else associated with success, as dictated in the world by the ego. We are all finally equal now and we judge our success through a different prism: that of the spirit. When we review our lives, what we had thought was success often holds a different meaning now.

It is at this time, especially during the last few days of our life, we come to the realization what we thought was important, really was not. All the material things we accumulated, friends we had, places we visited, jobs we worked, amount of money we made, or any other comparison you can think of, which belongs in the world in which we had lived, becomes meaningless.

It is at that moment, the moment where the ego has minimal control over our actions and decisions, the true meaning of life finally becomes evident. It is then, despite how strongly the ego may have influenced our life before, the opportunity To view our life in a different way presents itself. At this time in our life, primarily viewing our lives through the eyes of our spirit, we may find we have many regrets.

We begin to understand the selfish pleasures in the world we had sought were not very important. As death becomes evident, we finally realize none of that matters. When we die, unless our culture is like that of the ancient Egyptians, our body will be buried or cremated, And nothing we accumulated during our lifetime will accompany us. Our body will then be placed in a coffin or urn, just like every other person who dies, regardless of their stature or their lifetime accomplishments.

At that moment, just before we die, we finally understand we truly are all equal. No one was ever better than another. Race, money, prestige, no longer matter. As we get closer to our death, it becomes evident the self-centered path the ego had us follow to find success and happiness may have not been the right path after all. The fear, hatred, and prejudice we once felt are no longer important to us, not because we are going to die, but because it never did matter.

~ Ken Luball ~

According to the website of Humanists UK:

After decades of working closely together, Humanists UK joined forces with the Rationalist Association (the parent body of the RPA) in 2025, emerging as a unified charity that today has over 150,000 members and supporters.

Members would presumably mean paying members of the organization. But what does "supporter" mean in this context? How are they counted? And how many actual members does Humanists UK actually have?

It's over: we have relinquished our grasp on the in the yolk of our own agency. Our chemistry is now subject to the exploitation of the few with the tools of many machines until the many machines makes tools of them.

we have done nothing about it, we are not doing anything about it, and we will continue to do nothing about it.

we had a good run.

Humanity has the ability now to feed the hungry, clothe and house the needy, end climate change, war, intolerance, and many of the other self-inflicted challenges caused by their indifference to others who are different than them or who they do not know.

We must no longer accept these things are an irrefutable part of life; they are not. Only when we put the needs of the many before those of the few, may genuine change truly occur, and the many problems humanity has living in a self-centered world begin to be mitigated.

Hi I'm new to this community but I was thinking about the show My Name is Earl. I really think most of the worlds problems could be solved if most people wrote down the bad things they did and actually try to solve it. It would teach a lot of empathy and understanding others. I don't think anyone IRL I including me has the discipline to do this publicly but I really think I could help.

This feels like a plug, but seeing many leftists feeling depressed about the world have inspired this event.

I'm from a Discord Humanist community, and this is our upcoming weekly voice event: "How to Have Hope and Agency in a Doomed and Justless World, the Humanist Way".

- For fellows to acknowledge the despair they feel about modern society and politics.

- But also a space to create Hope and a better life for each other. Not blind faith, not wishful afterlives. Actual Humanist action and support, even the smallest count.

- Also, open to member's interest in taking it in different directions.

- If this goes well, we can have future discussions or action plans. I'll support anyone up to make things happen.

Event link:
https://discord.gg/jjn7G296y?event=1560603434556727366

Community server: https://discord.gg/PtnM8s4cX

About this event:
We have Weekly Humanist Assemblies, which is a voice call event with weekly activities on discussion,  movies, games, or even research. Community support in general, and also for learning and growth.

Shine your light brightly; share your love unconditionally with all others, spreading inner peace and love around the world.

Doing so, you may help awaken in others their light within as well, beginning them on a journey to discover inner peace and love in their life as well.

I see a lot of dissatisation online, people dissatisified with the way the world works.

I asked "what does the world need?" to a futurist friend.

Her answer may seem obvious, and I know the answer has surfaced in culture many times, but I thought some people may like to hear her thoughts from this year.

Here is what she wrote:

The ultimate answer is: Love.

Seems in very short supply everywhere. Led by our power brokers.,

The single greatest reason for mass dissatisfaction, IMHO, is the lack of moral and professional competence by our political and business leaders around the world; people have no other leadership options; the systems we use to establish the status quo are now morally corrupt. The bad guys are in control. (Until we say and act otherwise).

With morally corrupt leadership, the systems have become self fulfilling, continuing the immorality. People do not see any way of breaking the chain, hence dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Rule of thumb: how the leader behaves, so follows those down the hierarchy.    Nowadays, the higher up the hierarchy, the greater the lack of morality – in all our previously moral institutions that genuinely cared about the common good: education, governance, justice system, health and welfare.

The single force that needs to change: Greed.

How to switch from Greed to Love is a ginormous leap but quite possible in today’s highly connected and bountiful world.

Aim: everyone to live love to their ability and circumstances. Live kindness, respect, honesty, generosity, cooperativeness, compassion, and positivity. For all people and our planet. Always.

This minute. Tomorrow. Next week.

If we all consciously behaved daily with these values in mind, doing the best we can (being realistic here, we don’t have unlimited options ourselves), the world would instantly be a better more satisfying place to be. Not perfect, we aren’t perfect, but thriving happy functioning societies.

The status quo operates on the premise that Greed is Good, greed leads to wealth which leads to happiness. Having more means being happy. These are lies perpetuated by the hierarchy that requires the majority of people in the world to continue to operate on the belief they are true, keeping the status quo of the Haves getting more and the Have nots getting less relatively.

The only exception I’ve found is with first nations peoples living their cultures around the world. They know less is more. Happiness is feeling good about contributing to a kind, sharing, caring, respectful, diligent, and honourable world.

What can we non-first-nations people do?

First we decide to be Love in our present circumstances. Every little instance adds to the bigger change. Think small. Think easy. Think enjoyment. Think feel good. Love being kind and generous. Love sharing. Love doing kind acts anonymously. (No ego, just feel good about yourself).  

Look for opportunities to Do Nice. Eg: Pick up that piece of litter on the footpath and dispose of it properly. Smile and as you walk by them, thank the cleaner sweeping the floor in the shopping mall for doing a good job. Smile and thank the supermarket checkout clerk for stacking your shopping bag well. Smile at every opportunity that is non-threatening to others. Say hi or nod to passersby in your neighbourhood. Be ready to offer assistance, respectfully! to someone who seems struggling .

Note: They may not want your help, and even be insulted by your offer. If so, say :“Great that you don’t need my help, have a wonderful day” or some such positive statement.  Do not say “only trying to help” or  ”just asking”, or any other comment that is about you & your reaction.  Make it a positive encouragement for them. 

And then move on, feeling good about offering and being a positive moment in their lives even if they seem miserable and grumpy.  We don’t know what pain they live with or expect next.  Be the example of positive in all situations.  You will feel good even if they choose to feel miserable.

End of speech.

What is your current status in Humanism?
(A) identifying as a Humanist only to yourself,
(B) individually acknowledging your Humanist values when in discussions with friends and family, or
(C) a member of "organized Humanism," i.e., a member of a local, regional, or national group.

Also explain a few of the pros and cons of where you stand, and if you're possibly in transition from one to another. (I'll add my own perspectives in the comments.)

I don’t like defining myself by what I don’t believe rather than by what I do believe. I also think it surrenders the narrative to theists, letting him be the default.

It’s easy to get caught up in our own problems and everything we’re dealing with. But doing something for someone else without expecting anything in return can shift our perspective. Even a small act of kindness can remind us that life isn’t just about our own problems.

To truly know another, listen intently to the silence in between our racing thoughts.

This is who we truly are, not the pretense fostered by the façade we created to protect us from the world.

The meaning of life is not difficult to understand.

It is to share the unconditional love existing within our heart with all living things.

Life is not meant to be lived in isolation; rather it is meant to be shared with all others.

By sharing our love selflessly, each of us becomes stronger and our journey through life becomes less challenging and more meaningful.

It’s a trial of Cénobites, few could deny, to cling to what’s sacred, yet based on a lie.

For the demons of reason may cling to our souls, making spirits of theories with human-like holes.

In the dream of creation a prodigal son might return to his father a still honoured one.

Yet if we could return to the garden of life, would we give up the trinkets, distractions, and strife?

Was it tricks of a serpent, or self aware fall, that brought man to the brink of destroying it all?

If I go past the void to the nothing beyond, will I find higher heaven, or just cosmic dawn?

Since the start of our history, nothing could rise, without capturing humans in networks of lies.

Where the sun is a god, and his sister the moon, may be swayed by a ritual proper to swoon.

We have groomed and conditioned our madness to fight, for the reign of a god who was never quite right.

While our gods could be dreams, that we purposely set, of a human-first future we might achieve yet.

It’s a dream worth pursuing, if only we can start an age of compassion, a true Age of Man.

Ultimately, humanism must triumph over social ills. And this will be a pure victory of reason. I still believe in people.

Igor Markov

The ego is our self-centered learned beliefs. Its desire is to foster our self-esteem and protect us from pain other people’s words or actions may cause. To do so, it may encourage us to erect a barrier, a wall around our heart, isolating and distancing us from others. We then may carry this wound with us throughout the rest of our life.

We each have frailties; no one goes through life unscathed. If we wish to evolve and develop an understanding about our true purpose in life, we must completely forgive another for their human frailty, understanding it is caused by their ego trying to protect them. Only when we do, unconditionally forgiving them, regardless of the harm they caused or their faults, may we awaken to the genuine possibilities life truly offers.

Is there a group which refutes all manifestos except the original manifesto?

There is never a reason to be cruel or unkind to anyone. We are all here to selflessly help each other. Each person has much to share. Though we may disregard much of what someone is saying if we do not agree with them, it is not a reason to treat them or anyone else without sincere respect, empathy, and gratitude.

Helping each other, regardless of our differences, without motive or benefit, is the reason for our existence. Always be kind to everyone, and perhaps, we may be able to foster a change in consciousness, a spiritual evolution, altering the course of our future.

Doing so, we may then be able to leave our children a world that is truly kind, compassionate, caring; a world of unconditional love.

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is a short fiction story by Ursula K. Le Guin published in 1973. The premise of the story is Omelas is a utopian society, yet somehow the happiness of this utopia is dependent upon the suffering of a single child.

The people of Omelas know about this, and they don’t like the fact, those who go to witness the child are disturbed and want to help the child but don’t because if they did do their utopia would collapse. So despite being bothered by it, most people eventually just accept that this is how it is. With the exception of a small few, who after seeing the child leave Omelas, they walk away because they can’t live in this utopia if that is the cost.

While the story doesn’t directly criticize religion, you can definitely use the logic of the story to criticize Christianity. Christians believe that if you accept their God, embrace their messiah as your lord and savior, you will go to Heaven and be rewarded with immortality and paradise. Those who don’t are condemned to an eternity of suffering. While some Christians believe in universal salvation or in the destruction of the unsaved, mainstream Christianity believes in eternal conscience torment.

So Christians, in exchange for their personal happiness, accept the suffering of hundreds of millions to billions of people. I say no. I don’t want to die, but it would be better for us to all cease to cease than for all of us to live forever in exchange for even a single person’s eternal suffering.