The Norwegian Humanist Association is an organization for people who base their ethics on human values.



Our membership has grown considerably since the seventies and today we have more than 68 000 members.



The By-laws of the Norwegian Humanist Association state:



Objective :



The Humanist Association is an organization for people who base their life stance on human values. The Association will work to develop humanism and contribute to ensuring that people may practise their humanist life stance.



Humanism :



Humanism is a life stance in which the understanding of reality and ethics is based on reason and experience, rational and critical thinking, feelings and human compassion. Humanism is devoid of religious conceptions. In humanism, the independent and responsible human being is placed in the centre. The objective of humanism is therefore to offer every person an opportunity to develop independence, freedom and responsibility. The humanist approach includes a commitment to human rights as an expression of core values and ideals. Human rights are a good protection of human dignity and diversity.



Activities :



The Association will work:

- For a state professing a neutral life stance, freedom to choose any life stance and respect for human rights in a pluralistic society.



- To ensure that everyone will be able to choose humanist ceremonies.



- To develop humanist life-stance and welfare services.



- To offer members a social and organisational framework for life stance identity and a sense of community.



- To spread knowledge of humanism and the organisation's activities"