Happy Human
Encyclopedia
The Happy Human is a secular icon
and the official symbol of the International Humanist and Ethical Union
(IHEU), a world body for Humanism
, and has been adopted by many Humanist organisations and individuals worldwide. Its origin was a competition organised in 1965 by the British Humanist Association
to find a symbol for itself. The winning design was created by Denis Barrington.
The trademark is still held by the British Humanist Association
, which freely licenses use of the symbol by bona fide
Humanist organisations worldwide. A great many Humanist organisations use the symbol or an adapted version of it.
Secular icon
A secular icon is an image or pictograph of a person or thing used for other than religious purpose. -Icons versus symbols:...
and the official symbol of the International Humanist and Ethical Union
International Humanist and Ethical Union
The International Humanist and Ethical Union is an umbrella organisation embracing humanist, atheist, rationalist, secular, skeptic, freethought and Ethical Culture organisations worldwide. Founded in Amsterdam in 1952, the IHEU is a democratic union of more than 100 member organizations in 40...
(IHEU), a world body for Humanism
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, and has been adopted by many Humanist organisations and individuals worldwide. Its origin was a competition organised in 1965 by the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
to find a symbol for itself. The winning design was created by Denis Barrington.
The trademark is still held by the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
, which freely licenses use of the symbol by bona fide
Bona Fide
Bona Fide is a studio album from rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first studio album in six years and is the only studio album to feature guitarist Ben Granfelt...
Humanist organisations worldwide. A great many Humanist organisations use the symbol or an adapted version of it.
Organisations using the Happy Human
- American Humanist AssociationAmerican Humanist AssociationThe American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that...
- British Humanist AssociationBritish Humanist AssociationThe British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
- Humanist Association of CanadaHumanist Association of CanadaHumanist Canada is a national not-for-profit charitable organization promoting the separation of religion from public policy and fostering the development of reason, compassion and critical thinking for all Canadians through secular education and community support...
- Society of Ontario Freethinkers
- Council of Australian Humanist SocietiesCouncil of Australian Humanist SocietiesThe Council of Australian Humanist Societies is the national umbrella organisation for Australian humanists. It is affiliated with the International Humanist and Ethical Union...
(CAHS) - European Humanist FederationEuropean Humanist FederationThe European Humanist Federation-Fédération Humaniste Européenne is an international association that federates numerous European humanist associations. It also has individual members. The members of its administrative board are elected for three-year terms by the general assembly of the member...
- Gay and Lesbian Humanist AssociationGay and Lesbian Humanist AssociationThe Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association is a democratic, membership-based, Humanist campaigning organisation that represents the many non-religious in the lesbian and gay community in the United Kingdom and beyond...
(UK) - Human-Etisk ForbundHuman-Etisk ForbundThe Norwegian Humanist Association is currently one of the largest Humanist associations in the world, with 82,890 members. In relation to the size of the national population , it is by far the largest such association per capita.Founded in 1956, the HEF is a member of the International Humanist...
(Norway) - Humanist Association of IrelandHumanist Association of IrelandThe Humanist Association of Ireland is an Irish organisation that was founded in 1993 to promote Humanism, which they describe as:an ethical philosophy of life, based on a concern for humanity in general, and for human individuals in particular. This view of life combines reason with compassion...
- Humanist Society of New ZealandHumanist Society of New ZealandThe Humanist Society of New Zealand is a New Zealand organisation that promotes secular humanist philosophy and ideals. The Society meets in Wellington with members throughout New Zealand....
- Humanist Society of ScotlandHumanist Society of ScotlandThe Humanist Society of Scotland is a Scottish voluntary charitable organisation that promotes humanist views. It is a member of the European Humanist Federation and the International Humanist and Ethical Union.-History and aims:...
- Humanisterna (Sweden)
- Humanisty (Israel; site in Hebrew)
- Indian Humanist UnionIndian Humanist UnionThe Indian Humanist Union is an Indian Humanist organisation established in 1960 by Narsingh Narain. The forerunner organisation, founded by Narain in 1954, was the "Society for Promotion of Freedom of Thought"....
- Institute for Humanist StudiesInstitute for Humanist StudiesThe Institute for Humanist Studies is a think tank, a Washington, DC based organization committed to providing information and other resources useful in the promoting of humanism and humanism centered solutions to pressing socio-political, cultural and economic issues...
- International Humanist and Ethical UnionInternational Humanist and Ethical UnionThe International Humanist and Ethical Union is an umbrella organisation embracing humanist, atheist, rationalist, secular, skeptic, freethought and Ethical Culture organisations worldwide. Founded in Amsterdam in 1952, the IHEU is a democratic union of more than 100 member organizations in 40...
- Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and AgnosticsItalian Union of Rationalist Atheists and AgnosticsThe Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics is the only nationwide association of atheists and agnostics in Italy...
- SiðmenntSidmenntSiðmennt, the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association is closely tied with the Norwegian Human-Etisk Forbund and is a member of the International Humanist and Ethical Union ....
(Iceland) - Arab Open UniversityArab Open UniversityArab Open University is a non-profit private Pan-Arab university founded in 2002 in Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon. One year later it opened in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman. The AOU is affiliated with the UK Open University...
Organisations using similar symbols
- Council for Secular HumanismCouncil for Secular HumanismThe Council for Secular Humanism is a secular humanist organization headquartered in Amherst, New York. In 1980 CODESH issued A Secular Humanist Declaration, an argument for and statement of belief in Democratic Secular Humanism...
- Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
External links
- British Humanist Association page on the symbol
- Humanism is Eight Letters, No More — An endorsement of the Happy Human by some leaders of the IHEU, including former Presidents of the IHEU, Rob Tielman and Levi Fragell.
- Origins of the Happy Human logo based on information from Humanist Society of Victoria, a member organisation of CAHS