Humanist Association of Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI) is an Irish
organisation that was founded in 1993 to promote Humanism
, which they describe as:
The HAI publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Humanism Ireland in conjunction with the Humanist Association of Northern Ireland - edited by Brian MClinton of Humani
. They also run an annual summer school in association with Humani and the Belfast Humanist Group and host a Darwin Day
lecture in Trinity College Dublin.
The HAI is also active in providing Humanist alternatives to traditional wedding, baptism and funeral ceremonies.
The HAI is a member organisation of the European Humanist Federation
and is affiliated to the International Humanist and Ethical Union
(IHEU). The official symbol of the HAI is the Happy Human
.
Currently monthly meetings are held on the first Sunday of every month in one of the meeting rooms in Buswells Hotel at the corner of Kildare Street
and Molesworth Street in Dublin 2 (opposite Leinster House).
In April 2009 the Association started an advertising campaign on the DART
against religious oaths of office for Irish judges and presidents.
Dick Spicer, the then chairman, has criticised the educational system, claiming that it discriminates against non-believers. He resigned as chairman of the board of HAI in July 2010.
In November 2010 the Association objected to a pilot programme called "Goodness me, Goodness you" on the grounds that it separated children into believers and non-believers at an early age. They said that faith classes should take place outside school hours.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
organisation that was founded in 1993 to promote 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....
, 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. It is for those people who base their interpretation of existence on the evidence of the natural world and its evolution, and not on belief in a supernatural power.
The HAI publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Humanism Ireland in conjunction with the Humanist Association of Northern Ireland - edited by Brian MClinton of Humani
Humani (organisation)
Humani, or the Humanist Association of Northern Ireland, is a humanist organisation based in Northern Ireland. They publish Humanism Ireland in association with the Humanist Association of Ireland....
. They also run an annual summer school in association with Humani and the Belfast Humanist Group and host a Darwin Day
Darwin Day
Darwin Day is a recently instituted celebration intended to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin on February 12, 1809. The day is used to highlight Darwin's contribution to science and to promote science in general.-History:...
lecture in Trinity College Dublin.
The HAI is also active in providing Humanist alternatives to traditional wedding, baptism and funeral ceremonies.
The HAI is a member organisation of the European Humanist Federation
European Humanist Federation
The 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...
and is affiliated to 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). The official symbol of the HAI is the Happy Human
Happy Human
The Happy Human is a secular icon and the official symbol of the International Humanist and Ethical Union , 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...
.
Currently monthly meetings are held on the first Sunday of every month in one of the meeting rooms in Buswells Hotel at the corner of Kildare Street
Kildare Street
Kildare Street is a well-known street in Dublin, the capital city of Ireland close to the principal shopping area of Grafton Street and Dawson Street, to which it is joined by Molesworth Street. Some Irish government departments have their offices on this street but it is most famous for Leinster...
and Molesworth Street in Dublin 2 (opposite Leinster House).
In April 2009 the Association started an advertising campaign on the DART
Dublin Area Rapid Transit
The Dublin Area Rapid Transit is part of the suburban railway network in Ireland, running mainly along the coastline of Dublin Bay on the Trans-Dublin route, from Greystones in County Wicklow, through Dublin to Howth and Malahide in County Dublin.Trains are powered via a 1500V DC overhead catenary...
against religious oaths of office for Irish judges and presidents.
Dick Spicer, the then chairman, has criticised the educational system, claiming that it discriminates against non-believers. He resigned as chairman of the board of HAI in July 2010.
In November 2010 the Association objected to a pilot programme called "Goodness me, Goodness you" on the grounds that it separated children into believers and non-believers at an early age. They said that faith classes should take place outside school hours.