Humanist Association of Ireland

File:Humanist Association of Ireland.png

{{Humanism}}

The Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI) is an Irish secular humanist organisation that was founded in 1993 to promote Humanism, which they describe as: [http://www.humanism.ie/website/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=53 Humanist Association of Ireland official site - about the HAI] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307223116/http://www.humanism.ie/website/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=53 |date=2010-03-07 }}{{cite news|author1=Unknown|title=ur 256,000 (and counting) atheists, agnostics, humanists and non-religious|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/our-256-000-and-counting-atheists-agnostics-humanists-and-non-religious-1.588203|accessdate=27 May 2015|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=22 February 2015|quote=According to Whiteside, the 1,000-member Humanist Association of Ireland gives a voice to the growing number of what he calls 'people who choose to lead an ethical life outside of religion'.}}

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 supernatural power.

It hosts an annual lecture, usually at Trinity College Dublin, to mark Darwin Day and holds regular public meetings.

The HAI is also active in providing Humanist alternatives to traditional wedding, baptism and funeral ceremonies.[http://www.humanism.ie/website/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=57 HAI official site - ceremonies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103212615/http://www.humanism.ie/website/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=57 |date=2010-01-03 }}

The HAI is a member organisation of the European Humanist Federation and is affiliated with the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU). The official symbol of the HAI is the Happy Human.

Owen Sheehy-Skeffington, son of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, helped to set up the organisation.{{Cite web|title=Humanist Heritage: Owen Sheehy-Skeffington (1909-1970)|url=https://heritage.humanists.uk/owen-sheehy-skeffington/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Humanist Heritage|language=en}}

In April 2009 the Association started an advertising campaign on the DART against religious oaths of office for Irish judges and presidents.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0404/1224244010471.html Humanists launch campaign against judicial religious oaths], Patsy McGarry, The Irish Times, 4 April 2009, retrieved 22 April 2009

Dick Spicer, the then chairman, has criticised the educational system, claiming that it discriminates against non-believers.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0414/1224244622989.html New school model still tramples on rights of the non-religious], Dick Spicer, The Irish Times, 14 April 2009, retrieved 22 April 2009. He resigned as chairman of the board of HAI in July 2010.{{cite news

|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0719/1224275018698.html

|title=Spicer resigns as humanist leader over religion in schools row

|author=Patsy McGarry

|date=19 July 2010

|accessdate=7 September 2010

|newspaper=The Irish Times}}

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.{{cite news

|last=Walshe

|first=John

|title=Row over teaching of religion in primary schools' 'experiment'

|url=http://www.independent.ie/education/latest-news/row-over-teaching-of-religion-in-primary-schools-experiment-2421874.html

|newspaper=Irish Independent

|date=16 November 2010

|accessdate=14 December 2010}} They said that faith classes should take place outside school hours.