Statement of Principles
The USC Secular Alliance (SA) is comprised of members of various rationalist viewpoints. Atheists can be described as those without a belief in any god(s); and Agnostics as those who see no evidence for the existence of god(s); Humanism is a philosophy arising from this perception. Freethought is the search for truth unfettered by dogmas.
Our SA members have selected those principles most in accordance with the outlook and purpose of our organization. We strongly affirm that if there is to be meaning in our lives, we must supply it ourselves.
We are committed to the application of reason and science to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems.
We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outside of nature for salvation.
We believe in an open and pluralistic society and that democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human rights from authoritarian elites and repressive majorities.
We are committed to the principle of the separation of church and state.
We attempt to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based on race, religion, gender, nationality, creed, class, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, and strive to work together for the common good of humanity.
We believe in the common moral decencies: altruism, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, responsibility. Humanist ethics is amenable to critical, rational guidance. We believe in the cultivation of moral excellence.
We are skeptical of untested claims to knowledge and we are open to novel ideas and seek new departures in our thinking.
We believe in the fullest realization of the best and noblest that we are capable of as human beings. |