In some countries, Natural Humanists’ shared, strongly-held values and beliefs, which affect the way that they live every part of their lives, can legally be classed as a ‘religion’.
As such, Natural Humanism is an evangelical religion, in that Natural Humanists are passionate about their beliefs, and about how following these beliefs can make human beings’ lives better, and can be hugely beneficial to the planet, the environment and to all other species of living things.
Consequently, they are usually keen to try to share these values and beliefs with other people, whenever possible and appropriate, but always in a respectful way, as they share the Dalai Lama’s belief that, the “way to change others’ minds is with affection…not anger.”
Natural Humanists may choose to use the internet and social media to spread their beliefs, or to give talks at community centres, schools, colleges and universities, or at conferences, or to distribute recycled paper leaflets, door-to-door, or in a busy town centre to passers-by, or to write or distribute books or articles on topics linked to Natural Humanism, or to place adverts, or contribute to articles, in newspapers or magazines, or on internet sites, or to promote Natural Humanism on TV and radio, or to wear t-shirts, or other environmentally responsible merchandise, with slogans promoting various Natural Humanist beliefs, or simply by living a Natural Humanist lifestyle and teaching others by example.
They also believe in always openly praising and celebrating everybody whose choices and behaviours are in line with Natural Humanist beliefs, whether that person is a Natural Humanist or not.
They believe that all Natural Humanists, worldwide, are one global community, or family, and they try to connect with this worldwide community, and to support, share thoughts and ideas with, celebrate the achievements of, and share love and kindness with, as many of these fellow Natural Humanists as possible, in as many ways as possible.
They may also choose to include some, many or even all of them, in their own ‘polyamorous circle’ and may choose to use the internet to enable, build and nurture these meaningful connections with each other, both locally and worldwide.
Evangelism
Natural Humanists try to devote part, or all of their lives, to promoting, supporting and putting into practice Natural Humanist values and beliefs. For some, this may include working full or part time on meaningful work, either as their main career, or during any free-time, or during a ‘gap year’ after leaving school, or even during their retirement, in older age.
This may include voluntary work, fundraising, campaigning, environmental work, animal or human-rights work, researching and writing books and articles on subjects related to Natural Humanism, producing environmentally-responsible products, or providing important services needed by other Natural Humanists, or by the general public, in the most responsible and ethical way possible.
This may also include ‘evangelical’ work, including giving talks to groups in the local area, or promoting Natural Humanism using social-media or the internet, or distributing or selling Natural Humanist books. It may also include ‘life-swaps’, where an individual or family, or an entire Natural Humanist Community, swap homes, jobs and social lives with another Natural Humanist Community, anywhere else in the world, to promote international peace, love and understanding, and to learn from each other’s perspectives on life.
They acknowledge that there is little point in a person having strong beliefs, unless they’re going to let them affect the way that they live, ideally every part of their life, and also that there is little point in one person trying to change the world by themselves, but, together, human beings can achieve almost anything, if they’re all focussed, passionate and committed, and all ‘pull in the same direction’.
Each Natural Humanist, or each Natural Humanist Community, or each couple, family or polyamorous group, may choose to make an informal commitment to put their beliefs into action in specific ways. They may choose to renew or update this commitment regularly, and some may choose to do so as part of a Natural Humanist public ‘Commitment Ceremony’, or even as part of any ‘Loving Union’ ceremony with their romantic or sexual partners.