Final Fling is connected to the Scottish Charity, A Quiet Revolution… a small, quiet movement to promote creative and positive living in a Humanist way.
A Quiet Revolution aims to encourage human beings to fulfil themselves by paying attention to the things that matter most and bring most meaning in life… love, care, mindfulness, friendships, ‘family’ – in all shapes and sizes. Final Fling focusses on end of life and how we can do death better as a key – final – part of our life’s journey. When members sign up to Final Fling, they gain free membership of A Quiet Revolution.
Our approach is a Humanistic one: non-faith-based. We work with our humanity and our amazing creative abilities as the critical factors that unites us all – whatever our age, race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, ability.
Humanism was first articulated by the founders of the International Humanist and Ethical Union who agreed a statement of the fundamental principles that is the basis of modern Humanism in Amsterdam in 1952. They called it “The Amsterdam Declaration”. At the 50th anniversary World Humanist Congress in 2002, again in the Netherlands, Congress passed a unanimous resolution updating that declaration: “The Amsterdam Declaration 2002″. This was adopted unanimously by the IHEU General Assembly, and has become the official defining statement of World Humanism.
Amsterdam Declaration 2002
Humanism is the outcome of a long tradition of free thought that has inspired many of the world’s great thinkers and creative artists and gave rise to science itself.
The fundamentals of modern Humanism are as follows:
- Humanism is ethical. It affirms the worth, dignity and autonomy of the individual and the right of every human being to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others. Humanists have a duty of care to all of humanity including future generations. Humanists believe that morality is an intrinsic part of human nature based on understanding and a concern for others, needing no external sanction.
- Humanism is rational. It seeks to use science creatively, not destructively. Humanists believe that the solutions to the world’s problems lie in human thought and action rather than divine intervention. Humanism advocates the application of the methods of science and free inquiry to the problems of human welfare. But Humanists also believe that the application of science and technology must be tempered by human values. Science gives us the means but human values must propose the ends.
- Humanism supports democracy and human rights. Humanism aims at the fullest possible development of every human being. It holds that democracy and human development are matters of right. The principles of democracy and human rights can be applied to many human relationships and are not restricted to methods of government.
- Humanism insists that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility. Humanism ventures to build a world on the idea of the free person responsible to society, and recognises our dependence on and responsibility for the natural world. Humanism is undogmatic, imposing no creed upon its adherents. It is thus committed to education free from indoctrination.
- Humanism is a response to the widespread demand for an alternative to dogmatic religion. The world’s major religions claim to be based on revelations fixed for all time, and many seek to impose their world-views on all of humanity. Humanism recognises that reliable knowledge of the world and ourselves arises through a continuing process of observation, evaluation and revision.
- Humanism values artistic creativity and imagination and recognises the transforming power of art. Humanism affirms the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfilment.
- Humanism is a life stance aiming at the maximum possible fulfilment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living and offers an ethical and rational means of addressing the challenges of our times. Humanism can be a way of life for everyone everywhere.