Less suffering,starting with yours.

The formulation

Eight principles for now

What each one does for you, in a line. Each rests on Andrew Conru’s own words, and most come with a one-minute film.

1. 01 Reduce suffering. That’s the rule. “There is only one primary rule in Humanism: try to advance Goodness by increasing well-being and reducing suffering.”For you: One plain test for hard choices, so you spend less time agonizing. Film 1 · 1:08
2. 02 Good without anyone watching. “Remember being told “be nice to others” without also being told “because a god will punish you if you’re not”? That worked on your instinctive empathy, not your fear of damnation.”For you: Goodness you don’t have to perform is quieter, and much lighter to carry. Film 2 · 1:21
3. 03 You are not your thoughts. Heal yourself first. “Guilt is your informer, not your prison guard.”For you: The harsh voice in your head loses its authority. Less anxiety, more room to think. Film 3 · 1:05
4. 04 Dehumanization begets dehumanization. “We now dehumanize by default; there often has to be a reason not to dehumanize someone!”For you: Fewer fights that follow you home. Film 4 · 0:55
5. 05 Nobody is “just another” anything. “Nobody is “just another cop,” “just another Christian,” or “just another” anything.”For you: Strangers stop feeling like threats, and the world gets less hostile. Film 5 · 1:15
6. 06 Civility is a weapon. “Civil discourse is not yielding a position, it’s wielding a weapon!”For you: You keep your calm, and you change minds instead of just winning the room. Film 6 · 1:12
7. 07 Forgiveness is for the forgiver. Redemption has to be possible. “Refusing to allow redemption without due consideration is an act of dehumanization.”For you: You stop replaying the same hurt at 2 a.m. Film 7 · 1:01
8. 08 The algorithm and the human. “Their business rewards everyone dehumanizing everyone else, because their real product is our attention.”For you: Your attention back, and your evenings with it. Film 8 · 1:06

All eight, with the films and examples from today

The long version

The essays

1. A Short Introduction to Humanism

   Online life trains us to dehumanize by default. Humanism is the antidote: a reason-based morality built on reducing suffering and seeing opponents as people again.

   13 min
2. Where Does Our Morality Come From?

   Every religion claims to own morality, yet kindness is older than any scripture. Here's where Good really comes from, and the line Humanism draws.

   4 min
3. Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists and Extremists

   You're probably agnostic, atheist, and Humanist all at once. Here's what each label means, and why a Humanist's real opposite is a Social Extremist.

   6 min
4. Humanist Forgiveness and Redemption

   Christianity gets forgiveness right. Here's a Humanist way to apologize, forgive, and earn your way back, without a preacher to declare you redeemed.

   12 min
5. How to Be Civil While Having Impact Today

   Being civil isn't being nice. It's the move your opponent never sees coming, and it wins the arguments that rage and zingers can't.

   12 min
6. Self-Dehumanization and Dehumanization Cycles

   Your guilt isn't proof you're bad; it's proof you're good, and learning to treat yourself like a friend can break the Dehumanization Cycle.

   7 min
7. Humanism and Social Justice

   Fighting injustice is Humanism in action, but you'll win more, and suffer less, by humanizing the people you're fighting, even your uncle at Thanksgiving.

   7 min
8. Humanism and Environmentalism

   Why Humanists refuse to choose between a family's heat tonight and a livable planet for their grandchildren, and how cheap, clean energy delivers both.

   3 min