Human-Etisk Forbund
Encyclopedia
The Norwegian Humanist Association is currently one of the largest Humanist
associations in the world, with 82,890 members. In relation to the size of the national population (Norway
has around 4.8 million inhabitants), it is by far the largest such association per capita.
Founded in 1956, the HEF is a member of the International Humanist and Ethical Union
(IHEU). The Norwegian Humanist Association is an organization for people who base their ethics on human, not religious values. Most members are agnostics or atheists. HEF supports the following statement of the IHEU:
"Humanism is a democratic, non-theistic and ethical life stance which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their lives and therefore reject supernatural views of reality."
Former HEF secretary general, Levi Fragell
, was president of the IHEU (1988–2003) and is currently Chair of IHEU’s Committee for Growth and Development. In June, 2007 Mrs. Åse Kleveland
became chairman of the Board
of the organization.
According to its bylaws, the organization works for a separation of church and state
(Norway
has a Protestant
Lutheran Christian
state church
), ensuring access to humanist ceremonies, and spreading knowledge of humanism
. A civil confirmation organised by HEF has gained popularity among the Norwegian young during recent years. About 17 percent of Norwegian 15-year-olds are now taking part in HEF's civil confirmation.
On July 9, 2006 a prominent member of the Norwegian Humanist Association, Mr. Jens Brun-Pedersen, called for the Prime Minister
to advocate the separation of church and state
. He argues that the second article of the constitution which defines the "Evangelical-Lutheran
Religion" as "the official religion
of the State" and the 12th article of the constitution which requires half of the ministers
of the cabinet
to be members of the State church is discriminatory
, and that Norway can't criticise countries advocating sharia
law when the constitution favours Lutheran
members of society.
The Norwegian Humanist Association will be hosting the 18th World Humanist Congress of the IHEU. The Congress will be held at the Oslo Congress Center in Oslo, Norway, on the 12th-14th August 2011.
A new organization, Humanist Youth (Humanistisk Ungdom), was founded in August 2007. Currently Ms. Helene Kleppestø is President of the Board.
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
associations in the world, with 82,890 members. In relation to the size of the national population (Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
has around 4.8 million inhabitants), it is by far the largest such association per capita.
Founded in 1956, the HEF is a member of the International Humanist and Ethical Union
International Humanist and Ethical Union
The International Humanist and Ethical Union is an umbrella organisation embracing humanist, atheist, rationalist, secular, skeptic, freethought and Ethical Culture organisations worldwide. Founded in Amsterdam in 1952, the IHEU is a democratic union of more than 100 member organizations in 40...
(IHEU). The Norwegian Humanist Association is an organization for people who base their ethics on human, not religious values. Most members are agnostics or atheists. HEF supports the following statement of the IHEU:
"Humanism is a democratic, non-theistic and ethical life stance which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their lives and therefore reject supernatural views of reality."
Former HEF secretary general, Levi Fragell
Levi Fragell
Levi Fragell is a Norwegian humanist. He has been chairman and secretary of the Norwegian Humanist Association, and was President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union between 1987-1990 and, in his own right, between 1998-2003.His father was a Pentecostalist preacher, and in his teens...
, was president of the IHEU (1988–2003) and is currently Chair of IHEU’s Committee for Growth and Development. In June, 2007 Mrs. Åse Kleveland
Åse Kleveland
Åse Maria Kleveland is a Swedish-Norwegian singer and politician.A well-known folk singer and traditional guitarist in Norway, she was appointed Minister of Culture in Norway from 1990 to 1996, representing the Labour Party under the Gro Harlem Brundtland administration...
became chairman of the Board
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the organization.
According to its bylaws, the organization works for a separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
(Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
has a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Lutheran Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
state church
State church
State churches are organizational bodies within a Christian denomination which are given official status or operated by a state.State churches are not necessarily national churches in the ethnic sense of the term, but the two concepts may overlap in the case of a nation state where the state...
), ensuring access to humanist ceremonies, and spreading knowledge of humanism
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
. A civil confirmation organised by HEF has gained popularity among the Norwegian young during recent years. About 17 percent of Norwegian 15-year-olds are now taking part in HEF's civil confirmation.
On July 9, 2006 a prominent member of the Norwegian Humanist Association, Mr. Jens Brun-Pedersen, called for the Prime Minister
Jens Stoltenberg
is a Norwegian politician, leader of the Norwegian Labour Party and the current Prime Minister of Norway. Having assumed office on 17 October 2005, Stoltenberg previously served as Prime Minister from 2000 to 2001....
to advocate the separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
. He argues that the second article of the constitution which defines the "Evangelical-Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
Religion" as "the official religion
State religion
A state religion is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state...
of the State" and the 12th article of the constitution which requires half of the ministers
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
of the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
to be members of the State church is discriminatory
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
, and that Norway can't criticise countries advocating sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
law when the constitution favours Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
members of society.
The Norwegian Humanist Association will be hosting the 18th World Humanist Congress of the IHEU. The Congress will be held at the Oslo Congress Center in Oslo, Norway, on the 12th-14th August 2011.
A new organization, Humanist Youth (Humanistisk Ungdom), was founded in August 2007. Currently Ms. Helene Kleppestø is President of the Board.