Which of the following statements is closest to your point of view?

(You can choose more than one answer to each question if you need to.)

1 Does God exist?

A)  There is no evidence that any god exists, so I′ll assume that there isn′t one.
B)  I don′t know.
C)  It depends what you mean by God, but I think so.
D)  I am sure there is a God ruling over the universe.

2 When I die…

A)  I will live on in people’s memories or because of the work I have done or through my children.
B)  that will be the end of me.
C)  my soul will go to another place where I will be rewarded if I was good and punished if I was bad.
D)  I will survive in some kind of afterlife.

3 How did the Universe begin?

A)  The scientific explanations are the best ones available — no gods were involved.
B)  I don’t know.
C)  It was set up as an experiment by extremely intelligent aliens from another universe, who drop in every now and then to see how we’re doing.
D)  God created it.

4 The theory that life on Earth evolved gradually over billions of years is…

A)  true — there is plenty of evidence from fossils showing that this is how it happened.
B)  probably true, because my Science teacher said it was true.
C)  likely to be true, but I think God had a part in it too.
D)  just a theory. My religion tells the true story.

5 When I look at a beautiful view I think that…

A)  we ought to do everything possible to protect this for future generations.
B)  this is what life is all about — I feel good.
C)  it would be a nice place for a motorway.
D)  it must have been designed by God.

6 I can tell right from wrong by…

A)  thinking hard about the probable consequences of actions and their effects on other people.
B)  accepting what my parents and teachers say.
C)  I don’t really think about it much — people should just do as they like.
D)  reading a holy book or listening to a religious leader.

7 It’s best to be honest because…

A)  I’m happier and feel better about myself if I’m honest.
B)  people respect you more if you’re trustworthy.
C)  it’s usually against the law or the rules to be dishonest.
D)  my religion tells me so.

8 Other people matter and should be treated with respect because...

A)  we will all be happier if we treat each other well.
B)  they are people with feelings like mine.
C)  they are useful to me.
D)  God created us all in his image.

9 Animals should be treated...

A)  with respect because they can suffer too.
B)  kindly because they are sweet and fluffy and nicer than people.
C)  however we see fit — they don’t have souls and were created for us to use.
D)  with respect because they are part of God’s creation.

10 The most important thing in life is...

A)  to increase the general happiness and welfare of humanity.
B)  to preserve the planet for future generations.
C)  to make lots of money.
D)  to have a good relationship with God.

Interpreting your answers

This is a more or less serious set of questions designed to help you think about whether you are committed to a religious view of the world, and how this affects your moral beliefs. However, many people have a fairly mixed collection of beliefs, and few are completely consistent, so it is possible that none of the profiles below truly reflects your world view. But they do give an indication of what most humanists believe — and don’t believe.

All or mostly As: You are a humanist or very close to humanist thinking. Many people are, often without even knowing it! Humanists don′t agree about everything, and you may have collected some other answers too, though if they include Cs and Ds you’re unlikely to be a humanist.

All or mostly Bs: Your answers are fairly neutral, perhaps a bit dependent on authority or other people or pure emotion. Humanists try to think, and to think for themselves. You may be an agnostic or a humanist or vaguely religious, depending on what your other answers were

All or mostly Cs: You may have some religious beliefs, or you might still be exploring ideas and not yet made up your mind. Some of your choices are not very ethical — so you’re unlikely to be a humanist!

All or mostly Ds: You definitely have a religious faith and Humanism is not for you, though you may agree with humanists on some issues, especially if you also collected a few As or Bs.

If you would like to find out more about Humanism, click here for a list of UK, Irish, European and International Humanist organisations.

Quiz adapted from and used with permission of the British Humanist Association