Think Tank for Humanism and Enlightenment

The Giordano Bruno Stiftung (gbs) is a think tank for humanism and enlightenment that has been joined by many renowned scientists, philosophers and artists. The foundation is currently backed by more than 10,000 supporting members and 50 regional and university groups.

The foundation's goal is to develop a viable humanistic, rational and evidence-based alternative to the traditional religions and to help it become established in society. This objective is based on the insight that we cannot face the complex challenges of the 21st century using the religious paradigms of the past.

Instead, we need a contemporary view of the world that is in harmony with the results of scientific research and which is ethically and politically consistently oriented towards the individual's right to self-determination (as expressed in the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights") as well as towards the principles of an "open society".

The Giordano Bruno Stiftung adheres to the guiding principle of evolutionary humanism. A clear and concise summary of the central positions of the gbs can be found in the brochure "Enlightenment in the 21st Century" and in the "Manifesto of Evolutionary Humanism", which was written in 2005 by Michael Schmidt-Salomon on behalf of the foundation.

The history of the Giordano Bruno Stiftung is summarized in the Chronology of Main Events. See also the documentary "In Humanity We Trust", produced by Ricarda Hinz for the 10th anniversary of the gbs.

» Anyone capable of splitting the atom and communicating via satellites must have the necessary intellectual and emotional maturity to do so. One of the ways this maturity manifests is through the ability to let false ideas die, before people die for false ideas. «

(Manifesto of Evolutionary Humanism)

Latest news

100 Years of Constitutional Breach

The criticism on the disregard of the requirement of ideological neutrality continues

2019/08/14

As of today it is official: The requirements of the Weimar Constitution for the equal treatment of all religions and worldviews as well as for the replacement of state payments to the churches have been ignored for 100 years, i.e. since their enactment on 14 August 1919. It is uncertain how long the Giordano Bruno Foundation's "Breach of the Constitution Ticker" will continue to operate until it can be shut down. It is certain, however, that the criticism of the disregard of the requirement of ideological neutrality of the state will not subside.

German Humanist Day 2019

Multi-day event from 5-8 September 2019 in the House of the Patriotic Society in Hamburg

2019/08/05

70 years ago, the German Basic Law was passed, which puts the freedom and equality of human beings in the foreground and establishes the framework of our democratic constitutional state. Especially today, when extremists and nationalists are regaining influence, it is important to defend these values. Under the motto "Humanists for Human Rights and Tolerance", the "German Humanist Day" calls for an enlightening and humanistic discourse. Mina Ahadi, Carsten Frerk, Hartmut Kreß, Ingrid Matthäus-Maier, Ralf Meister, Aydan Özoguz, Rainer Rosenzweig, Michael Schmidt-Salomon and Assunta Tammelleo are among the participants.

Increasing numbers of non-denominational people, decreasing numbers of Catholics and Protestants

fowid publishes an overview on the distribution of "Religious affiliations 2018"

2019/07/25

Even though the total German population increased by 280,000 persons in 2018, the Catholic Church lost about 300,000 members compared to the previous year, the Protestant Church as many as 400,000. The group of nondenominational people grew by more than 800,000 persons, the group of denominational Muslims by about 100,000 persons. This is the conclusion of the overview "Religions affiliations 2018", which was recently published on the website of the Research Group on Worldviews in Germany (fowid).

The Belief in "Gentle Healing": How Rational Is the German Health Care System?

Talk by Natalie Grams on July 28 at Haus Weitblick

2019/06/12

Each year, pharmaceutical manufacturers in Germany sell 670 million euros in homeopathic preparations, the effects of which (unless they are "complex remedies" with largely undiluted components) do not generally go beyond the placebo effect. Critics who refer to corresponding studies are personally attacked and put under legal pressure. Natalie Grams, physician and gbs advisory board member, is in particular subjected to hatred. She will discuss the differences between evidence-based medicine and pseudomedical belief systems at the foundation's headquarters in Oberwesel on 28 July.

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