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

Farewell to the Church Republic

The tour through Germany of the Secular Bus Campaign has begun

2019/05/04

The Giordano Bruno Stiftung presented its central campaign brochure "Abschied von der Kirchenrepublik: 100 Jahre Verfassungsbruch sind genug" ("Farewell to the Church Republic: 100 Years of Constitutional Breach are Enough") at the first press conference of the Secular Bus Campaign in Berlin today, Saturday. It features fundamental political demands that must be implemented in order to realize the constitutional imperative of the worlview neutral state.

Ceremony "70 Years Basic Law" in Karlsruhe

ifw's celebration of the constitution on May 22 focuses on the bright and dark sides of the German legal system

2019/04/22

With the Basic Law, which came into force in 1949, essential elements of the UN Declaration of Human Rights adopted one year earlier were incorporated into the German constitution. 70 years of Basic Law are therefore a good reason to celebrate this milestone in German history. At the same time they provide an opportunity to reflect critically on the question of whether the constitutional text is a constitutional reality. For this reason, the ceremony of the Institut für Weltanschauungsrecht (ifw - Institute for Worldview Law) on May 22 will not only focus on the bright sides of the German legal system, but also on its dark sides.

How Rational and Evidence-Based is German Politics?

Discussion on the launch of the bus campaign and the "March for Science" on May 4 in Berlin

2019/04/19

Bus campaign meets March for Science: On May 4 the Secular Bus Campaign starts in Berlin, which protests against the failure to comply with the constitutional requirement of separation of church and state under the motto "Schlussmachen jetzt!". Since this 4th of May is also the day of the international "March for Science", which calls for a stronger consideration of scientific findings, a high-profile panel discussion in the Urania Berlin brings the concerns of both initiatives to a common ground.

"The Bus Campaign Comes Just in Time!"

The discontent about the "Church Republic of Germany" is growing

2019/04/19

Why do Germans have to travel to Switzerland to die self-determined? Why do unintentionally pregnant women have to undergo compulsory counselling? Why are physicians like Kristina Hänel being criminalized? Why does the German state grant the churches more than 500 million euros a year and why is it forbidden to dance on Good Friday? The discontent about religious patronizing in the "Church Republic of Germany" is growing – no wonder that the anticipation of the secular bus campaign "Schlussmachen jetzt!" is big.

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