Welcome to my blog as ‘OzHumanist’ – viva Australian humanism viva!
Humanism is about discovering, respecting and celebrating what each of us share as human beings, irrespective of cultural, ethnic, familial, gender, genetic, philosophical, religious or other differences.
So, given this working definition, I am going to assume that you – like me – will endorse this view of humanism and may further choose to self-identity as a (socially and politically active) humanist as I’ve done in recent years.
This IS a blog so comments, dissenting views, questions or rejoinders are of course welcome contributions below.
In essence, humanism recognises the inherent dignity and value of all human beings, attaching primary importance to human interests – rather than various spiritual or supernatural matters on which people will disagree. Humanism can thus happily coexist with most religious beliefs, and being a religious humanist is not only possible but actually desirable, likely or even necessary.
One of my passions in recent years, indeed for several decades, has been seeking common ground between religious and secular views, which can often reach similar conclusions based on quite different reasoning and metaphysical assumptions regarding creation or the powers operating in world history say.
In fact, humanism remains agnostic, indeed sanguine or untroubled, about the existence of God or related supernatural questions. This is so as the practical focus of this philosophical outlook – which is not religious and not not religious, to paraphrase the Dao – is to promote the needs and welfare of all people through the use of reason and universal moral principles.
Are you a self-identifying humanist yet?
I really like where you are going with this Akiva, congratulations for getting such a discussion started. Do you see the desirability of humanistic religious practice (if I can paraphrase what you say above that way) arising from the ancient and time-proven effectiveness of the tools that all traditions have, for dealing with personal spiritual matters? I’m referring here to the concepts, the language, the rituals, that each religion has for guiding their observers through life’s passage.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments Dean, your notion of promoting “humanistic religious practice” does seem to mirror where I think we can go, as individuals and a society, in regarding humanism as one general moral standard which secular and religious people can happily support.
This shared moral outlook might help non-believers more readily accept the virtues that religious concepts, rituals and values do helpfully advance through individual and social guidance. Among others, Alain de Botton explores the utility of religion, its insights on community, belonging, compassion and much more in his latest book “Religion for Atheists” which I recommend.
Moving the discussion from ‘Atheism vs Religion’ towards finding common humanist grounds for improving the world is I think a direction that would delight many observers and others who identify now or based on reflection would in fact identify as (religious or secular) humanists.