Humanism? What kind of crazy ‘new age’ religion is this?
Humanism’s actually been around for centuries, and has in many ways become the opposite of religion. It’s a philosophical and ethical stance emphasizing human beings thinking for themselves using logic and evidence rather than blind acceptance of doctrine or religious faith. Its meaning has shifted over the years, at times more focused on the notion of “human nature” but, today, the humanist movement is pretty much aligned with secularism, looking to science not religious dogma to understand the world.
All sounds very sensible and 21st Century. How did the ‘humanist’ movement come about?
Its modern form can be traced back to the European Renaissance that bridged what we now call the Middle Ages to the modern period – so roughly the 14th to 17th Centuries – and a desire to increase education and independent thinking in the general populace, to focus on classical learning as well as (or instead of) religious learning and create a well-read, eloquent citizenry able to engage with the civic life of their communities and use reason and critical thinking to pursue virtuous lives.
So before that, it was all just ‘God’, was it?
Pretty much, at least for most uneducated Europeans. The term itself was taken up during the French Enlightenment in the mid-18th Century, gaining traction after the French Revolution in the late-18th Century when philosophers strongly argued the idea that human virtue was possible as a result of human reason alone without the crutch of religious institutions. The Church, as one would expect, fought back and accused the humanists of idolising humanity.
18th Century France wasn’t the first time humans had faith in creating their own destiny, though. The European Renaissance shone a light on the Ancient Greek philosophy of the 6th Century BCE where philosophers such as Thales and Xenophanes attempted to explain the world around them using human reason as opposed to unquestioned myths, legends and blind tradition. They were really the first humanists. Aristotle continued this emerging tradition of empiricism in the 4th Century BCE. The Medieval Islamic world was also far more open to humanist ideas of individualism, secularism, skepticism and liberalism than one might immediately imagine.
But it’s humanism or religion, right? One or the other?
Not at all. The key figure of Renaissance Humanism was Petrarch, a 14th Century scholar and priest who re-discovered the Roman writer Cicero’s letters, identified the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and his own time as the ‘Dark Ages’ and set about re-introducing classical learning alongside the religious traditions of the day – his primary goal being educational. Many other early humanists were also priests and it was felt more open access to older writings from early Christian (and Jewish) writers would usher in a harmonious new era of universal agreement. Greek Orthodox priests brought Plato and Aristotle to Rome in the 15th Century and those rational, scientific old texts began to be studied at universities. In the 16th Century, the Dutch humanist Erasmus began re-translating The Bible from different sources, essentially paving the way for the Protestant Reformation.
So how did Humanism come to be seen as secular?
The Renaissance enlightenment that re-introduced classical learning sparked a new wave of curiosity and discovery. With that came the Scientific Revolution, and with that came scientists such as Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo Galilei, the latter of whom was tried for heresy in the 17th Century for his belief that the Earth was not in fact the centre of the universe but instead orbited the sun – a theory originally put forward centuries before by the Greek philosophers, by the way. The Christian Church, however, had become oppressively powerful in the intervening centuries and was not for hearing this. The worlds of religion and reason had become increasingly divided.
Grass-roots groups explicitly espousing Humanism slowly began to appear. In mid-19th Century London, the British Humanistic Religious Association promoted knowledge of science, philosophy and the arts and made a specific point of having both male and female members. In 1929, the First Humanist Society of New York was established by Charles Francis Potter, whose advisory board included Albert Einstein. Potter promoted Humanism as an alternative to religion throughout the 1930s, advocating liberal causes such as women’s rights, access to birth control, civil divorce laws and an end to capital punishment. The American Humanist Association had become a national concern by 1941 and, following World War 2, the fledgling United Nations appointed three prominent humanists as directors.
So is Humanism still going strong today?
Difficult to say. Although the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) comprises 114 organisations across 40 countries and has consultative status at the United Nations, total membership or affiliation is unclear. Lots of people who would self-identify as secularists, atheists or agnostics are likely to be Humanists, but may not actively self-identify as Humanists themselves.
Why is the concept and definition of Humanism so hard to pin down?
Because it means different things to different people and because it’s meant different things over the years. Nonetheless, all member-organisations of the IHEU have to sign up to the following statement. I’ll leave it up to you to give it a read and decide whether or not you might be a Humanist yourself.
“Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.”
Can’t say fairer than that. Go to the last chapter of the book – Chapter 360 – content to follow – or back to Chapter 1: World Peace to start a new peace adventure through these articles.
https://shorturl.fm/szyLl
https://shorturl.fm/6RGlO
https://shorturl.fm/vCeQI
https://shorturl.fm/Hh1ux
https://shorturl.fm/jsn7k
https://shorturl.fm/RPWOx
https://shorturl.fm/p6UMr
https://shorturl.fm/lxnON
https://shorturl.fm/R8xpG
The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
https://shorturl.fm/dv9qX
https://shorturl.fm/ToNYz
https://shorturl.fm/clqUG
https://shorturl.fm/99Ufc
https://shorturl.fm/bY5l1
https://shorturl.fm/J3lIB
https://shorturl.fm/SwEk4
https://shorturl.fm/aTO1P
https://shorturl.fm/PD6P0
https://shorturl.fm/HapeE
https://shorturl.fm/ahg0l
https://shorturl.fm/lBOVb
https://shorturl.fm/NToF8
https://shorturl.fm/XtXH8
https://shorturl.fm/XtXH8
https://shorturl.fm/iHLqu
https://shorturl.fm/o0WTA
https://shorturl.fm/S5XkR
https://shorturl.fm/nMscw
https://shorturl.fm/y7Fxs
https://shorturl.fm/v95xI
https://shorturl.fm/LAmlz
https://shorturl.fm/9ycRF
https://shorturl.fm/lHtcZ
https://shorturl.fm/IrUCj
https://shorturl.fm/b4XbM
https://shorturl.fm/PfspV
https://shorturl.fm/3pEbM
https://shorturl.fm/X3I62
https://shorturl.fm/5yyKG
https://shorturl.fm/UYGJZ
https://shorturl.fm/grE9Z
https://shorturl.fm/Z6CLO
https://shorturl.fm/N4Ezl
https://shorturl.fm/35S6y
https://shorturl.fm/xpJEQ
https://shorturl.fm/zV6oc
https://shorturl.fm/UIufB
https://shorturl.fm/hqi6G
https://shorturl.fm/q1EHH
https://shorturl.fm/jV0Ai
https://shorturl.fm/j1yjN
https://shorturl.fm/rQmQE
https://shorturl.fm/lCzmC
https://shorturl.fm/gZ0TE
https://shorturl.fm/XUP3b
https://shorturl.fm/to8oX
https://shorturl.fm/lrdQN
https://shorturl.fm/I0D7E
https://shorturl.fm/uygE0
https://shorturl.fm/LBZ4I
https://shorturl.fm/LBZ4I
https://shorturl.fm/OF4Yh
https://shorturl.fm/n2Tqo
https://shorturl.fm/GBBXv
https://shorturl.fm/OndGd
https://shorturl.fm/GXypp
https://shorturl.fm/sIcS4
https://shorturl.fm/1H1kh
https://shorturl.fm/RfP7B
https://shorturl.fm/Z24aJ
https://shorturl.fm/2yttT
Boost your profits with our affiliate program—apply today! https://shorturl.fm/cfLua
Sign up and turn your connections into cash—join our affiliate program! https://shorturl.fm/BWwvw
Sign up and turn your connections into cash—join our affiliate program! https://shorturl.fm/0tqxI
Share your unique link and earn up to 40% commission! https://shorturl.fm/l7Jii
Monetize your traffic with our affiliate program—sign up now! https://shorturl.fm/ndp2t
Tap into a new revenue stream—become an affiliate partner! https://shorturl.fm/1FzjM
Unlock exclusive affiliate perks—register now! https://shorturl.fm/4Fjbo
Get paid for every click—join our affiliate network now! https://shorturl.fm/nyXbU
Refer and earn up to 50% commission—join now! https://shorturl.fm/woU0p
Get paid for every referral—enroll in our affiliate program! https://shorturl.fm/p6jkO
Join our affiliate program and start earning today—sign up now! https://shorturl.fm/j0iPv
Join our affiliate community and maximize your profits! https://shorturl.fm/lU7Sp
Join our affiliate program and start earning today—sign up now! https://shorturl.fm/YianQ
Join our affiliate community and earn more—register now! https://shorturl.fm/lmHss
Earn passive income this month—become an affiliate partner and get paid! https://shorturl.fm/YfJxN
Boost your profits with our affiliate program—apply today! https://shorturl.fm/rTYZ0
Earn up to 40% commission per sale—join our affiliate program now! https://shorturl.fm/xi6zc
Promote our products and earn real money—apply today! https://shorturl.fm/q3avW
Share your unique link and cash in—join now! https://shorturl.fm/PysSw
Monetize your audience—become an affiliate partner now! https://shorturl.fm/4qYZG
Apply now and unlock exclusive affiliate rewards! https://shorturl.fm/ALXsQ
Start sharing, start earning—become our affiliate today! https://shorturl.fm/F5B3H
Earn passive income with every click—sign up today! https://shorturl.fm/QD90r
Boost your income—enroll in our affiliate program today! https://shorturl.fm/hVemj
Get rewarded for every recommendation—join our affiliate network! https://shorturl.fm/SRmm9
Turn referrals into revenue—sign up for our affiliate program today! https://shorturl.fm/FFfdG
Earn passive income on autopilot—become our affiliate! https://shorturl.fm/XPmjy
Apply now and receive dedicated support for affiliates! https://shorturl.fm/SurTV
Your network, your earnings—apply to our affiliate program now! https://shorturl.fm/B6gp5
Turn your network into income—apply to our affiliate program! https://shorturl.fm/1fhB1
Unlock exclusive rewards with every referral—apply to our affiliate program now! https://shorturl.fm/Jq0gX
Share your unique link and earn up to 40% commission! https://shorturl.fm/8gHs2
Start profiting from your network—sign up today! https://shorturl.fm/Hfr2z
Your influence, your income—join our affiliate network today! https://shorturl.fm/UoDF2
Join our affiliate program and start earning commissions today—sign up now! https://shorturl.fm/zOYg2
Start earning passive income—join our affiliate network today! https://shorturl.fm/H9gMq
Become our partner and turn referrals into revenue—join now! https://shorturl.fm/n6Gkb
Start profiting from your network—sign up today! https://shorturl.fm/5cQZH
Refer friends and colleagues—get paid for every signup! https://shorturl.fm/Rb1B4
Share your unique link and earn up to 40% commission! https://shorturl.fm/TrDeG
https://shorturl.fm/0EtO1
https://shorturl.fm/nqe5E
https://shorturl.fm/uyMvT
https://shorturl.fm/retLL
https://shorturl.fm/Xect5
https://shorturl.fm/I3T8M
https://shorturl.fm/Xect5
https://shorturl.fm/uyMvT
https://shorturl.fm/ypgnt
https://shorturl.fm/TDuGJ
https://shorturl.fm/Kp34g
https://shorturl.fm/m8ueY
https://shorturl.fm/N6nl1
https://shorturl.fm/A5ni8
https://shorturl.fm/N6nl1
https://shorturl.fm/68Y8V
https://shorturl.fm/68Y8V
https://shorturl.fm/m8ueY
https://shorturl.fm/oYjg5
https://shorturl.fm/TbTre
https://shorturl.fm/5JO3e
https://shorturl.fm/A5ni8
https://shorturl.fm/m8ueY
https://shorturl.fm/9fnIC
https://shorturl.fm/N6nl1
https://shorturl.fm/A5ni8
https://shorturl.fm/oYjg5
Top https://shorturl.fm/YvSxU
Very good https://is.gd/N1ikS2
Awesome https://t.ly/tndaA