Today's topic is humanism. I've mentioned it a bit in passing and have decided it needs its own post. Other than quotes and definitions, the ideas are my interpretations. I'm focusing on secular humanism, which is based in Enlightenment and free-thought ideas, rather than any of a number of other specific versions of humanism. Although, like all belief systems, humanism changes depending on who you ask. And it is definitely something I suggest looking more into.
According to the definition on Google, humanism is:
An outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.
Humanism is people centric. There is no deity or higher power. No clockmaker god. Nothing. But that is not to say humanism rejects the divine or supernatural. Religion has its purpose and gives people something to believe in. Everyone needs something to believe in. Humanists believe in people: "I have known many good people who did not believe in God. But I have never known a human being who was good who did not believe in people" (John Lovejoy Elliott).
In many ways, a belief in humanism makes many discussions of religion redundant. What people believe in is less important than what they do. In one of my college classes, Religion in American Life, we discussed this topic. What people believe is not as important as what that belief makes them do. "Life has no meaning a priori...It is up to you to give it a meaning, and value is nothing but the meaning that you choose" (Jean-Paul Sartre).
I've written before about finding comfort being small in the enormity of the universe. Although alone, I am still connected to humanity.
Humanism "requires an affirmative philosophy...translated into a life devoted to one's own improvements and the service of all mankind" (Corliss Lamont). The aim is to make life "better" for everybody. The idea that "a rising tide lifts all boats" is close to that idea. The phrase tends to refer only to economic situations, and even then it's validity is questionable. In humanism, the aim is to lift the boats of all people, in every situation, in every way possible.
The quote I'm going to close with is about faith in different things. I want you all to understand, I know religion is very helpful for many people, including myself, but it has also caused an enormous amount of harm to many people as well. I don't want to diminish any belief system, we each need one. And so, as Joss Whedon said, "Faith in God means believing absolutely in something with no proof whatsoever. Faith in humanity means believing absolutely in something with a huge amount of proof to the contrary."
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