I was the guest speaker at a UU group on the Treasure Coast this past weekend. My topic, as always, was Humanism. I love this group and have several long time friends that are part of it.
Definitions of Humanism
There are several definitions of Humanism and how we conceive of Humanism has changed over time. Certainly over the time I've been involved with the movement. I like many of the simple definitions. Even though they are simple, they invite discussion on exactly what is meant.
One simple definition we came up with when I was the executive director of the Humanists of Florida was - "Humanism is the applied study of what it means to be a good human being."
My practice as a Humanist is to attempt to put my "Reason and Compassion into Action."
Joyful Humanism
As part of the closing statement for the UU meeting, the host used a definition I had never heard before and it struck me as being good. So good I immediately wrote it down. She said the Humanist Society of Western New York defines Humanism as a "philosophy for those in love with life." YES!!!!!!! One of the reasons I love being a Humanist is because it encourages me to be in love with life - the good and the bad. The entire experience. As my dad used to say, living sure beats the alternative.
Here is the full definition the Western NY group has on their website. Humanism is:
"A joyous alternative to religions that believe in a supernatural god and life in a hereafter. Humanists believe that this is the only life of which we have certain knowledge and that we owe it to ourselves and others to make it the best life possible for ourselves and all with whom we share this fragile planet. A belief that when people are free to think for themselves, using reason and knowledge as their tools, they are best able to solve this world’s problems. An appreciation of the art, literature, music and crafts that are our heritage from the past and of the creativity that, if nourished, can continuously enrich our lives. Humanism is, in sum, a philosophy of those in love with life. Humanists take responsibility for their own lives and relish the adventure of being part of new discoveries, seeking new knowledge, exploring new options. Instead of finding solace in prefabricated answers to the great questions of life, humanists enjoy the open-endedness of a quest and the freedom of discovery that this entails." -The Humanist Society of Western New York
Learn More About Humanism
#humanism, #ethicsmatter, #humanist, #commitment #aha #compassion #empathy #society
The 10 Humanist Commitments was created by the Center for Humanist Education (part of the American Humanist Association) - https://thehumanist.com/magazine/september-october-2019/features/living-humanist-values-the-ten-commitments
Or Feel Free to take one of my online classes:
https://humanistlearning.com/category/lifeskills/philosophy/
Or read one of these fine books:
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