DOCSLIB.ORG

A Humanist Hotline to a Secular Worldview

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

December 2020 AA HumanistHumanist hotlinehotline toto aa secularsecular worldviewworldview Features this month: • Humanist Climate Action • Should We Go A-Carolling? • Why I don’t do Christmas • Humanism in Action • SACRE Volunteer • Annual Review • and much more Get your own Humanistically Speaking hot-lined direct from the editors [email protected] David Brittain Executive Editor, Humanistically Come in, sit down, put your feet up… Speaking CONTENTS So here we are, at the end of our first year, and my summary Regular Features in yellow report is at the end of this issue on page 30. I do hope, dear 1. Cover story reader, that you have enjoyed this year as much as we have! 2. Editor’s Introduction Christmas articles are inevitable at this time – even for a 3. Breaking News… Humanist magazine – and there’s plenty of personal comment 5. Playing the Trump Card on pages 8, 15 and 18. There’s also an article about the 6. Humanist Climate Action Humanist Climate Action Group on page 6, and about how we 7. Dear Darwin treat and eat animals on pages 28 and 29. 8. Thought for the day 10. The Halal question… But we cannot ignore the terrible killings that happened in 12. YouHu – Conference report Europe – born from the insane notion of being ‘in the name of 14. Group Network God’, and we include a Muslim perspective on page 27. 15. Why I don’t do Christmas I hope all these articles are of interest, and inspire your own 17. Humanism and Christmas reflections, so do please email us and tell you what you think – 18. Terrorism feature but not just about the issues mentioned here. Let us know 19. Humanists in Action about anything that you think might relate to Humanism. 20. Interviewing the Chair 23. A day in the life I would also like to draw special attention to page 4. It doesn’t 25. Essay Contest just list the winners of our little book of humanism competition, 26. Letters and Emails but it asks those of you who might feel inclined, to make regular 27. A Muslims perspective… donations to Humanistically Speaking. Next year, we will be a 28. Eating other animals? smaller, monthly magazine, and we want more competitions, 29. Humanists and animals more up to date reporting, and at the same time help the 30. Annual summary review editors, who pay for their own printing, and publishing software. 33. David’s Book Review But we also have ambitions to grow into a national newsbrief, 35. Final thoughts and that demands professional standards with related costs. So my appeal to you is this: If you like what we do, and can spare just £1.00 per month by regular bank transfer, then you CONTENT DISCLAIMER could play your part in transforming our regional magazine into Our editorial team consists entirely of a national Humanist newsbrief. But even if you don’t donate, humanist volunteers. Articles are please do become a regular subscriber. Just email us at written by them, or by our readers and contributors, and published at the [email protected] and enter one word: discretion of the editorial team. We Subscribe and we will do the rest. By joining that list, you will strive to publish content in line with get your regular future issues delivered direct, and at the same humanist aims and values but views expressed by writers are their own and time inspire us with your seal of approval. not necessarily shared by the South Thank you for your continued support, and we would like to Central England Humanists Network or Humanists UK. wish you all a very happy winter holiday! David Brittain Send your own comment to [email protected] Page 2 BREAKING NEWS Getting the word out – So what do how humanist group you think leaders can help of it so far? Humanistically Speaking has a potential readership of 2,500 - but only if group leaders ‘Humanistically Speaking’ goes help share the word. We really do appreciate our link being placed on your website, but this monthly… could be limiting our impact if your members Following on from our end of year review, only visit your website occasionally. The latest and the enthusiastic feedback we received issue could be out of date by the time your during the Humanism in Action online contacts realise it’s there. conference at the beginning of October, Some groups have a we’ve taken the big decision to go monthly mailing list of paid starting in 2021! members and One of the driving forces is our desire to keep supporters. Sending our on top of news stories and stay current. Once link along with your own normality resumes we also want to be able to newsletter each month advertise live your humanist events around would be the easiest and the region. With your help and engagement best way to support us, we’ll do our best to stay topical! and help keep everyone up to date. Humanistically Speaking covers a lot of subject areas and there are more topics we’d For other groups, sending it out via a Meetup like to cover. Our aim is to keep you link might be another solution. This may capture informed, educated, and inspired, offering a a different range of audience members, and two-way communication medium and forum might bring distant ones into your reach if they to share what works, what doesn’t, and what read an article that inspires them to get in you and your neighbouring humanist groups touch. Of course, there’s also Facebook, Twitter are getting up to as well as including topical and Instagram feeds too, which hopefully will news and our regular features. Our twelve stimulate conversation and enliven your feed. month trial is now complete, and we’d love to What benefits us, really helps you too, and have your feedback, both positive and helping each other is why we are here. negative, on how you think we did. Humanistically Speaking is for humanist groups included in the South Central England Humanist Network… but our readership is growing beyond this boundary Page 3 BREAKING NEWS You’ll get your own personal copy of Humanistically Speaking sent direct to you, and your name will be automatically placed in the hat for the next competition! Following October’s issue of Humanistically Arriving late to the party…? Speaking we held a prize-winning lottery for all In case this is your first visit to Humanistically of our lovely readers who have requested a Speaking we have come quite a distance since direct subscription. The lucky winners have now our first printed issue. Our back issues are received a copy of Andrew Copson’s and Alice available below, and you will see the various Roberts’s new book, the little book of growth and design improvements made over humanism. Names were randomly-plucked time as we have found our way. from Humanistically Speaking’s direct subscribers list, and we were very happy to send Jan Apr Jun the winners their own copy of this wonderful little hardback book. And the winners were: Aug Oct Values John Cregan Farnham Humanists Tony Peach Basingstoke Humanists Alan Montgomery Farnham Humanists Like What We Do? Help Fund Us! Richard Scutt Dorset Humanists Humanistically Speaking is created by unpaid Charlie Yianoullou Guildford & Woking volunteers, yet we do incur some costs and Greg Kent Brighton Humanists we’d like to expand our operations. Could If you didn’t win, there will be another book- you make a voluntary donation by Standing winning lottery in the New Year – so keep your Order from just £1.00 a month? Or a one-off eyes peeled for that announcement, and so long donation? We’ll leave our bank details here as you are a regular subscriber, you will have and let you surprise us. Please use HS another chance to win! DONATION as the reference. Account name: Basingstoke Humanists Not yet a regular subscriber? That’s easy to Sort 30 98 97 – Acc 33031168 change. All you have to do is email us at [email protected] and type • Running Costs just one word – ‘Subscribe’. We’re open to any • Technology upgrades reader, it’s free, it couldn’t be easier to register, • Leaflet printing and there are absolutely no strings attached. • Travel expenses Humanistically Speaking is for humanist groups included in the South Central England Humanist Network… but our readership is growing beyond this boundary Page 4 Playing The Trump Card Looking at the 45th President through Humanist eyes I’m not a Trump fan. There, I’ve said it, and I’ve probably now alienated half of you, or have I? It’s probably fair to say that Trumpism didn’t greatly resonate with most humanists. The throw-away comments, the tantrums when it looked like he was losing, the demands for a recount and the claim that his votes were legal whereas Biden’s votes were fraudulent. Plus the whole ‘fake news’ thing. There was something about Donald Trump that rubbed me up the wrong way. I think it was the way he walked on stage, the swagger, the superiority, glancing down at those so clearly beneath him. But could we have Aaron Darkwood expected anything else? Wasn't he just playing the role which destiny Creative Design Editor and his fans demanded? He started out with privilege and this was followed by a business career of getting whatever he wanted, where nobody ever said ‘No’. Was it any wonder he became the world’s most famous narcissist? Some might argue that being a billionaire is the perfect rehearsal for the presidency, that he simply fulfilled his destiny.
Recommended publications
  • Open PDF 113KB

    Open PDF 113KB

    Written evidence submitted by Humanists UK (IRN0004) ABOUT HUMANISTS UK At Humanists UK, we want a tolerant world where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We work to support lasting change for a better society, championing ideas for the one life we have. Since 1896, our work has been helping people be happier and more fulfilled. By bringing non-religious people together we help them develop their own views and an understanding of the world around them. Together with our partners Humanist Society Scotland, we speak for 100,000 members and supporters and over 100 members of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. Through our ceremonies, pastoral support, education services, and campaigning work, we advance free thinking and freedom of choice so everyone can live in a fair and equal society. We work closely with Humanists International, founded in 1952 as the global representative body of the humanist movement, with over 170 member organisations in over 70 countries, and of which our Chief Executive is also the current President. We are also a member of the European Humanist Federation (EHF). We have good relations with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), meeting regularly with ministers and officials. We are on the steering group of the UK Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Forum and are an active member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on FoRB. We are accredited at the UN Human Rights Council – the only national humanist group to hold such accreditation – and make interventions there every session. We contribute annually to Humanists International’s Freedom of Thought Report1; and co-founded the End Blasphemy Laws campaign,2 which has successfully prompted ten countries to repeal their blasphemy laws since it was founded in 2015.
  • DOWNLOAD 2019 UK Audited Accounts

    DOWNLOAD 2019 UK Audited Accounts

    H. \I-t Hurnanists INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION (operating as HUMANISTS INTERNAIIONAL) FINANGIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 COMPANY NUMBER FC O2O6r',2 Humanists lnternational is a trading name of the lntemational Humanist and Ethical Union. INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2019 The Directors of the lnternational Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), operating as Humanists lnternational, present their annual report with the annualaccounts of the company for the year ended 31st December 2019. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in Note 1 and comply with current statutory requirements. IHEU is the world federation of organizations making up the global humanist movement, inclusive of all nontheistic traditions such as humanist, atheist, rationalist, secularist, laique, ethical culture, freethought, and skeptic. We want a secular world in which human rights are respected and everyone is able to live a life of dignity. We work to build and represent the global humanist movement that defends human rights and promotes Humanist values world-wide. Our Aims are: o We will have successful and sustainable member organisations in every part of the world o We will create a coordinated global movement by supporting and developing our network o We will influence and shape international and regional government policies o We will have sufficient reputation, resources, and effectiveness to achieve our objectives LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS The IHEU is a Membership Corporation pursuant to the Membership Corporation law of the State of New York. lt is registered in England and Wales under the Companies Act as an overseas company having established a place of business in England and Wales.
  • Humanism and Christianity: Shared Values?

    Humanism and Christianity: Shared Values?

    Shipton et al.: Humanism and Christianity: Shared Values? WARREN SHIPTON, YOUSSRY GUIRGUIS, AND NOLA TUDU Humanism and Christianity: Shared Values? Introduction The word humanism is derived from the Latin humanitas that originally meant the study of human nature. The idea was to elevate humanity with a focus on human dignity and potential through education (Ritchie and Spencer 2014:15, 16). The meaning attributed to the word humanism, in its broadest sense, allowed Christians and non-believers initially to oc- cupy common territory (64-78). In the early-middle Christian era, some thinkers sought to acquaint themselves with the achievements, literature, and thought of past civilizations, particularly Greek, with a view to rec- onciling theology with the philosophy of the classical philosophers (New World Encyclopedia n.d.; Odom 1977:126-128, 183-186). Outside Christian circles, elements supportive of the pre-eminence of human thought and abilities have long been seen among philosophers; however, not all forms of humanism were atheistic, as seen in Confucian thought (Gupta 2000:8- 12). There also are those who have been called “religious” or “spiritual” humanists (Eller 2010:10). The Medieval civilization that followed the collapse of the Roman Em- pire (AD 476) was marked by the rule of kings with nobles supporting the king in return for privileges. The majority of the population existed in serfdom; the Church reigned supreme. A change came in the 14th century helped by the fact that famine and disease created disaster. The abuses in the Church and the pessimism prevalent in society created a climate for change in Europe.
  • Reform of the Gender Recognition Act - Government Consultation

    Reform of the Gender Recognition Act - Government Consultation

    REFORM OF THE GENDER RECOGNITION ACT - GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION Response from LGBT Humanists, July 2018 ABOUT LGBT HUMANISTS For over 30 years LGBT Humanists has promoted humanism as a rational, naturalistic worldview that trusts the scientific method as the most reliable route to truth and encourages a moral and ethical life based on logic, reason, and compassion. We campaign for equality, particularly relating to sexual orientation and identity – both in the UK and internationally. LGBT Humanists is a volunteer-led section of Humanists UK. Humanists UK advances free thinking and promotes humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Its work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through its ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, it strives to create a fair and equal society for all. Are you responding as an individual or an organisation? Organisation Full name or organisation’s name LGBT Humanists Phone number 0207 324 3060 Address c/o Humanists UK 39 Moreland Street London Postcode EC1V 8BB Email [email protected] The Government would like your permission to publish your consultation response. Any responses will be treated in accordance with Section 22 of the Gender Recognition Act. This provides protection for the privacy of a person who has applied for and/or obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate by making it a criminal offence to disclose information acquired in an official capacity about a person’s gender history or about their application to the Panel, unless a specific exception applies.
  • Becoming a Celebrant with Humanist Ceremonies™

    Becoming a Celebrant with Humanist Ceremonies™

    Becoming a celebrant with Humanist Ceremonies™ Background Humanists UK is the UK’s principal charity representing people who hold no religious belief. For over a century, Humanists UK has provided ceremonies for people who are not religious but who wish to mark significant events in their lives. Humanist Ceremonies is Humanists UK’s organised network of trained and accredited celebrants in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (The Humanist Society of Scotland is the equivalent organisation in Scotland.) Over time the number of people offering non-religious ceremonies has grown, in response to demand. More people recognise that religion is not for them and feel uncomfortable, even hypocritical having a religious ceremony. They recognise that life without religion does not mean a life without morality. They want a ceremony that is distinctive, personal and significant, specifically devised for them. Many individuals and organisations now offer non-religious ceremonies. However, a humanist ceremony is more than just an event with no religion. A humanist ceremony will reflect humanist principles, namely the value we place on humanity and reason, on our rights and responsibilities, on our individuality, on our personal histories and on our connections with others. In short, Humanist Ceremonies celebrate human lives in all their particularity and variety. ​ Ceremonies Celebrants in the Humanist Ceremonies network can train to lead funerals, weddings or partnerships, and namings. Most Humanist Ceremonies celebrants are trained and accredited to do funerals. Our humanist funerals are the ceremonies most in demand as our reputation for highly personalised and meaningful ceremonies grows. However, requests for humanist weddings, partnerships and naming ceremonies are 1 rising.
  • Council of Europe 2012 Exchange on the Religious Dimension of Intercultural Dialogue

    Council of Europe 2012 Exchange on the Religious Dimension of Intercultural Dialogue

    COUNCIL OF EUROPE 2012 EXCHANGE ON THE RELIGIOUS DIMENSION OF INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE Taking responsibilities for tomorrow’s Europe: the role of young people in the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue RENCONTRE 2012 DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE SUR LA DIMENSION RELIGIEUSE DU DIALOGUE INTERCULTUREL Prendre des responsabilités pour l’Europe de demain: le rôle des jeunes dans la dimension religieuse du dialogue interculturel PARTICIPANTS’ BIOGRAPHIES BIOGRAPHIE DES PARTICIPANTS 3-4 SEPTEMBER 2012 Durrës /Albania 1 2 Deborah ABISBOR Executive Director of the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS), France / Directeur Executif de lřUnion Européenne des Etudiants Juifs Européens, France The European Union of Jewish Students is an umbrella organization for 34 national Jewish student unions in Europe and the FSU, representing over 200,000 Jewish students. Cognizant of the religious, linguistic and cultural diversity that make up the European Jewish community, EUJS strives to present a variety of perspectives through its leadership training programs, educational seminars and international conferences, all tailor-made to the needs of its students. Throughout its history, EUJS has placed itself at the cutting edge of inter-cultural and inter-religious programming, as well as programming related to genocide education, advocacy and Jewish continuity in Europe. EUJS is a constituent member of the European Youth Forum, the leading platform for more than 90 national youth councils and international NGOs, and is the only Jewish organization represented at that level. It is supported by the Council of Europe, the European Commission, all recognized Jewish organizations, and is a member of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS).
  • Humanism, Atheism, Agnosticism

    Humanism, Atheism, Agnosticism

    HANDOUT: HUMANISM FACT SHEET Origin: Dates from Greek and Roman antiquity; then, the European Renaissance; then as a philosophic and theological movement in the U.S. and Europe, mid-1800s and again in 1920s and 1930s, through today. Adherents: Number unknown. Two national organizations are the American Humanist Association and the American Ethical Union. Humanist movements and individuals exist in Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and especially Unitarian Universalism. Humanism plays a role in many people's beliefs or spirituality without necessarily being acknowledged. Humanism also plays a role in most faiths without always being named. Influential Figures/Prophets: Protagoras (Greek philosopher, 5th c. BCE, "Man is the measure of all things"), Jane Addams, Charles Darwin, John Dewey, Abraham Maslow, Isaac Asimov, R. Buckminster Fuller (also a Unitarian), Margaret Sanger, Carl Rogers, Bertrand Russell, Andrei Sakharov Texts: No sacred text. Statements of humanist beliefs and intentions are found in three iterations of The Humanist Manifesto: 1933, 1973, and 2003; these are considered explanations of humanist philosophy, not statements of creed. The motto of the American Humanist Association is "Good without a God." To humanists, the broadest range of religious, scientific, moral, political, social texts and creative literature may be valued. Clergy: None. Humanism is not a formally organized religion. Many Unitarian Universalist and other, especially liberal, clergy are Humanists or humanist-influenced. For congregations in the Ethical Culture movement (at www.eswow.org/what-is-ethical- culture), professional Ethical Culture Leaders fill the roles of religious clergy, including meeting the pastoral needs of members, performing ceremonies, and serving as spokespeople for the congregation.
  • Values of Happiness: Toward an Anthropology of Purpose in Life

    Values of Happiness: Toward an Anthropology of Purpose in Life

    Values of Happiness Toward an Anthropology of Purpose in Life Edited by Iza Kavedžija and Harry Walker Afterword by Joel Robbins VALUES OF HAP P INESS Hau BOOKS Executive Editor Giovanni da Col Managing Editor Sean M. Dowdy Editorial Board Anne-Christine Taylor Carlos Fausto Danilyn Rutherford Ilana Gershon Jason Troop Joel Robbins Jonathan Parry Michael Lempert Stephan Palmié www.haubooks.com VALUES OF HAP P INESS TOWARD AN ANTHROPOLOGY OF PURPOSE IN LIFE Special Issues in Ethnographic Teory Series Edited by Iza Kavedžija and Harry Walker Hau Books Chicago © 2016 Hau Books Hau Books Special Issues in Ethnographic Teory Series (Volume 2) Te HAU Books Special Issues in Ethnographic Teory Series prints paperback versions of pathbreaking collections, previously published in HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Teory. Cover and layout design: Sheehan Moore Cover Photo © Skye Hohmann Typesetting: Prepress Plus (www.prepressplus.in) ISBN: 978-0-9861325-7-5 LCCN: 2016959208 Hau Books Chicago Distribution Center 11030 S. Langley Chicago, IL 60628 www.haubooks.com Hau Books is marketed and distributed by Te University of Chicago Press. www.press.uchicago.edu Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper. Table of Contents List of Contributors vii introduction Values of happiness Harry Walker and Iza Kavedžija 1 chapter one Ambivalent happiness and virtuous sufering C. Jason Troop 29 chapter two Being careful what you wish for: Te case of happiness in China Charles Staford 59 chapter three Te good life in balance: Insights from aging Japan
  • 2018-Photo-Calendar-FINAL.Pdf

    2018-Photo-Calendar-FINAL.Pdf

    Central & Eastern Iowa CoRs January 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 New Year's Day 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Martin Luther King Day 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Freethinkers Thomas Payne Day A few of the co-operating groups in Connecticut February 2018 Connecticut CoR Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 National Freedom Day Groundhog Day 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 9th – 11th Feb LogiCal LA California 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Lincoln Birthday Chinese New Darwin Day Valentine’s Day Year 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Presidents' Day 25 26 27 28 A few of the co-operating groups in Sacramento March 2018 Sacramento CoR Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 International Women’s Day 11 12 13 14 Pi Day 15 16 17 Daylight Saving Freedom of information day 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 International Day of World Poetry Happiness Day 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29th Mar-1st Apr AA Convention Oklahoma City Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) represented at various military Bases April 2018 UnitedCoR Affiliates Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Secular Social Justice Conference Atheist Day Washington DC 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Thomas Jefferson Birthday 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 National Ask an Atheist Day 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 SCA Secular Coalition for Earth Day America Lobby day 29 30 San Antonio CoR May 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 International National Day of ...
  • Atheist Chaplains in the U.S. Army

    Atheist Chaplains in the U.S. Army

    FOR MAN AND COUNTRY: ATHEIST CHAPLAINS IN THE U.S. ARMY A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE General Studies by VALERIA R. VAN DRESS, MAJOR, CHAPLAIN M.A., Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois, 1997 D.Min., Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, South Carolina, 2010 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 2014-01 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 13-06-2014 Master’s Thesis AUG 2013 – JUN 2014 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER FOR MAN AND COUNTRY: ATHEIST CHAPLAINS IN THE 5b.
  • "The Philosophy of Humanism"

    "The Philosophy of Humanism"

    THE PHILOSOPHY OF HUMANISM Books by Corliss Lamont The Philosophy of Humanism, Eighth Edition, 1997 (posthumous) Lover’s Credo: Poems of Love, 1994 The Illusion of Immortality, Fifth Edition, 1990 Freedom of Choice Affirmed, Third Edition, 1990 Freedom Is as Freedom Does: Civil Liberties in America, Fourth Edition, 1990 Yes To Life: Memoirs of Corliss Lamont, 1990 Remembering John Masefield, 1990 A Lifetime of Dissent, 1988 A Humanist Funeral Service, 1977 Voice in the Wilderness: Collected Essays of Fifty Years, 1974 A Humanist Wedding Service, 1970 Soviet Civilization, Second Edition, 1955 The Independent Mind, 1951 The Peoples of the Soviet Union, 1946 You Might Like Socialism, 1939 Russia Day by Day Co-author (with Margaret I. Lamont), 1933 (Continued on last page of book) THE PHILOSOPHY OF HUMANISM CORLISS LAMONT EIGHTH EDITION, REVISED HALF-MOON FOUNDATION, INC. The Half-Moon Foundation was formed to promote enduring inter- national peace, support for the United Nations, the conservation of our country’s natural environment, and to safeguard and extend civil liberties as guaranteed under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. AMHERST, NEW YORK 14226 To My Mother FLORENCE CORLISS LAMONT discerning companion in philosophy Published 1997 by Humanist Press A division of the American Humanist Association 7 Harwood Drive, P.O. Box 1188 Amherst, NY 14226-7188 Eighth Edition Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 96-77244 ISBN 0-931779-07-3 Copyright © 1949, 1957, 1965, 1982, 1990, 1992 by Corliss Lamont. Copyright © 1997 by Half-Moon Foundation, Inc. Copy Editor, Rick Szykowny ~ Page Layout, F. J. O’Neill The following special copyright information applies to this electronic text version of The Philosophy of Humanism, Eighth Edition: THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHT © 1997 BY HALF-MOON FOUNDATION, INC.
  • Science and Religion: Confrontation Or Accommodation? a PANEL DISCUSSION

    Science and Religion: Confrontation Or Accommodation? a PANEL DISCUSSION

    June July 2011 V1_Layout 1 4/22/11 9:44 AM Page 1 RYAN CRAGUN and BARRY KOSMIN: The Spirituality Swindle CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY June / July 2011 Vol. 31 No.4 Science and Religion: Confrontation or Accommodation? A PANEL DISCUSSION CHRIS MOONEY | P Z MYERS | EUGENIE C. SCOTT | VICTOR J. STENGER JENNIFER MICHAEL HECHT BARRY KOSMIN ARTHUR CAPLAN SHADIA DRURY Introductory Price $4.95 U.S. / $4.95 Can. 07 EDMUND COHEN Published by the Council 7725274 74957 for Secular Humanism FI June July 11_Layout 1 4/22/11 9:11 AM Page 2 For many, mere atheism (the absence of belief in gods and the supernatural) or agnosticism (the view that such questions cannot be answered) aren’t enough. It’s liberating to recognize that supernatural beings are human creations … that there’s no such thing as “spirit” … that people are undesigned, unintended, and responsible for themselves. But what’s next? Atheism and agnosticism are silent on larger questions of values and meaning. If Meaning in life is not ordained from on high, what small-m meanings can we work out among ourselves? If eternal life is an illusion, how can we make the most of our only lives? As social beings sharing a godless world, how should we coexist? For the questions that remain unanswered after we’ve cleared our minds of gods and souls and spirits, many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and freethinkers turn to secular humanism. Secular. “Pertaining to the world or things not spiritual or sacred.” Humanism. “Any system of thought or action concerned with the interests or ideals of people … the intellectual and cultural movement … characterized by an emphasis on human interests rather than … religion.” — Webster’s Dictionary Secular humanism is a comprehensive, nonreligious life stance incorporating: A naturalistic philosophy A cosmic outlook rooted in science, and A consequentialist ethical system in which acts are judged not by their conformance to preselected norms but by their consequences for men and women in the world.