Modern Humanist

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2

The Pope Puts Dogma Above People.
2006-09-13 14:51:02
No one will ever accuse Pop e Benedict XVI of being a Humanist. In his very first public address he blasted moral relativism and since then has been on a mission to take the Catholic church away from any secular or earthly consideration and return them to a dogma-espousing evangelical organization. His latest speech in his native Germany is perhaps his most chilling. Benedict, on the second day of a visit to his native Bavaria, said that spreading the good news of Jesus Christ is more important than all the emergency and development aid that rich churches such as those in Germany give to poor countries. Can you imagine that? Dogma is more important that helping your fellow humans. What message does that send to the faithful or to humankind? Do not give that starving man something to eat, give him a bible. You know the old saying if you give a man a fish you feed him for one day, but if you teach him to fish you feed him for a lifetime? Where does this one come in? With teachin...
More About: People , Pope

The Meaning of Life.
2006-09-10 14:45:02
This is always a big question for everyone.  Why are we here?  What is the purpose for our existence.  This question has plagued the minds of many for centuries.  But where does the Modern Humanist fall in this equation? Whereas the religious can easily point to plenty of reasons and purposes like glorifying God, spreading the message, converting the heathens, fighting for the faithful, it is not as simple for the Modern Humanist. Where a religious person can claim lofty ideals and holy purpose that does not in any way impact humankind or require any impact, the humanist is faced with a purpose that does not lead to a blissful afterlife.  It’s hard to believe that a Humanist would be willing to blow himself up on a bus somewhere killing himself and 30 other people without the belief in a afterlife filled with virgins and ambrosia. But to me the meaning of life from he Humanist perspective is vital by the very fact that it is rooted in the now with the mission of serving humank...
More About: Life , Meaning , Meaning of life

Is Modern Humanism A Philosophy or Religion?
2006-09-07 14:42:01
This is a question that has come up quite frequently. Modern Human ism is an alternative to traditional religious belief to be sure, but is it a religion in itself?  Christians and Social Conservatives would have you believe so. But before we go into that, let’s look at some quick definitions taken from the American Heritage Dictionary: Religion :   Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship. The life or condition of a person in a religious order. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion. Philosophy : Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline. Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on l...
More About: Humanism

Doctor Doctor.
2006-09-01 20:30:02
There is a new phenomenon on the medical horizon; the Christian Medical Practice.  The self-proclaimed practitioners offer “the best of modern medicine with the healing presence of Jesus Christ.”  While I wouldn’t say the “best” since they are leaving many sound medical practices on the table, it does offer an alternative. This challenge has been raging ever since members of the healthcare profession could claim conscience and not treat or prescribe medication they felt was objectionable for faith-based reasons.  There is a great rant on this that you can read at The Rudicus Report. And while I agree that a doctor shouldn’t have the right to decide not to treat someone who needs help, this new thing might offer an interesting alternative. The idea is that a medical practice is created that does not offer any of the procedures or medications that particular religious people object to.   That means no abortions, no birth control, no in vitro fertili...
More About: Doctor

Don?t Send Your Kids To School, They Might Turn Into Humanis
2006-09-01 08:30:01
“Worldview surveys show that the majority of kids from Christian homes are [H]umanist by graduation,” said Charles Lowers, Executive director of Considering Homeschool. Oh if only that were true. This comes in response to Gov. Schwarzenegger signing a bill that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation in and government funded endeavor.  In this case that included schools, since they receive state funding - even the Christian ones. As a result Lowers has called on good Christian parents to yank their children out of school and home school them - presumably so they could receive round the clock indoctrination and monitoring.  The alternative of your children turning into Human ists seems to be much worse. If that were really true, the world would be in much better shape that it is right now.  The reality is that the U.S. has the lowest population of Humanists of any 1st world nation. So what could be the danger of Humanism that this man is so afraid will tarnish th...
More About: Kids , School , Your , Mani

Cowardly Disrespect.
2006-08-30 20:24:03
One of my darkest days was the day the Taliban destroyed the Buddha statues in Bamyan, Afghanistan. The tallest Buddha statues in the world and carved out of the living rock, these statues had stood as a testament to the art, ingenuity and philosophy of the people for 2000. Thanks to Taliban rickets and explosives, they no longer exist. The work of the people who created them and their place in history is now lost forever because a small minded regime decided they were an affront to their God. The same thing is happening again in a small island off the northern coast of Quebec. A 1,500 year old site featuring petroglyphs of mysterious faces carved into a soapstone ridge has been ransacked by what some authorities are calling an act of religious vandalism. The site on Qajartalik Island is the only major petroglyph site in Canada, and now it’s mysteries may have been lost. The region’s top archaeologist believes that the site was vandalized by a nearby community of dev...
More About: War , Respect , Ward , Coward

It Depends: Thoughts on Moral Relativism Part 2.
2006-08-30 20:24:03
Here are some quotes from others regarding Moral Relativism : …a moral relativist believes there are no rules governing right and wrong. Moral Relativism is the denial of truth in ethical questions. A Moral Relativist accepts that his own moral system is meaningless and is accepted on whim, not reason. Intellectually, Moral Relativism is an attempt at destroying the concept of ethics. This is done by claiming that ethics are irrelevant and we accept them due to societal conditioning. If moral relativists were really sincere in their beliefs, they could not condemn the following practices and would have to say… Cannibalism is permitted if you think it is morally correct. Raping two-year olds is acceptable if that is part of your cultural tradition. Brutalizing your wife is understandable if that is part of your ethical system. Castrating young boys is permitted for the sake of your cultural heritage. Torture is a morally accepted part of your criminal ...
More About: Thoughts , Thought , Part , Ends

It Depends: Thoughts on Moral Relativism Part 1.
2006-08-30 20:24:03
I consider myself to be a Moral Relativist. Pope Benedict believes Moral Relativism is the greatest evil facing the church. How could the idea that morals are fluid be the greatest evil facing the church? It’s simple, without absolute morals, the church cannot continue to claim the “one right way.” Nor can they then justify many of the their positions, stances and actions in the modern world without this absolute moral standard. If there is one thing we know for certain, the only absolute in this world is that there are no absolutes. So today let’s a take a look at Moral Relativism and the major arguments and misconceptions about it and what it means to be a moral relativist. So what is Moral Relativism? Unfortunately, Moral Relativism has mostly been defined by it’s opponents, so for our purposes, I will define it thus: Moral Relativism is the belief that morals are subjective. Morals are defined by the culture and society within which they exist....
More About: Thoughts , Thought , Part , Ends

Missions.
2006-08-30 20:24:03
No this is not about missionaries, although that will undoubtedly come later. Today I wanted to talk about one of the missions of Modern Humanist. Paul Kurtz, in his editorial for the August September issue of Free Inquiry, discusses the need of Humanists and Humanist organizations to aid the cause by offering alternatives to mythical and supernatural stories.  He also suggests the need to answer some core life questions about the nature of existence, along with some of the metaphysical issues about why we are here and our purpose - basically all of the questions that Religion has answered for so many years. The purpose of this is to not only offer viable alternatives to supernatural belief, but also to provide a foundation for others seeking to come to different conclusions and having not only a rational base to return to, but a community as well. I would like to explore these in great depth, but for today I wanted to focus in on perceptions. When I ask you to think about an e...
More About: Missions , Miss , Sion , Mission , Missi

Humanism & Morals Part II.
2006-08-24 20:18:05
Yesterday we started talking about morals and Human ism. We ended by posing questions about societies truly without morals and found that they would not be viable. But let’s move on to a far more telling point of morality as it pertains to religion. Again we go back to the Ten commandments: You shall not covet your neighbor?s house; you shall not covet your neighbor?s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Hold on, did that just say “slave”? Yes it said slave. Most modern Bibles like to substitute manservant/maidservant or butler/maid for slave - but it was slave in the original text. Slavery was viable and condoned throughout the bible. That poses quite a moral dilemma doesn’t it? Slavery is widely considered immoral and wrong by almost every culture on earth. But clearly Slavery was not only approved of and condoned in the bible, but it was condoned and accepted by America up until it was banned in...
More About: Humanism , Mani , Part , Uman

Atheists in Foxholes.
2006-08-23 20:15:04
For some time now, religion has claimed the military.  Whether fighting in Afghanistan or Iraq or Israel or Lebanon or anywhere else in the world - it is always the picture of the faithful who answer the call.  Patriotism and religion have been inextricably intertwined for 1000’s of years. At the same time, Humanists, Atheist and other Freethinkers have been viewed as amoral and selfish with no inclination to do anything but fulfill their own desires without any care for their fellow citizens.  Well, these godless heathens are just as likely to answer the call as everyone else and a new group called the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) is out to educate. You can read Ron Brynaert’s story here. MAAF keeps a running list of “Atheists in Foxholes, in Cockpits, on Ships, and Hitting the Beach,” who are willing to “come out” on the Internet. What’s troubling is the idea that anyone should have to “come out” as ...
More About: Hole , Holes , Theist

Humanism & Morals Part I.
2006-08-23 20:15:04
We hear a lot of discussion about morals when it comes to religion and non-religion. The religious claim that morals are the sole purview of religion, because morals were created by God and serve as the basis for our laws and our code of conduct. With that same argument, it stands to reason that a person who does not believe in God, and rejects the need for supernaturalism in order to live their life, has no morals and is not bound by any moral code. A Christian does not murder because God said, thou shalt not kill. This is why they so fiercely fight to keep their 10 commandments in plain view and why they are inherently distrustful of the non-believers. In their eyes, a person without a moral code is free to lie, cheat and steal as well murder along with any other host of sinister practices - just because they feel like it. Or so they would have you believe. The truth is far more interesting and far less diabolical. A modern Human ist is not only just as moral as any religio...
More About: Humanism , Mani , Part , Uman

Welcome to Modern Humanist.
2006-08-21 20:15:12
As you can see this is a new site.  It’s purpose is to offer a view of Modern Human ism and it’s place in the world and community, not only as life philosophy, but as a beacon for rational and thinking minds that believe that life can be lived not only well, but inspired, without the need for or desire for supernatural forces, limiting beliefs and traditions or hateful, divisive and violent practices that only serve the segregation, isolation and destruction of community rather than the harmony, equality and unity of it. Modern Humanist will also present understanding, perspective and practical wisdom on how to incorporate humanist principals into life and community and how to serve as an example to and for others. Lastly, Modern Humanist seeks to provide viable answers and life perspectives to the community to illustrate that humanists are not only as moral, neighborly and dedicated to freedom as any church-going person, but also to help illustrate that the philosophical...
More About: Welcome , Mani , Come