I Believe! I Believe!
A few years ago, when my parents were grasping to understand why I left religion (okay, they are still grasping), I explained to them the issues I had with the Bible. I described my opinion that the gods have all been a manifestation of mankind’s need for a controlling power, an explanation for the unexplainable, among other things. After running down my new list of non-beliefs, they asked me a poignant question:
“Then what DO you believe?”
At the time I was still trying to figure it out. Agnosticism is all about what we CAN’T or DON’T know. Agnosticism on it’s own is empty.
Through my studies of science, I grew fascinated with the nature of the human mind and our enormous capabilities. I began to consider how in a very short amount of time, humans figured out how to fly across the world, how to communicate with anyone in real time, how to cure all kinds of diseases.
The tsunami that affected so many millions of people last year? We knew about it here, on the opposite side of the world, within minutes of its occurance. Nations were able to gather resources and get them to the countries in need within days. We still have improvements to make (and we WILL make them), but imagine this same tsunami occuring only 100 years ago. How long would it be before anyone who could help would even hear about it? How much longer before we could get that help to the people? How much less help would we have to give?
Becoming agnostic, and reexaming my beliefs gave me greater hope in the amazing capabilities of human beings. I came to believe that we have the potential to solve the world’s greatest problems. Searching the internet for other secularists, I found a name for my faith in humankind: Humanism. Specifically, Secular Humanism.
Here is a definition from wikipedia:
Secular humanism is that branch of philosophy that advocates the use of reason, compassion, scientific inquiry, ethics, justice and a presumption of equality within a worldview centered upon human beings. The term was originally coined in the 20th century to make a clear distinction from “Christian humanism”. A perhaps less confrontational synonym is scientific humanism, which the biologist Edward O. Wilson termed “the only world-view compatible with science’s growing knowledge of the real world and the laws of nature”.
Its basic tenets may be simplified as:
* Humans have value and can solve human problems;
* Science, free speech, rational thought, democracy, and freedom in the arts go together;
* There is no proof for anything supernatural.
Below are some organizations that work toward the humanist ideals listed above. Their mission is to educate on humanism, and also work to affect public policy. The last one has links to local chapters who meet regularly. Maybe you have one in the area you live!
The Institute for Humanist Studies
The Continuum of Humanist Education
Maybe I’m naive. Maybe I have too much faith in the human race. Or maybe some people just don’t have enough of it.
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January 15th, 2006 @ 4:28 pm
Thanks for the information. I went to a meeting yesterday of a local chapter of the American Humanist Association. I liked the topics they were discussing, and it was very nice to be around like-minded people for a change.
January 23rd, 2006 @ 4:18 pm
I am a Christian, and I have been reading your site because I was looking for a definition of agnositism because I have a friend that is one. I have read some of your other blogs, and I guess I have a few comments about them. I guess I need to leave my side of things. First off, I’m sorry that you had a hard time with your childhood hero. As a protestant, I do not believe in the book of mormon. If you take a look at the other “heroes” in the bible, you will find not one of them is perfect except Jesus. I know you do not know for sure there is a God. Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is being sure of what you hope for, and certain of what you cannot see” You have to have faith in anything to know it happened. You have to have faith that history itself happened; you did not see it did you? You have to have faith and know in your heart that something is real. I know this about God and Jesus. And I pray that you will find this someday as well. God Bless!!
February 6th, 2006 @ 4:31 pm
Hey,
I really appreciate your comments and encouragement. Some years ago I came to much the same conclusions about humanity that you noted above. While we humans can, and often have, committed horrendous atrocities throughout our history, it is also true that we have achieved some rather incredible heights. So, while I shudder to think what might happen in the near future, I also think it is possible, not a lock, but possible that humanity will find all answers to all questions. We could, of course, blow ourselves into pink mist (I heard that on Grey’s Anatomy last night.) There are no guarantees. Nothing is pre-ordained.
I’m a newby to blogging, and, while I use a computer virtually everyday in my work, there is much I don’t understand. I haven’t figured out how to create links and so on. I know that blogspot has a tutorial, but I haven’t found any info regarding how one creates links. They just say that you can do it, but not how. I’ll figure it out eventually.
TLS
January 22nd, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
Love the points you make! When faced with the common remark on how Atheism and Agnosticism is “empty”, I like how you’ve transitioned a possible definition of this philosophy into “Secular Humanism”, thereby rendering valuable ideals to reach for. My issue is that I’m an Agnostic Misanthropist - I don’t have much hope for mankind. I see the overall nature of man as destructive and greedy. I do believe that the planet has an amazing self-capacity to balance and heal, however, so I guess I’ll be looking for some different kind of terminology that encapsulates my philosophy. I would like to promote “Gaia”….a trend of living in harmony with nature…maybe if people would put their efforts into healthy living, and a healthy planet first…I could eventually regain faith in mankind. Maybe this is where the core for real societal harmony begins. Quote from Wikipedia; “Human activities have the potential to switch the Earth System to alternative modes of operation that may prove irreversible and less hospitable to humans and other life.” We can stuff our religions and philosophies up our ying-yangs if we don’t have an inhabitable planet!