Question For Biz

[Dr T]

Hello Bizabra,

I just noticed your profile says "Humanism" as your religion. How long has that been the case? I don't remember ever noticing that piece of information. I'm just curious.

Thank you

[Guest bizabra]

Hello Bizabra,

I just noticed your profile says "Humanism" as your religion. How long has that been the case? I don't remember ever noticing that piece of information. I'm just curious.

Thank you

BIZ: I have always had that designation. Why do you ask?

I don't actually call myself a follower of any particular dogma, but I like some of the tenents of humanism, so chose that as a "religion". I could have left that blank, but didn't. Here is a link to the Wikipedia entry on Humanism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism

Here is a favorite quote regarding humanism that I can relate to:

Robert G. Ingersoll:

When I became convinced that the universe is natural, that all the ghosts and gods are myths, there entered into my brain, into my soul, into every drop of my blood the sense, the feeling, the joy of freedom. The walls of my prison crumbled and fell. The dungeon was flooded with light and all the bolts and bars and manacles became dust. I was no longer a servant, a serf, or a slave. There was for me no master in all the wide world, not even in infinite space. I was free--free to think, to express my thoughts--free to live my own ideal, free to live for myself and those I loved, free to use all my faculties, all my senses, free to spread imagination's wings, free to investigate, to guess and dream and hope, free to judge and determine for myself . . . I was free! I stood erect and fearlessly, joyously faced all worlds.

I got the following definition from another website that summed up Humanism in a way that I fully agree with:

Humanism is one of those philosophies for people who think for themselves. There is no area of thought that a Humanist is afraid to challenge and explore.

Humanism is a philosophy focused upon human means for comprehending reality. Humanists make no claims to possess or have access to supposed transcendent knowledge.

Humanism is a philosophy of reason and science in the pursuit of knowledge. Therefore, when it comes to the question of the most valid means for acquiring knowledge of the world, Humanists reject arbitrary faith, authority, revelation, and altered states of consciousness.

Humanism is a philosophy of imagination. Humanists recognize that intuitive feelings, hunches, speculation, flashes of inspiration, emotion, altered states of consciousness, and even religious experience, while not valid means to acquire knowledge, remain useful sources of ideas that can lead us to new ways of looking at the world. These ideas, after they have been assessed rationally for their usefulness, can then be put to work, often as alternate approaches for solving problems.

Humanism is a philosophy for the here and now. Humanists regard human values as making sense only in the context of human life rather than in the promise of a supposed life after death.

Humanism is a philosophy of compassion. Humanist ethics is solely concerned with meeting human needs and answering human problems--for both the individual and society--and devotes no attention to the satisfaction of the desires of supposed theological entities.

Humanism is a realistic philosophy. Humanists recognize the existence of moral dilemmas and the need for careful consideration of immediate and future consequences in moral decision making.

Humanism is in tune with the science of today. Humanists therefore recognize that we live in a natural universe of great size and age, that we evolved on this planet over a long period of time, that there is no compelling evidence for a separable "soul," and that human beings have certain built-in needs that effectively form the basis for any human-oriented value system.

Humanism is in tune with today's enlightened social thought. Humanists are committed to civil liberties, human rights, church-state separation, the extension of participatory democracy not only in government but in the workplace and education, an expansion of global consciousness and exchange of products and ideas internationally, and an open-ended approach to solving social problems, an approach that allows for the testing of new alternatives.

Humanism is in tune with new technological developments. Humanists are willing to take part in emerging scientific and technological discoveries in order to exercise their moral influence on these revolutions as they come about, especially in the interest of protecting the environment.

Humanism is, in sum, a philosophy for 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.

[Blessed]

I juat noticed it just a few seconds ago. Odd.

[Guest bizabra]

WOW, I just realized I was member 57! Wilikers! I HAVE been on this board a long time!

[a-train]

So what happens when a humanist freely discovers there is a true and living God? Are they no-longer a humanist?

-a-train

[MaidservantX]

Humanism sounds wonderful with the descriptions you've shared. Thanks.

I get the same deep excitement and wow when I think about being the daughter of my Heavenly Father and a disciple of Jesus Christ and a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and all the knowledge and experience I've been privileged to participate in as founded on that paradigm.

I, within the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as a daughter of God, think for myself. There is no area of thought that I am afraid to challenge and explore. I seek to comprehend reality. I enjoy and utilize reason and science as I think and explore. I am positively soaked and ignited with imagination. My values are of primary use here and now, and only secondarily in a future (the present is all there is; although ever-blooming 'todays' arise from seeds planted in previous conditions of universe). My only desire is to be more compassionate and use all my life energy to meeting human needs and society's problems. The understanding of dilemnas and the consequences of various courses of actions is of utmost importance in my paradigm. My paradigm embraces truth regarding the natural earth. My paradigm informs me that I have a stewardship to care for this earth. My paradigm embraces social and governmental liberty; it embraces ever increasing technological advances and encourages a sense of morality regarding them. There is nothing pre-fabricated about my paradigm. I do receive solace from my person to person bond with my Redeemer and from his words including promises, solace is not my PRIMARY result from creating myself from within the fold of the Church of Jesus Christ and the gospel of Jesus Christ. For me, anyway, the main thing I seek and experience is power and sight: I want to SEE and know the reality of the universe; and I want to have POWER to cause the elements of the earth and substances of the universe (including mastery of self) to obey me and not have power to destroy me (this power accessed because of agency and atonement); and I want to obtain this condition of soul while experiencing and enjoying (and arising from) intimacy with my Father, my Savior, my parents, my children, and my family and friends, and hopefully, one day, MY MAN.

Sounds like we're both loving life!

[Dr T]

Thank you Biz. I just noticed it and didn't recall seeing it before. I know a little about humanism. I was just curious.

Thanks again

[Guest bizabra]

No problem, Dr T.

Sounds like your beliefs work for you, Xhenli. That is very good! I'm happy you have found path that makes sense to you and helps you live life to the fullest.

Keep on enjoying your life, I sure do enjoy mine!