The best books on humanism five books expert recommendations. Secular worldview mankind at the center the secular worldview is a religious worldview in which man is the measure mankind is the ultimate norm by which truth and values are to be determined. Enjoy print or online access to the latest free inquiry articles on your computer, phone, or tablet. While the title listed in the add is the good book. Apr 08, 2011 in the good book, professor grayling offers a thoughtful, nonreligious alternative to the bible, drawing on the wisdom of 2,500 years of contemplative writing. Oct 21, 2014 the following excerpts were adapted from his remarks in acceptance of the award. We have two free online courses that provide a great introduction to humanism for introductory texts on humanism see. Secular humanism vs christianity, an essay fiction. What are the philosophical beliefs of secular humanism. A nonreligious, humanist reference draws on secular literature and philosophy from both western and eastern traditions to consider such topics as the origins of the world, how to relate to others, and how to appreciate life. It aims to heal this world and glorify man as the author of his own, progressive salvation. That is, it is a set of beliefs through which one interprets all of realitysomething like a pair of glasses.
It rejects theistic morality and supposedly defers to. In a written interview conducted by roy speckhardt, the executive director of the american humanist association, mark w. For the questions that remain unanswered after weve cleared our minds of gods and souls and spirits, many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and freethinkers turn to secular humanism. Pastor brian chilton the christian theist is opposed by many worldviews. While various religions and worldviews have been around since the early stages of human history, one such. Although secular humanism comprises a diverse set of perspectives, certain commonalities exist within all its forms. Many secular groups, such as the council for secular humanism and the american rationalist. Anyone can check this out in the bestselling apocalypse series left behind by tim lahaye and jerry jenkins. Secular humanism is a belief system which is concerned only with the physical world. The first and most telling is the belief that all life evolved from nonlife and has been evolving upward and onward for 3. Our present society is in a state of moral decay, not because the majority of americans love degeneracy, but because the influence of humanism has been greater on our culture than the influence of the church 1980, p.
The case for reason, science, humanism and progress allen lane by steven pinker describes the impact of humanism on on human progress, and presents a call to arms not to allow such progress to be washed away. May 05, 2011 thanks to everyone who submitted suggestions for humanist books for your reading list. For secular humanists, morality is all relative, and up to the individuals personal choice. Secular humanism grew out of the 18th century enlightenment and 19th century freethinking. Secular humanism is an outgrowth of eighteenth century enlightenment rationalism and nineteenth century freethought. Secular humanism vs christianity, an essay fiction fictionpress. In the conservative evangelical world, this was the heyday of premillennial dispensationalism. A good way to capture the religious flavor of secular humanism is to read the humanist manifesto ii, a statement of humanist beliefs written in 1973 by a group of humanist intellectuals.
The book sets up a system of secular, logical guidelines for acting ethically that can apply to all humans regardless of the society they are a part of. Secular humanism is a term which has come into use in the last thirty years to describe a world view with the following elements and principles. Creech august 17, 2004 agapepress secular humanism is that philosophy of life that emphasizes a worldview based on naturalism. The thinking that, if you dont think like me, that if you are not with me, then you are against me. The humanist church of the ancient wisdom was formed to provide for the solemn reading and occasional chanting of the good book. You can also find out about humanists uks andrew copsons recommended best books on humanism here. In defense of secular humanism by paul kurtz prometheus books, 1983 ps primary source a primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. The american humanist association has stood as the voice of humanism in the united states for over 75 years. Jan 02, 2020 secular humanism aims to do both much less and much more. Secular humanism is a philosophy or life stance that embraces human reason, secular ethics, and philosophical naturalism while specifically rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, and superstition as the basis of morality and decision making secular humanism posits that human beings are capable of being ethical and moral without religion or belief in a deity. Instead, there are uncredited quotations from aristotle, darwin, swift.
The title appearing on my copies are, the good book. A conviction that dogmas, ideologies and traditions, whether religious, political or social, must be weighed and tested by each individual and not simply accepted on faith. Drawn from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both western and eastern traditions, using the same techniques of editing, redaction, and adaptation that produced the holy books of the judeochristian and islamic religions, the good book consciously takes its design and presentation from the bible. Thanks to everyone who submitted suggestions for humanist books for your reading list. According to secular humanism, all reality and life center upon human beings. I would recommend this as the primary source on secular humanism for high school philosophy and world religions courses. Humanism is a philosophical system of thought that focuses on human value, thoughts, and actions. Worldview analysis of secular humanism pastorbrianchilton. Many secular groups, such as the council for secular humanism and. In this respect, secular humanism is quite at ease with certain religious substitutes for gods true gospelfor example, the teachings of yogananda, the founder of the selfrealization. As a first read for people unfamiliar with the eupraxsophy, it provides a good basic history and explanation of secular humanism.
The philosopher ac grayling has created a secular bible, but its guidance for a good life fails to convince genevieve fox. During the last several decades, humanists have been very successful in propagating their beliefs. They are written in beautiful prose sometimes and clever rhymes at others. Secular humanism is a philosophy or life stance that embraces human reason, secular ethics, and philosophical naturalism while specifically rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, and superstition as the basis of morality and decision making. A muslim fanatic and a christian fanatic, a jewish fanatic, a secular fanatic, an atheist fanatic, a communist fanatic all of them are the same. Some christians might be surprised to learn that they actually share some commitments with.
Secular humanism, on the other hand, is a collection of very specific positions which are organized into a coherent system which asserts that there is no such thing as a supernatural existence. The following principles are the basis of secular humanism, a life stance that i find to be extraordinary in its ability to capture how i, and most other freethinkers i know, view the world. The writing is so clear and wellreasoned that reading what are essentially dry philosophical concepts became compelling and enjoyable. It could almost have been any of her novels, but adam bede is her first so i chose that. Subscribe a muslim fanatic and a christian fanatic, a jewish fanatic, a secular fanatic, an atheist fanatic, a communist fanatic all of them are the same. And since man is the only known creature with a capacity for personal selfawareness, he is the only creature able to create values and standards. Excerpts from awardees jessica valenti and steve rade.
Searching for the good after darwin, marx, and nietzsche. The biggest flaw in secular humanism is its logical inconsistency. Humanism and the death of god is a critical exploration of secular humanism and its discontents. Both of these are well and good, but what we are seeking is a definition of the worldview known as secular humanism. The following excerpts were adapted from his remarks in acceptance of the award. Pdf humanism of the other download full pdf book download. The good book book central arkansas library system. Commitment to the use of critical reason, factual evidence, and scientific. Secular humanism is a branch of philosophy that grew out of late eighteenth early nineteenth century enlightenment thinking. When viewing the past, present, and future of secular history, secular humanists remain unrealistically optimistic for two reasons. This book is an excellent introduction to secular humanism. The following is a recent paper that i wrote on secular humanism for a class at liberty. When we talk about secular humanism, were talking about something else. Recommended resources british humanist association some bibliography on naturalism and secular humanism matthew ferguson of uc irvine secular humanism topical bibliography by ralph dumai.
The principles of secular humanism daniel miessler. In its beauty of language and its arrangement into short chapters and. This is why packer and howard could write that book about christian humanism. The good book consciously takes its design and presentation from the bible, in the beauty of its language and its arrangement into short chapters and verses, offering to the nonreligious seeker all the wisdom, insight, solace, inspiration, and perspective of various secular humanist traditions. A good way to capture the religious flavor of secular humanism is to read the humanist manifesto ii, a statement of humanist beliefs written in 1973 by a group of humanist intellectuals t he gospel is being tampered with and eroded not just in countries where the church is being infiltrated and. For the questions that remain unanswered after weve cleared our minds of gods and souls and spirits, many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and freethinkers turn to. It embraces human reason, instead of religion or revelation, as primary in determining morality and ethics. Martin steve stewartwilliams published by the center for inquiry in association with the council for secular humanism ronald a. Grayling discusses how he responds to criticism of his latest work, the good book. A secular bible, the title appearing on my copies are, the good book. Humanism has a dual origin, both secular and religious, and these constitute its subcategories. We had the center for inquiry, the council for secular humanism, the american humanist association, american atheists, the freedom from religion foundation, and many more. Tim lahaye, in his book, the battle for the mind, suggested. Geisler condenses the beliefs into five categories shared by all secular humanists, which include nontheism, naturalism, evolution, ethical relativism, and selfsufficiency.
It is the goal of this treatise to document the tenets of humanism, and then to explain what christians can do to actively oppose this false system. Secular humanism is a late development emphasizing objectivity, human reason. A book of extraordinary audacity from a remarkable thinkera secular bible drawn from. Back in 2009 some people asked whether the secular movement needed another group. This 700 page book is written in the same format as the bible with the modern numbering of sections of the bible. Mar 05, 20 drawn from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both western and eastern traditions, using the same techniques of editing, redaction, and adaptation that produced the holy books of the judeochristian and islamic religions, the good book consciously takes its design and presentation from the bible. The secular utopians from richard dawkins to sam harris to daniel dennett to christopher hitchens have also forgotten they are human. Be sure to add any new titles below to your own reading list and deepen your education on humanism, atheism, and freethought. Most of the books mentioned below are available on or humanist press. There was a time when most people in our society, whether protestant, catholic, jew, or nothing in particular, shared common assumptions about the big issuesyou know, basic questions about god and man, right and wrong, religious values and society. Apr 26, 20 the following is a recent paper that i wrote on secular humanism for a class at liberty. In the good book, professor grayling offers a thoughtful, nonreligious alternative to the bible, drawing on the wisdom of 2,500 years of contemplative writing.
Such thinking is the warped product of what has been called the void of humanism stearsman, 1981, pp. It is a system with an internal disconnect from itself. Both they and religious fundamentalists peddle absolutes. A court case in 1995 examined the issue and concluded, rightly, that science, in the form of the theory of evolution, is not a religion. Gura, the cofounder and executive director of the association of mindfulness meditation and secular buddhism. Christian philosophy the secular humanist influence. As for the belief that humanity is mostly good, secular humanism, when in that alignment, always presumes the existence of a higher power, or some godlike influence on man. Secular humanism would seek to destroy god and persecute christians. We strive to bring about a progressive society where being good without a god is an accepted and respected way to live life.
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