|
HUMANISTS: NO HEAVEN, HELL OR PERSONAL DEITY Last Saturday, I went to the monthly meeting of a group that does not celebrate the events of life in a building devoted to the worship of a higher being. Instead, this group meets at a popular oriental food restaurant up in Venice. They are members of the Gulf Coast Humanist Association. They've been serving our area since 2004 -- Englewood, Venice, North Port and Port Charlotte. Many people who call themselves Christians do not consider Humanist beliefs to form a valid religion, while others are not so sure. Many Humanists attend a traditional church, some because they believe -- to a variable certain extent -- in a superior being, and others because, as one man I talked with said, "I'm hedging my bets, just in case." So what, exactly, are Humanist beliefs? In their literature, Humanism is described as a "progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity." Rosemary Hagen, who is president of the Gulf Coast Humanists, puts it in a considerably more direct fashion. She says, succinctly, "My working definition of a Humanist is one who rejects the supernatural and believes that he/she is in charge of his/her own life." She adds, "A humanist does not believe in a personal god or in heaven or hell." According to Hagen and a couple of other folks I questioned at last Saturday's meeting, Humanists tend to put the burden of thinking upon the individual. The theory is that humans are better qualified than a deity in developing values that will serve human needs and interests -- and that working to benefit society now maximizes individual happiness. So what about things like weddings and funerals, or "namings" (the replacement for "christening" in Humanist nomenclature) -- those times in our lives that call for celebration, sharing or comforting? The Humanists recognize the need and have come up with a system of celebrants that function in much the same way as any member of traditional clergy; the big difference being that they do not invoke any type of religion, god, deity or mystical power. Robert LaSalle and Rosemary have recently been accredited as Humanist celebrants. According to them, Humanist ceremonies rely on close communication between the celebrant and the person or individuals they are serving -- a procedure that often makes the Humanist wedding, baby-naming or funeral more meaningful and moving than traditional services. The Gulf Coast Humanists are headed by Rosemary Hagen, president, and Robert LaSalle, vice president. The locals are affiliated with the state organization, The Humanists of Florida Association, and the national American Humanist Association. There is no membership fee for the local group. They meet every month, on the first Saturday, at noon at the Marco Polo restaurant in Bird Bay Shopping Center on U.S. 41 Bypass in Venice. If you're interested in learning more about the group, just show up. The next meeting takes place on Oct. 7. Jan Findley is a columnist for the Englewood Sun and Englewood Herald. The Spirit of Englewood runs every Saturday.
|