You may be among the thousands who do not realize they are
humanists. If this is so, you may be missing out on a great deal.
Your search can be over for meaning in life which is in harmony with
your intelligence. Interestingly, many humanists retain some of their
traditional religious culture.
Humanism, an alternative to traditional religious faith, can
fulfill many of today's desires and needs. It is in tune with growing
knowledge of our physical and mental worlds. It reinforces positive
aspects of thinking rationally, and now when long-held ideas no
longer seem relevant it provides an alternative source of joy,
strength, kindliness and morality. Rational thinking and its
handmaiden science free one from the guilt brought about by giving
lip service to ideas which are not believed. We no longer find
ourselves existing in the waiting room to enter heaven or hell.
We know that there is no supreme power with a human face which
controls us. We know that problems can best be solved by perceptive,
logical, rational thinking. We know that with some understanding of
the processes of the world, our lives become energized and more
meaningful. Vision is wedded to knowledge, and a sense of freedom
lets each day be more exhilarating, more of an adventure. It is the
philosophy of Margaret Sanger, Isaac Asicmov, Julian Huxley, R.
Buckminster Fuller, Carl Sagan, Ashley Montagu, Ted Turner, Steven
Allen, Bertrand Russell and other thoughtful, constructive humans.
Becoming free from outworn dogmas opens one to rewarding
understanding and insights. There is discovery that the meaning of
life is that which we give to it. There can be full-bodied excitement
as one feels closer to nature and a part of all that lives.
In every country there are at least a few individuals who have the
vision which recognizes that relationships between genders, classes,
ethnic and national groups are not eternally fixed. The domination of
women by men can be recognized as rooted in religions. Thousands of
people are coming to realize that most of the turmoil in the world is
fostered by those who are holding onto and fighting for outdmoded
dogmas. Consider for the moment the situation in Ireland, where
people follow the banners of religions. If most everyone in northern
and southern Ireland were an agnostic or atheist, would they be at
war?
There are those who feel urgency in dissolving social barriers and
lowering psychological walls which keep people apart. New
technologies in our cyber-age need no longer be burdened with those
fighting to dominate others with their beliefs.
Not all individuals who have this general humanist insight and
understanding are drawn to being part of an organization. There are
some humanists who like to be at least occasionally with others who
understand and feel much as they do. Individuals of all social and
cultural proclivities can feel that they are not alone in their
humanist point of view.
Moral inconsistencies and social agonies throughout the world can
usually account for the widespread reatreat to religious
fundamentalism as one extreme, and the narcotic escapism of some of
the creators of New Age structures as another. Traditional mainstream
religions do not accomodate current knowledge, belief, and emotional
needs.
Humanism brings together the subjective and the objective. It is a
philosophy which furthers moral values and prepares one to accept
changes. Asserting from all approaches the value of the human
adventure, it provides purpose and meaning to our lives and energizes
our motivation to carry on.
Many thoughtful individuals have made helpful suggestions which
have aided the completion of this book. Without the inspiration of
Alfred Smith and the conscientious attention of Frederick Edwords,
Karen Hart, and Mira Poudrier, this book would have remained
unfinished.
Many other persons have, in one way or another, stimulated our
thinking. Ideas which blossomed in the works of Oliver Reiser, Edward
Ericson, Brock Chisholm, Porter Sargent, Warren Allen Smith, Abraham
Maslow, Alfred Korzybski, Bertrand Russell, and Cora L. Williams are
often in our minds.
Of course, there were innovators who have developed slants and
programs which influenced our attitudes at significant times. Among
these were Garrett Hardin, John Kessler, Lyle Simpson, Pat Maginnis,
Edna Ruth Johnson, Roy Fairfield, Gerald Larue, David Loye, Arthur
Jackson, Fran Hosken, and Stephen Mumford.
There are the adventuresome innovators with unique and often
glorious humanistic ideas, some of which are yet to come into their
own. Here we are indebted to Joseph Ben-David, Frank Mortyn, LeRue
Grimm, Roger Williams, Pearl Ross, Norman Fleischman, and James
Prescott.
We have been fortunate over the years in being able to share our
outlooks with friends. More than that, we have often been able to
bask in the aura of their warm common sense. There were Cyrus Eaton
and Fracis Dewing, and more recently Ward and Barbara Tabler, Ernest
Morgan, Herbert Tonne, James Hornback, and Lester Mondale.
Friends, thinkers, glorious innovators, and creative insightful
movers have all played some role in this endeavor to give this
overview of the past and present of humanism in the United
States.
