Dogma
Yesterday I had an opportunity to sit with some fellow Humanists in a discussion of the Humanist Manifesto. We shared our thoughts and reactions to this weighty, yet very abstract, document, which seeks to define the essence of Humanist ideology, according to the American Humanist Association.
While I admire the idealism of those who are drawn to committee work of the kind that led to the publishing of this document, I feel that these attempts in most movements for the greater good fall short of their objectives. In the most benign cases, they serve as nebulous mission statements for evolving, democratic movements. In the most malignant cases, they solidify into individual-crushing dogma. I believe the former is true of the Humanist Manifesto.
The true test of Humanism's worth will be the efficacy of Humanist communities in their greater communities. The efficacy of Humanist communities, in my opinion will depend of the humanist practice of each humanist in Humanist communities. Again, I differentiate between Humanism, with a capital H, and humanism, with a small h. I do this because I believe each individual humanism is unique and undefinable by the aggregate term, Humanism. The validation and inclusion of all these uniquely humanist practices, in my opinion, is the very strength of Humanism as a movement for social change.
I would like to see Humanism built from the ground up by blossoming and different Humanist communities worldwide. Perhaps this would be more confederation than homogeneous organization. The avoidance of solidifying mission into dogma is not easy, especially in a materialist world where rents, light bills and salaries of organizers need to be paid. Solidifying against "the other" has been the trademark of religion and counter-religious movements, like radical atheist movements. Appealing to a certain innate human xenophobia is an easy method to promote group cohesion. But, it is not a humanist value, as I see it.
I continue individually with this blog and hopefully in practice to promote the ideal of individual humanist practice. The creative act of being mindfully humanist to the best of my ability in the moment is, in my opinion, the most powerful way I can promote the greater good in my life and my environment. When I join with other humanist practitioners, I feel the power of our community in itself. By carefully and lovingly nurturing our communities, I believe, the greater good of Humanism and the world will be well served in time.
While I admire the idealism of those who are drawn to committee work of the kind that led to the publishing of this document, I feel that these attempts in most movements for the greater good fall short of their objectives. In the most benign cases, they serve as nebulous mission statements for evolving, democratic movements. In the most malignant cases, they solidify into individual-crushing dogma. I believe the former is true of the Humanist Manifesto.The true test of Humanism's worth will be the efficacy of Humanist communities in their greater communities. The efficacy of Humanist communities, in my opinion will depend of the humanist practice of each humanist in Humanist communities. Again, I differentiate between Humanism, with a capital H, and humanism, with a small h. I do this because I believe each individual humanism is unique and undefinable by the aggregate term, Humanism. The validation and inclusion of all these uniquely humanist practices, in my opinion, is the very strength of Humanism as a movement for social change.
I would like to see Humanism built from the ground up by blossoming and different Humanist communities worldwide. Perhaps this would be more confederation than homogeneous organization. The avoidance of solidifying mission into dogma is not easy, especially in a materialist world where rents, light bills and salaries of organizers need to be paid. Solidifying against "the other" has been the trademark of religion and counter-religious movements, like radical atheist movements. Appealing to a certain innate human xenophobia is an easy method to promote group cohesion. But, it is not a humanist value, as I see it.
I continue individually with this blog and hopefully in practice to promote the ideal of individual humanist practice. The creative act of being mindfully humanist to the best of my ability in the moment is, in my opinion, the most powerful way I can promote the greater good in my life and my environment. When I join with other humanist practitioners, I feel the power of our community in itself. By carefully and lovingly nurturing our communities, I believe, the greater good of Humanism and the world will be well served in time.
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