Control
I practice humanism, a daily process of mindful human self-development in an attempt to create love and peace within myself and my environment. I hope to positively effect my environment and the people in it by being honest and compassionate, by being fully human. I am committed to practice. Practice is not tactical. It is not about manipulating or controlling other people or my environment. Practice is largely about self-control.
Contention and conflict come from attempts of two or more parties to control and then possess a common ground. While I think debate and discussion of opposing views within a community are part of the growth and health of any community, I strongly believe that any healthy community is an entity in itself, not be be enslaved by any one member or gang of members. I cannot possess or form a community by myself. I could form and control a gang or an army perhaps. I could procreate and control a nuclear family perhaps. But these are not communities of free minds.
I recently received an email from a national secular organization which urged me to harass the commandant of an army base because he had the temerity to obstruct a festival for free-thinkers on the base. Free-thinkers in the military...novel concept. My reaction was immediate. Why would I bring a philosophy based on individual freedom of thought to an organization which represents the antithesis of freedom of thought and action? Why would I even expect cooperation? Why would I waste my resources in such a pursuit? I would have asked myself, "Am I hoping to undermine the military or convert it to start a secular coup d'etat?" Mao Tse-tung did that, and it didn't work out too well for a lot of human beings.
I believe that humanism begins in the home. If those who are committed to secularism in community would focus on community with all their resources, perhaps militarism would eventually diminish in the society because fewer young men and women would be prone to enlist in the military. What would aid the development of free-thinking more than a decrease in militaristic thinking in the world? Taking secularism to the military is fine, but I would think that a truly scientific skeptic would not be at all surprised when those in charge slam the door to an event which promotes free thought. How about a free-thinkers' festival in the poorest neighborhood in Washington, DC?
I think humanist practice within the secular movement itself can help avoid needless conflict situations with organizations and people who are all about control. By learning to control our own lives individually to the best of our abilities through healthy diet, healthy thought, healthy exercise, we can relinquish our need for trying to control each other. Fear and anger subside. Vision clears. We can see a way in which we can join in community with like minds for the greater good.
Contention and conflict come from attempts of two or more parties to control and then possess a common ground. While I think debate and discussion of opposing views within a community are part of the growth and health of any community, I strongly believe that any healthy community is an entity in itself, not be be enslaved by any one member or gang of members. I cannot possess or form a community by myself. I could form and control a gang or an army perhaps. I could procreate and control a nuclear family perhaps. But these are not communities of free minds.
I recently received an email from a national secular organization which urged me to harass the commandant of an army base because he had the temerity to obstruct a festival for free-thinkers on the base. Free-thinkers in the military...novel concept. My reaction was immediate. Why would I bring a philosophy based on individual freedom of thought to an organization which represents the antithesis of freedom of thought and action? Why would I even expect cooperation? Why would I waste my resources in such a pursuit? I would have asked myself, "Am I hoping to undermine the military or convert it to start a secular coup d'etat?" Mao Tse-tung did that, and it didn't work out too well for a lot of human beings. I believe that humanism begins in the home. If those who are committed to secularism in community would focus on community with all their resources, perhaps militarism would eventually diminish in the society because fewer young men and women would be prone to enlist in the military. What would aid the development of free-thinking more than a decrease in militaristic thinking in the world? Taking secularism to the military is fine, but I would think that a truly scientific skeptic would not be at all surprised when those in charge slam the door to an event which promotes free thought. How about a free-thinkers' festival in the poorest neighborhood in Washington, DC?
I think humanist practice within the secular movement itself can help avoid needless conflict situations with organizations and people who are all about control. By learning to control our own lives individually to the best of our abilities through healthy diet, healthy thought, healthy exercise, we can relinquish our need for trying to control each other. Fear and anger subside. Vision clears. We can see a way in which we can join in community with like minds for the greater good.
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