Delusions

A recent conversation with a friend brought to my mind a very basic belief I hold about humanism. I do not usually think of it, because I assume it. Assuming, as the old saying goes, makes an ass out of you and me.

I believe that humanism is unlike religion in a very fundamental way. A religious person pays homage to the god-of-choice as a form of obeisance or absolution for the results of the original sin of being the less moral or responsible than a human can or should be, depending on the dogmatic base of the religion. This is not humanism at all. This is also why I do not feel that a religious person is prone to be as effective a humanist as a secular person.

Humanism, as I perceive it at its best, is a lifestyle. It is a commitment to a life of working for the actualization of human ideals in the personal and professional aspects of life. This means that a humanist chooses work that actualizes humanist ideals. It does not mean that a person who does work that supports injustice, avarice or brutality can be called a humanist. For a person to believe he/she is a humanist while selling people bogus mortgages or enlightenment is delusional.

The delusions promoted by religion are largely responsible for the sad state of humanity. Hasidim diamond dealers, who consider themselves the most pious of Jews, profit from human misery and live off economic injustice. Pious Saudi Muslims live hedonistic lives while poisoning the planet with petroleum for great profits. The Catholic Church promotes socialism in Third World nations to gather in malleable supporters, but hoards great wealth in Rome. Pious Tibetan monks supported a theocracy for centuries which maintained an aristocratic social structure supported by impoverished peasants. Fundamentalist Christian ministers in the U.S. have been shown to be the most outrageous frauds while promoting a gospel of materialism, sexism and homophobia.

A humanist, by definition, is committed to progressive change to improve the universal human condition. Therefore, it is impossible to be either a Republican or a Democrat in the U.S. and to then consider myself a practicing humanist. It would be impossible for me to support exorbitantly over- funded sports teams, a jock elite, and to then consider myself a practicing humanist. It would be impossible for me to support awards to celebrity humanists who subscribe to the status quo in order to support extravagant lifestyles. I think it would be delusional for me to consider myself a humanist if I behaved in these ways.

I am suspicious of any organization that calls itself Humanist if it mimics the behaviors of religion or business. Despite the new non-profit industry's provenance among the wealthy, who benefit financially from tax-deductible giving, I know that many non-profits are primarily businesses to support comfortable lifestyles for those who run them. Pink ribbons, red ribbons, yellow ribbons...all are advertising gimmicks which do not translate to improvements on the ground which are commensurate to the money taken in. And, testing of the politics of those who succeed in creating a profitable 'charity' will often yield a conservative result, far from any humanist ideals.

Perhaps it is my delusion that working to raise consciousness and lending a helping hand one person at a time through individual humanist practice is the key to human liberation. I may be delusional to believe that a true humanist practices humanism in as much of his/her life as he/she can. It may be delusional to think that a day trader, a corporate banker or computer whiz who writes algorithms to rip people off  can not possibly be true humanists. They may all be well-meaning human beings. They cannot seriously be considered humanists, in my opinion.

These are times which will require increasingly more difficult choices. The tipping point of overpopulation, the deteriorating planetary environment and a raised consciousness of the poor at their oppression by the status quo will lead to significant challenges to those with education and awareness of their own privilege. I believe that practicing humanism in daily life will be a way to making an impact in these difficult times ahead. Striving daily to be a human being doing my best by other human beings and my planet home brings me peace and happiness. It is also what I consider my practice of humanism.