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Humanist Feelings
GIVE US SOME CREDIT
Re: Roger Scruton's The
New Humanism:
Flattered as I am that Roger Scruton mentioned New Humanist, the magazine I edit, in his piece on the New Humanism -- any publicity... --- I feel I should correct his misapprehension regarding the new humanist movement he claims to describe. He describes New Humanist as being part of a novel, self-conscious movement -- analogous to Blair's New Labour -- with our own 'sages' and campaigns and a perspective on humanism which diverges from the worthy 'old' humanism of his own parents. Perhaps it would be good if this were the case, if we were a movement as new, unified and well organised as Scruton implies, but it is not. The fact is New Humanist is a journal that has been published continually, in one form or another, for 120 years. It started life as Watt's Literary Guide -- a catalogue of the secular books published by one free-thinking Fleet Street publisher, and then morphed into Watt's Literary Guide and Rational Review, the in mid 20th century it was renamed The Humanist, and in the sixties the 'new' was added. Though I might flatter myself that in recent years we have achieved a degree of prominence which might lead some to think that we really are new on the scene we were actually around before Roger's folks discovered their humanism. What is new is the re-emergence of particularly virulent forms of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in recent years -- from creationism retooled as Intelligent Design, to Jihadi violence, to state-enforced religious intolerance from Iran to Nigeria and Russia -- which has convinced secularists that we need to have a stronger voice in the public sphere, and diversify our tactics somewhat so as to meet the challenge laid down by so many shrill dogmatists. That Scruton has mistaken this vigorous response for a new movement is, I suppose, a measure of our success. But lumping the various organisations and many different people speaking up for secularism and the humanist world view has some clear disadvantages too.
Scruton uses the example of one particular ad campaign on a bus,
to paint us all as trivial hedonists who are uninterested in "man
as an ideal," faith, hope, charity, belief or how to improve the
world. He is absolutely right that we can be light-hearted (the
bus campaign was successful precisely because the message was so
simple and uplifting) and scathing -- our God Trumps parody card
game mines religious beliefs for laughs -- but we also devote a
lot of space in New Humanist to serious critical
analysis of ideas (those of our 'sages' like Richard Dawkins as
well as of believers), exploration of scientific and artistic
endeavour, and discussions of what makes a sound secular basis
for moral judgements and the good life (Our wide range of
contributors include many of the world's leading thinkers on
these subjects like Stephen Lukes, Amartya Sen, Paul Heelas, AC
Grayling and Conor Gearty). During my tenure as editor I have
published articles on all these issues as well as appreciations
of, for example, Goethe, Mozart, Francis Bacon as well as
photographers, film makers and musicians who cast light on the
human condition provide stirring examples of human achievement.
In addition to supporting this wide-ranging human-centred content
readers of New Humanist have recently raised over
£25,000 to support a secular school in rural Uganda -- proving, I
would argue, that we are not the hedonist, nihilists Scruton
paints us. It is true that we are all wary of dogma, that it is
harder for us to articulate what we collectively believe in than
what we are not prepared to believe (we are after all advocates
of free thinking), but trying to define that difficult bit -- the
shared values that underpin our common inheritance and destiny --
is part of the fun, and what New Humanist seeks in its
small way to do.
-- Caspar Melville
Editor, New Humanist magazine
London, United Kingdom
Roger Scruton says:
"Like so many modern ideologies, the new humanism seeks to define itself through what it is against rather than what it is for. It is for nothing, or at any rate for nothing in particular."
The new humanism "seems to have no consciousness of what is clearly announced between the lines of the text [on the atheist buses], namely that there are no ideals higher than pleasure."
He adds that the BHA's "publications imply that there is only one thing that stands between man and his happiness, and that is the belief in God."
Bit of "straw man" going on here? I know many humanists but I am not sure I know of any that believe (i) "there are no ideals higher than pleasure" and (ii) "only one thing stands between man and his happiness, and that is the belief in God." I don't believe either.
Surely the message "clearly announced" by the bus posters is not that there is "no higher ideal than pleasure," but rather: "Don't allow, as so many do, belief in God and his divine plan to blight your life (through endless recriminations about your sexuality, about a "woman's role," etc.). Contrary to what most religions tell you, this is the only life you have -- so make the most of it!"
Scruton is, of course, a gifted philosopher well-versed in the careful reading of texts and weighing of evidence. It's odd he should be so sloppy here. I'd ask him: where is his evidence that BHA texts commonly "imply" (ii), and does he really believe the atheist bus posters "clearly announce" that there is "no ideal higher than pleasure"?
I guess one moral we should extract from this piece is -- we
humanists need to be extremely careful how we phrase things. If
there's the even slightest chance a comment could be interpreted
as promoting unbridled hedonism, etc., you can be sure that's
exactly how it will be interpreted.
-- Stephen Law
Provost, Centre for Inquiry, United Kingdom
Member of the BHA's humanist philosophers group
ENJOY TRADING WITH CHINA WHILE IT LASTS
Re: Peter Ferrara's
When Is the Economic Recovery Due?
There is yet another wildcard to consider when trying predicting when the economy will recover: the foreign affairs factor. With the stumbling and reversion to accommodation of our adversaries by the current administration can we eliminate the real possibility of:
1) War between Isreal and Iran or Hezbollah or Hamas?
2) The real possibility of renewed worldwide (including the U.S.) terror attacks by various resurgent terror groups?
Comments
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Appleby| 3.12.09 @ 9:13AM
Our buses and trains here in Kanukistan carry the message "There PROBABLY is no god, so relax and enjoy yourself."
Yesterday I stood beneath this sign (the seats all being occupied by "special" young men playing with their binkies) praying my Rosary, as I do every day on the train because the trip is just the right length. An elderly woman nearby watched me for a while and then reached slowly into her purse, extracted her own Rosary, and she too began to pray.
So those signs have a use, after all. They inspire those of us who declare without hesitation, "There DEFINITELY IS a God. So relax and enjoy your life."
P.S. I find that most self-proclaimed atheists and agnostics are much like the average willful two-year-old who, enmeshed helplessly in her sweater, can be heard in a muffled scream, 'Let me do it myself!" God is always willing to let you do it yourself until like that two-year-old you are so tangled up that all you can do is yell. Then He comes and straightens you out and your head can come through into the light.
Trotter| 3.12.09 @ 9:22AM
"the re-emergence of particularly virulent forms of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in recent years -- from creationism retooled as Intelligent Design, to Jihadi violence, to state-enforced religious intolerance from Iran to Nigeria and Russia"
I must admit that I had to read that passage a few times to let it sink in. But, I'm still left stunned that Melville has equated creationism as essentially the same thing as Jihadi violence.
Naivete is one thing, but abject stupidity is another. Combining the two is frightening.
Leo| 3.12.09 @ 11:31AM
"There probably is no God," seems so lame. Whatever happened to "God is dead," or "there is no God." These were phrases often seen and heard in the sixtees.
ruth| 3.12.09 @ 3:24PM
New Humanism = nihilism; nothingness. They're so weak they can't even assert that God is dead. As my momma used to say, "They are ripe for the pickin'." Sharia Law will give them the structure they need.
IMKessel| 3.12.09 @ 5:19PM
The world lost a great man with his death. I was honored to call him friend.
I want to share with the faithful.
http://www.usao.edu/news/releases.php?id=165
http://www.yale.edu/divinity/news/090218_news_abelson.shtml
http://www.legacy.com/Omaha/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=124282777
Roy Saich| 3.13.09 @ 6:33AM
Roger Scruton I am sure knows better than to equate the Humanist ethical tradition with nothing other than pleaseure and he lets himself down by pretending otherwise.
Members of the general public can find out about the scope of Humanism by visiting the web site
www.humanists.110mb.com
nullifidian| 3.13.09 @ 10:16AM
@Leo, @Ruth:
What you don't seem to understand is that it's intellectually honest to posit "there's probably no god(s)", because there's no evidence of them.
Notwithstanding any expected claims of "intellectual elitism" (since when was thinking considered a bad thing?), at least it's honest. Can the same be said of theistic claims? More often than not: no.
Those that claim certitude that gods exist should provide evidence, and if they can't they then they shouldn't be surprised when people express sincere (and extreme) doubt.
ruth| 3.15.09 @ 12:11AM
I'm a bettin' girl and I figure the probability of God's existence is 50/50. So, someday, when I depart this Earthly Coil, the fact that I've lived a God fearing, faithful life means I win either way!
ruth| 3.15.09 @ 12:18AM
Nullifidian, no one is expressing surprise at your exteme doubt; in fact, we pity you. It's not my responsibility to provide evidence of God's existence; it's something I know in my heart, and it's called faith. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn what you believe or disbelieve, but God bless you anyway.
Konradius| 3.23.09 @ 6:27PM
Ruth, let me answer your pascal's wager:
If there's a 50/50 chance of god's existence*, then you have a 1/20000 chance of having the right religion. A maximum of 1 of the 10000 religions is right after all.
It seems that the bus slogan was especially true for you. There is no need to fear god (you labeled yourself god fearing). Simply keep your morals that you have towards people, and forget the useless rules towards your invisible 'friend'.
*50/50 is far too high a chance. I'd assign a 1/1000000 chance to a deistic god at best
John| 4.3.09 @ 10:33AM
Episode 27 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Jennifer Michael Hecht, author of Doubt: A History: The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson and The Happiness Myth.
http://docartemis.com/blog/2009/03/28/podcast27-hecht/
WARNING: This e-mail is a suspected phishing scam.
Jennifer Michael Hecht: Doubt (Hampshire College 2007)
Hampshire College Science & Religion Lecture Series: Jennifer Michael Hecht - "Doubt - Where you'd least expect it". October 25, 2007)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=96457410329702788&ei=ZWbTSazjPI2grwLWioSCBQ&q=jennifer+michael+hecht
John| 4.15.09 @ 11:00AM
"A History of Doubt," with historian and poet Jennifer Michael Hecht. We'll look at the contribution of skeptics, cynics, and others who've followed the human impulse to challenge what is given and to doubt. Hecht has explored a rich tradition of doubt across the ages, as graceful life philosophies and even as a driving force in religious reform.
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2009/doubt/transcript.shtml
Jairo Mejia| 7.22.09 @ 4:52PM
Unbelievers are right in most of their thinking
You might be one of those who are abandoning Christianity; one for whom religious beliefs are not just irrelevant, but baseless. You might be right, at least to some extent. Some traditional beliefs are not true, and the “God” of main line traditions simply does not exist. Most people don’t dare to confront their religious beliefs, and opt for the status quo, afraid of abandoning the “certainty” of their convictions. Most have become marginalized from the institutional Church, and try to find an environment in which they may fill a vacuum in their lives.
An illuminating book gives hope to you! The author accepted the challenge of finding the One who is recognized, even by Gnostics and atheists—the Existence. “Christianity Reformed From its Roots – A Life Centered in God” is perhaps a generation ahead of the current mentality, but you might find that there is something for you, too!
Bishop John Shelby Spong says of this book that it “rightly points out that those who seek to defend Christianity’s past are also killing Christianity’s future.” I am attaching two reviews of the book by eminent philosophers and thinkers that might give you an idea if this book is an insightful reading for you. You might look also at excerpts of the book at this link of Amazon.com.
Jairo Mejia, M. Psych., Santa Clara University
Author - Retired Episcopal Priest
Carmel Valley, California
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Grudzen.htm
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Churcher.htm
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