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From: rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Comments on humanistic faith article
Message-ID: <563@pyuxn.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Apr-84 12:03:06 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxn.563
Posted: Thu Apr 12 12:03:06 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Apr-84 20:27:28 EST
References: <550@uofm-cv.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
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While so much of the article describing the tenets of humanism (quoting from
the Humanist Manifesto) is in accordance with my own beliefs, I still walk
away from reading that article thinking that it smacked of a notion of
equal respulsiveness to me as the notion of deity worship---the notion of
humanity worship.

It sounded too much like 19th century romantic ideals of the glory of man (sic)
and how (hu)mankind can do anything, etc.  We can build giant ships and
buildings, and invent new powerful machines, and create a grand society for
all to live in. (Yippee!!  Praise man!!!)  It's easy to extend this notion
to "if we're so great, something must have made us this way"/"something is
watching over us"/etc.   When, in reality, there's no rationalization for
either idea.

Humans aren't "special" in the sense of superior or better.  Just different.
Those who worship "the glory of man" are sometimes almost repugnant enough to
convince me to turn to religion.  (almost!)  Larry Bickford (I think) once
said that if people choose not to worship god, then they wind up worshipping
themselves.  I contended that Larry was missing another viable option: don't
worship anything; which he contended was an impossibility.  Those who
promote a religion that worships the glory of humankind lend credence to
Larry's position.  Wrongly.  There is a viable neutral ground that declares
"We are here.  Not created deliberately by a deity for a specific purpose.
Not charged with conquering the vastness of the universe for the glory of
the human race.  Not slated for a position of subservience to a god, or
for a throne on the apex of the world.  We're just here.  That's all.  No
purpose, no intent.  We're here.  Let's make the most of it."
-- 
Never ASSUME, because when you ASSUME, you make an ASS out of U and ME...
					Rich Rosen   pyuxn!rlr