Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Is there religion? Or just humanism?

Humanism is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities — particularly rationality. It is a component of a variety of more specific philosophical systems and is incorporated into several religious schools of thought. Humanism entails a commitment to the search for truth and morality through human means in support of human interests. In focusing on the capacity for self-determination, humanism rejects the validity of transcendental justifications, such as a dependence on belief without reason, the supernatural, or texts of allegedly divine origin. Humanists endorse universal morality based on the commonality of the human condition, suggesting that solutions to human social and cultural problems cannot be parochial. (Courtesy of Wikipedia - yes, Wikipedia).

Thats a mouthful, but is it very far from what really all religions are preaching? Look at what is said in Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity - many ideals are extremely similar: spiritual equality, help the poor, etc. Are these religious ideals or human ideals? I think of the spread of all. Syncretism was involved in all of these processes, with the religions adapting to local customs and traditional beliefs.

As per the "Is God in our Genes" article, there seems to be something innately human about spirituality, even if it is not manifeted in the form of relgion. Maybe all religions are just the manifestation of a universal human spirituality?!