Humanist Thought of the Week

Thinking for Yourself

Humanism has no dogma. We aren’t interested in telling people what to believe. All we are concerned about is that you learn how to think for yourself. Why? Because being a good person requires you to be flexible. In order to navigate your way successfully through the world, you can’t just learn a bunch of rote rules of behavior. You have to learn to think for yourself. You have to think about what your values are and what you care about. You have to think about what sort of person you want to be. So that when the time comes and you are presented with a moral quandary, you will be prepared. Only by thinking for yourself can you solve your problems in a way that benefits not only you, but the people around you as well.

Coping with Fear

Remember the old Roosevelt quote, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Well, it’s true.  And I think this is why people turn to supernatural solutions. They are afraid that they can’t handle whatever is happening to them on their own. Turning to the supernatural is a way to reduce your stress by pretending you are in control. In other words, it’s a way of hiding from reality. The problem is, reality doesn’t go away when you stop believing in it. You can’t solve your problems by hiding from them. So be brave. It turns out that when you face your fears, things are rarely as bad as you had imagined them to be. And even if they are, embracing reality helps you cope way more effectively then hiding in fear does.

Without Supernaturalism

Humanism isn’t just about positive ethics. It’s also about rejecting the supernatural. Why? Well, for one thing, embracing reality makes problem solving easier. For another, embracing the reality of who we are and how we actually fit into the universe is way more awe inspiring then any myth ever created. We Humanists have a hard time understanding why some people choose to hinder themselves with non-reality. Especially when embracing reality is so much more effective and fun.

Freedom of Belief

Yesterday, obviously, was the 4th of July. As an American Humanist, I love this holiday. It gives me an opportunity to consider the freedoms our country is founded upon. Obviously, freedom of belief is a biggie. To me, as a non-believer, it means that I am free to not believe without risking a death sentence for my heresy. And, that’s kind of a big deal. It’s amazing to realize that the death penalty was only abolished for Atheism about 200 years ago. And now, for most people, it’s really no big deal. We’ve come a long way baby! Happy Freedom Day!

Relax

Happiness is a bit of a paradox. The more you seek it, the less of it you tend to have. How do you know when you are truly happy? And are you happy enough? If you find yourself asking these questions, you’re trying too hard. The correct answer to: are you happy enough, is yes. Yes you are. All happiness is, according to Epicurus, is the absence of pain and a calm and contented mind. So the next time you get stressed about whether or not you are happy. Relax and stop worrying about that. Work on minimizing suffering, calming your mind and appreciating what is good in life and happiness will follow. Link to Epicurus recipe for Happiness - http://humanisthappiness.blogspot.com/2011/06/ive-been-re-reading-some-reflections-on.html