The life of the humanist is not devoid, because of his naturalistic philosophy, of moral and spiritual value. Like those who believe in God, he loves his wife and cherishes the fondest hopes for his children; he is concerned for the well being of his fellow men; like them, in his heroic moment he will give his life for another, he gazes upon the same art as they, communes with the same nature, his spirit uplifted by the same music, his will steeled by the same high resolve, his life shattered by the same tragedies. Atheism does not make the humanist morally bad; it cultivates in him the cosmic loneliness of those who believe that their only companions in life and death are their fellow man and the mute world that has unknowingly cast them up, and will unknowingly reclaim them.

The strength of the humanistic religion is its supreme commitment to reason, its faith in man's creative intelligence, faith that he has the power to discern, articulate, and solve his problems. The humanist is confident that under the guidance of good will the patient process of scientific thought may eventually win through for the amelioration of society and the achievement of human happiness. Nowhere is there greater confidence in education, in man's power to affect his won character or to determine the course of history. Humanism denies that there are uniquely religious experiences and refuses to distinguish between the sacred and the secular. It declares instead that religion embraces every worth-while human attitude and activity, and it grounds its moral ideals in the living experience in the individual and society. Man is the primary object of its interest and devotion. Its instruments are science and democracy, and its goal is the good life.

--Sterling M. McMurrin, PhD