The follow is a summary of a presentation given by University of Utah Professor, Peter C. Appleby, Ph.D., Chairman of the Department of Philosophy, at the April meeting of the Humanists of Utah

Define Religion

What's in a name, and does it make any difference if Humanism is a religion or not? Religion is difficult to define because it is an "open-textured" concept. Everyone knows what it means, but defining it is much like trying to define the word "game." It has many definitions, and is a broad-ranged phenomenon. When we say "religion," most people think of God, or a supernatural being. Humanists eschew the concept. The philosopher, Alfred Whitehead, said "Usually if you have a theology, you believe in a God, ritual, a holy book, revered leaders, sacred objects, a sense of awe, guilt, adoration, and a moral code sanctioned by deity. These are the central features of religion.

It is recognized that religion does not require a belief in God because there are religions which do not, such as Zen Buddhism. However, all do have some of the same features of religion. We can also use the word "religion" metaphorically, such as when we say "he makes a religion out of playing golf." Religion, then is that which concerns us most.

The Humanist Manifestos I and II are much like a creed, and are clear efforts in that direction. But humanists fear creeds, dogma, and exclusiveness. They feel creeds can become obnoxious because they can and have become absurdities that every one is demanded to submit to, and that the function of a creed is to separate the good guys from the bad guys. This results in mindless intolerance. We can have suggestions of a creed with a shared philosophical perspective which is open to change.

A good thing about the Humanist Manifestos is that they are under constant revision: the feminists are claiming gender bias; there is an "eco-spirituality" which ties human life to all kinds of non-human life; and a "world view" philosophy in which there is a natural order to life, and a belief that we are all made from the same fabric. The latter is a loving perspective where we realize we can't live without our interconnectedness.

Should Humanism become a religion? There are privileges and liabilities in becoming a religion. People have a universal need for a spiritual home where they can express their beliefs and commitment in a community of faith. We all experience "turning points," and need "rites of passage" in our lives, wherein we seem naturally to turn to something like religion. The turning points arise especially during birth, marriage, and death when we tend to look for a representative of a religion for some type of ceremony. Many of us look for a Faith Community during those moments in our lives. In the last Utah Humanist, Arthur Jackson said, "We must have religion because we need social bonding in order to be effective."

The Community of Faith

I see a need for faith in a "temple of humanity," but we cannot invent the liturgy and religious symbols to go with it. These types of things must evolve naturally as a result of the needs of the "community of faith." We just cannot think up a set of symbols and liturgy to use, because it will fail as a result of its artificiality.

The Unitarian Church is a non-dogmatic religious group. Perhaps this is the "community of faith" of humanism. We have no choice but to wait and see. Innovative forms of expression will take root much like Christianity took root. It is a natural growth phenomenon.

There is a need for a community of faith where we can celebrate the rites of passage and life's turning points. People need it most intensely, however, it can be offensive to get unknowingly involved in religious rites. We don't need pious platitudes such as "returning to our Father in Heaven." Maybe the non-dogmatic things can work.

Our social needs are connected to our personal identity. We have spiritual needs that require us to discuss the meaning of life with others, and talk about the things that are of value which transcend us. We need to have faith that somehow or other life means something; that life is worthwhile in and of itself. And the fight for humanism is worth it. Faith enriches our life, here and now. Ordinary folk need to hope that the more decent things that they do really matter, not necessarily eternally, but at least in this life.

Without a community of faith, we run the risk of impoverishment. Spirituality is a dimension of the "soul" which unites our emotional functions, making it possible to appreciate beauty. It also develops our sensitivity to the personal qualities of human beings and helps us gain a sense of the depth of our passage through life. There is no such thing as the "soul," but we are "soulish" and becoming soulish heightens our sensibilities, and means that we can discover what inspire people to think of human beings as having a soul. It is both intellectual and emotional in nature. Human beings are capable of many dimensions. A good deal is known about mysticism, and we have levels of awareness that only some people achieve.

The New Religion

Perhaps a new religion will grow out of humanistic discourses where there will be a new sense of the sacred with rituals that have meaning. There are trade-offs either way, whether humanism becomes a religion or not. One risks the problem of dogmatic exclusivism, where there are "in groups" and "out groups." But there is a spiritual loss in not becoming a religion also, because the spirituality that we find in vibrant religions where the celebrations of great occasions can be very meaningful. (Somehow the Wendover wedding doesn't quite do it.)

I believe it will be a win-win situation for the community if humanism does become a religion. Religious qualities are possible within a secular and materialistic setting. Religious qualities are possible within a secular and materialistic setting. Religion gives us personal identity and values, and it helps us express that which is ultimately important to us. We can have a depth of commitment and have the sacred without the superstitious. We do not want to get caught in a situation where we declare, "Not believing in God is the God I believe in." If we allow ourselves to do this then we are on the same par as creationism.

Becoming a religion can be a serious and dangerous undertaking, as well as a vibrant solution to our spirituality. In essence, we need to do all the things that churches do, but in our own way.

--Nancy Moore