How would life in Utah change if humanism was the dominant cultural influence? Give this question some serious thought then share your conclusions with chapter members and others who read our journal. Your humanist aspirations for a better society may be summarized in a few sentences, a paragraph, or a lengthy article. Put your thoughts together and submit them. Your contribution will appear below and perhaps in a future brochure.

If we are serious about humanism changing society we need to clearly state our goals and aspirations. We need to know what we stand for and let others know what we want to happen in politics, education, science, and society. I hope everyone will contribute some ideas and stimulate an exciting discussion.

Humanists of Utah reserves the exclusive right to determine which submissions will be published and the right to edit all submissions for length and/or content.

This question could evoke a huge response, possibly even a book. It is quite easy to think of a number of ways that life would change.

Most obviously would be the general change from a conservative culture to a liberal one. I doubt that there are more than a few, if any of our chapter members that consider themselves conservative or Republican. Even if there are a few, they most likely are not of the far right wing type or neo-con or religious conservative.

If indeed we were the dominant influence that would mean that we could put into practice some of the affirmations we now struggle to even make known to the public. But, putting our affirmations into action would also be problematic, because while we would be the dominant force, all the religious and conservative people probably wouldn't just disappear. They would likely be even more of a pain in the butt to us, than we currently are to them.

--Bob Lane

I believe that public education will always be debated. However, if humanists were in control, the subject matter would almost certainly change drastically. The issues of class size and teaching of science in science classes would be moot. Probably the concern would be how to extend public education beyond 12 years. Should there be a multi-directional system where some students are sent to academic institutions and others to skilled trade training? How do we decide which students will go which direction? If plumber can be adequately trained in 18 months, is it equitable to subsidize six years of schooling for an electrical engineer?

Tough questions, but in my opinion, worth the asking!

--Wayne Wilson

• Instead of the Ten Commandments, let's put up "Love, not Hate."
• No person goes to bed hungry
• Healthcare for everyone
• Fair wages for educators
• Mandatory classes in critical thinking and diverse belief systems in schools

--Sarah Smith

Flo Wineriter asks us to imagine how life would change in Utah if humanism were the dominant cultural influence. This is an intriguing exercise.

First, I'd find out whether I'm just a natural rebel against any dominant culture, although I do believe I'd fit comfortably in the larger humanist society and not, as today, just among selected friends and organizations.

Second, it's a little like imagining a science fiction world because so much could change. On the other hand, little might in fact change because we would remain human beings with our differing personalities and psychologies, strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears, drives and passions, talents and interests, education and ignorance, ethnicities and orientations, spiritualities and this worldliness, and so forth. And so there would still be a healthy pluralism.

The key change, I believe, is that in a humanist culture, we'd be more pragmatic, making public policy decisions based on the evidence rather than ideology. This would have consequences. For example, in our criminal justice system we'd probably put more emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation than punishment, and help more drug users rather than incarcerate them. We'd probably adopt a more vigorous pre-school and early school program so that our older public school students would be better prepared to learn more history, civics, science, and the humanities. And our morality would embrace the whole of ethics and not be so preoccupied with sexual and reproductive issues. It would include broader matters like protecting the environment and the beauty around us, and securing the future for our children and grandchildren.

I address changes only in Utah and not in the nation, where there would be more extensive changes deriving from this same respect for evidence and science. But just imagine, a secular humanist winning a seat in the Utah legislature! Pure science fiction.

--Earl Wunderli

If the AHA is ever going to acquire enough influence to change society in positive ways it needs to give serious thought to the implications contained in the humanism definition. Any casual reader would, correctly, conclude that, boiled down to the core, humanists believe that humans are a product of nature and nothing more.

Without doubt humans are a product of a large evolutionary past, having brains that evolved from a simple brain stem to eventually include a more complex Limbic System and continuing on to the grand human finality Neo Cortex.

In my opinion if humanists want to participate in the creation of a better society they need to confront head on which of these brain systems influence human social behavior most profoundly. Once identified, it then makes sense to direct the greater part of resources toward gaining an understanding of the basic needs and properties associated with that system. Then a plan of action should be made addressing how best those needs can be fulfilled while at the same time teaching the values associated with leading the "rational" independent life humanists affirm.

I suggest the Limbic System, with its emotional supernatural feel good tendencies and fear of any ultimate mortality, cannot be ignored, as humanists have essentially done in the past. Perhaps that system influences as much as 90% of who we are as humans. I see humans as an enigma. Are they stupid or highly intelligent, or can they even be thought of in such simple terms? With 10% of their brainpower they have, almost fully explained the workings of the universe around them and with the other 90% they have managed to take the world back to a 10th century kind of war. They do this and still insist on calling themselves moral creatures. Certainly the puzzle must be solved while helping them recognize and confront their tribal past.

Christians recognize those 90% needs and then, of course, derail human independent possibilities with their "theological or ideological abstractions" creating totally dependent people.

The humanist challenge then, is how to bridle the great power sincere emotions produce and direct it towards accomplishing a compassionate, empathetically driven human good while at the same time preserving the absolutely necessary sense of individual purposefulness, self-fulfillment, and worth.

I realize I have identified only personal views regarding where humanist need to re-direct their energies and have offered no plan as to how to accomplish any changes. As to Florien's "What If?" question and my "aspirations" on how life in Utah would change if humanism were the dominant influence I can only speculate using self introspection and what I believe are genuine humanistic goals as source. Meanwhile, for humanists to have any chance of participating significantly in the creation of a more ideal society I believe they need to broaden their perspectives as I have suggested.

Had I known, in my youth, what I have learned only after years of observation (probably a common feeling shared by many humanists) and if indeed humanism can be made successfully attractive to the young people with all of their enthusiastic energies I believe an enlightened and universally moral culture could indeed become a reality.

--Grant Simons

Here is my submission in our quest to discover what life might be like if humanists were in the majority:

• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
• NO WAR
• NO Starvation
• NO Corporations defined as "Persons"
• Universal Education through college
• Universal Health Care
• Real Stewardship of our home (planet) and all its inhabitants

--Bob Mayhew