The Humanist Alternative


Book Description

The contributors to this volume were asked the following questions: The term "Humanism" is widely used, as are the terms "ethical" Humanism, "scientific" Humanism and "religious" Humanism. What is Humanism? Can you define it? If there is in your judgment no clear definition in the literature, you may wish to propose one. You may also wish to focus on the relationship of Humanism to atheism, science, its ethical position, or some other theme. Those who have contributed represent a wide spectrum of Humanist opinion in the world today. They are primarily philosophers, psychologists, social scientists, ethical and religious leaders. Among the themes they discuss are historic roots of Humanism, the general problem of definition, the relationship of Humanism to ethics and morality, Humanism and religion, Humanism and atheism and Humanism on the world scene. Most of the varieties of Humanism are represented, including naturalistic Humanism, liberal Humanism, atheistic Humanism, humanistic psychology, behaviourism, Marxism, and Zen. If there is a common thread running throughout this volume, it is the conviction that Humanism is committed to the method of reason as the chief means of solving problems and the belief that mankind can survive and humans can enjoy a significant life. This conviction and this belief, however, can be realized only if men continue to have confidence in their own natural powers and abilities and the courage to use them.




Humanistic Psychology


Book Description

Elkins, a long-time leading voice in humanistic psychology, presents a compelling case about what is wrong with contemporary psychotherapy and how, through a re-envisioned humanistic psychology, it needs to change.







The Good Book


Book Description

Few, if any, thinkers and writers today would have the imagination, the breadth of knowledge, the literary skill, and-yes-the audacity to conceive of a powerful, secular alternative to the Bible. But that is exactly what A.C. Grayling has done by creating a non-religious Bible, drawn from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both Western and Eastern traditions, using the same techniques of editing, redaction, and adaptation that produced the holy books of the Judaeo-Christian and Islamic religions. The Good Book consciously takes its design and presentation from the Bible, in its beauty of language and arrangement into short chapters and verses for ease of reading and quotability, offering to the non-religious seeker all the wisdom, insight, solace, inspiration, and perspective of secular humanist traditions that are older, far richer and more various than Christianity. Organized in 12 main sections----Genesis, Histories, Widsom, The Sages, Parables, Consolations, Lamentations, Proverbs, Songs, Epistles, Acts, and the Good----The Good Book opens with meditations on the origin and progress of the world and human life in it, then devotes attention to the question of how life should be lived, how we relate to one another, and how vicissitudes are to be faced and joys appreciated. Incorporating the writing of Herodotus and Lucretius, Confucius and Mencius, Seneca and Cicero, Montaigne, Bacon, and so many others, The Good Book will fulfill its audacious purpose in every way.




Lovism


Book Description

What really happened in Me Too? The Gender Church, The Trauma Culture, The Feminized Macho, are only a few of the terms revealed in Lovism. The millions of women who wanted to be treated as equals but could not relate to the aggressiveness and self-victimization of present-day feminism, could find in Lovism the word they were looking for to express their feelings and views without compromising their aspirations; gents who felt left out of a world created by radical feminism could finally join the women they love by saying with them "I am a Lovist". If you want to find love and to give love while all you see around you is anger, blaming, hate and fear, and wish that men and women could just talk to each other, and be with each other, because you long for one another, then you are not alone, and have many friends among the readers of this book. Lovism is a mutual conversation of, and for, both sexes, to replace the current hostility and competitive antagonism that extremists of both sexes have created between men and women. Feminism has implemented early on a separatist agenda and acted without including men, while drifting further and further away from the wishes and dreams of ordinary women, by adopting unfounded and rigid perspectives. In the process, ordinary men have become excluded from all discussions about the relations between the sexes, and male groups - while bringing to light some male issues - imitated the feminist separatism, fostering a similar reclusive attitude. All along, what most women and men were looking for was not a conflict, but a shared, mutual discussion, for both men and women, in which they could help each other to be happy together, and not through intimidation and fear but through understanding, sympathy and empathy. This is what Lovism is for. It is a movement of love. The book is critical of contemporary feminism and of its assumptions, which amount to imposing norms and demands that neither women nor men consider relevant to their relations, and which ultimately transforms feminism into a dictating party. Much of the book is devoted to replacing misconceptions with well-founded insights and beliefs about the sexes, without which no perspective could attend to people's actual emotions and dreams. Henry Blair is a novelist and a poet. Based on his experiences in the ideological left as a human rights worker and activist, he reveals how feminism has adopted views that contradict humanism and equality, similarly to the right-wing extremism. He portrays a new conversation, which is mutual and shared by both men and women, and is based on love and not on fear. He and his wife are the parents of a four-year-old boy; he has a master's degree in Neuroscience, a bachelor's degree in Psychology, and has a background in Philosophy, all become relevant in this book. While his books won several awards, Lovism appears under the alias Henry Blair.







Humanism


Book Description

Life does not become empty and meaningless in a godless universe. This is the contention at the heart of humanism, the philosophy concerned with making sense of the world through reason, experience and shared human values. In this thought-provoking introduction, Peter Cave explores the humanist approach to religious belief, ethics and politics, and addresses key criticisms. Revised and updated to confront today’s great crises – the climate emergency and global pandemics – and the future of humanism in the face of rapid technological advancement, this is for anyone wishing to better understand what it means to be human in the twenty-first century.




Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology


Book Description

An overview of the historical background for humanistic psychology, the central passions and goals of the founders, and the vital legacy which humanistic psychology brings to psychology and human life for the 21st century.




Good Without God


Book Description

An inspiring and provocative exploration of an alternative to traditional religion Questions about the role of God and religion in today's world have never been more relevant or felt more powerfully. Many of us are searching for a place where we can find not only facts and scientific reason but also hope and moral courage. For some, answers are found in the divine. For others, including the New Atheists, religion is an "enemy." But in Good Without God, Greg Epstein presents another, more balanced and inclusive response: Humanism. He highlights humanity's potential for goodness and the ways in which Humanists lead lives of purpose and compassion. Humanism can offer the sense of community we want and often need in good times and bad—and it teaches us that we can lead good and moral lives without the supernatural, without higher powers . . . without God.




Humanist Manifesto 2000


Book Description

Drafted with the help of a 12-person committee, this manifesto promotes a humanistic ethics based on reason and a planetary bill of rights and responsibilities. It proposes a new global agenda, stresses the need for international institutions, and concludes on a note of optimism about the human prospect.