This document discusses humanism and its criticisms of religion. It notes that humanism sees humankind as capable of reaching its potential without religion, stresses individual autonomy, and is linked to modernity. Modernity emphasized evidence, progress, and dismissed religious ethics. The 1933 Humanist Manifesto stated that traditional religions were powerless to solve 20th century problems. Notable humanists included John Dewey, Albert Einstein, and Kurt Vonnegut. Postmodernism reacted against modernism's emphasis on reason and progress, instead stressing experience and uncertainty. Postmodern theology focuses on human weakness and nonsensory religious experiences over doctrines.

1. REL 101 Introduction toREL 101 Introduction to
ReligionReligion
Criticisms of ReligionCriticisms of Religion
HumanismHumanism

2. HumanismHumanism
 Not to be confused with classicalNot to be confused with classical
humanism of the 16humanism of the 16thth
century.century.
 Has a positive outlook on the ability ofHas a positive outlook on the ability of
humankind to reach it’s potentialhumankind to reach it’s potential
independent of traditional religion.independent of traditional religion.
 Stresses the autonomy of the individual.Stresses the autonomy of the individual.
 Movement closely linked to modernity.Movement closely linked to modernity.

3. ModernityModernity
 Marked and defined by an obsession withMarked and defined by an obsession with
evidence.evidence.
 Generally had an optimistic view of theGenerally had an optimistic view of the
progress of humankind.progress of humankind.
 Dismissed religiously based ethics.Dismissed religiously based ethics.

4. Humanist ManifestoHumanist Manifesto
 Signed in 1933Signed in 1933
 Stated that traditional religions had lost their lostStated that traditional religions had lost their lost
their significance and where are powerless totheir significance and where are powerless to
solve the problems of humans living in thesolve the problems of humans living in the
Twentieth Century.Twentieth Century.
 ““Religion consists of those actions, purposes,Religion consists of those actions, purposes,
and experiences which are humanly significant.”and experiences which are humanly significant.”
 ““In the place of the old attitudes involved inIn the place of the old attitudes involved in
worship and prayer the humanist finds hisworship and prayer the humanist finds his
religious emotions expressed in a heightenedreligious emotions expressed in a heightened
sense of personal life and in a cooperative effortsense of personal life and in a cooperative effort
to promote social well-being.”to promote social well-being.”

5. Notable HumanistsNotable Humanists
 John Dewey (1859-1952)John Dewey (1859-1952)
 Influential philosopher andInfluential philosopher and
educator.educator.
 ““[[Religion] has been petrified
into a slavery of thought and
sentiment, as intolerant
superiority on the part of the
few and an intolerable burden
on the part of the many.”
 “Religion has lost itself in cults,
dogmas and myths.” (Human Nature
and Conduct 1922)

6. Late Secular HumanismLate Secular Humanism
 Distanced itself further from religion.Distanced itself further from religion.
 ““Humanism is a progressive philosophy ofHumanism is a progressive philosophy of
life that, without supernaturalism, affirmslife that, without supernaturalism, affirms
our ability and responsibility to lead ethicalour ability and responsibility to lead ethical
lives of personal fulfillment that aspire tolives of personal fulfillment that aspire to
the greater good of humanity.”the greater good of humanity.” (Humanist Manifesto(Humanist Manifesto
III)III)

7. Other notable humanistsOther notable humanists
 ISAAC ASIMOV - scientist, author, and pastISAAC ASIMOV - scientist, author, and past
president of the American Humanist Association.president of the American Humanist Association.
 ALBERT EINSTEIN - scientist, NobelALBERT EINSTEIN - scientist, Nobel
prizewinner in physics, originator of the theory ofprizewinner in physics, originator of the theory of
relativity.relativity.
 ALBERT SCHWEITZER – theologian, physician,ALBERT SCHWEITZER – theologian, physician,
Nobel prize winner.Nobel prize winner.
 KURT VONNEGUT - author, lecturer,KURT VONNEGUT - author, lecturer,
philanthropist and former honorary president ofphilanthropist and former honorary president of
the American Humanist Association.the American Humanist Association.

8.  Humanists question whether we needHumanists question whether we need
religion to justify morality.religion to justify morality.
 If we can be “good” without God, thenIf we can be “good” without God, then
talking about God or sacred realitytalking about God or sacred reality
becomes morally superfluous.becomes morally superfluous.
 If religion has no other function thanIf religion has no other function than
shaping our conduct, it can easily beshaping our conduct, it can easily be
replaced by non-religious ethics.replaced by non-religious ethics.

9. Postmodernism and ReligionPostmodernism and Religion
 A reaction against ModernismA reaction against Modernism
 Recall that Modernism stressesRecall that Modernism stresses
 The empiricalThe empirical
 The progress of manThe progress of man
 An optimistic view of the futureAn optimistic view of the future
 The dominance of reason over faithThe dominance of reason over faith

10. PostmodernismPostmodernism
StressesStresses
 the uncertainty of empirical truththe uncertainty of empirical truth
 intuition and experience over reason and knowledgeintuition and experience over reason and knowledge
 a concern for the environment and restorationa concern for the environment and restoration
 Postmodernism generally holds that thePostmodernism generally holds that the
continuity of modernity threatens the verycontinuity of modernity threatens the very
survival of life on our planet.survival of life on our planet.
 The biggest criticism of modernity is that certainThe biggest criticism of modernity is that certain
overarching stories (or narratives) are allowed tooverarching stories (or narratives) are allowed to
make a claim to absolute truth, and do somake a claim to absolute truth, and do so
unquestioned.unquestioned.

13. Postmodern theology:Postmodern theology:
 defines religion as the awareness of humandefines religion as the awareness of human
insufficiency which is lived in the admission ofinsufficiency which is lived in the admission of
weakness.weakness.
 is not concerned with doctrines or definitions ofis not concerned with doctrines or definitions of
God and religionGod and religion
 holds that experience is fully real and is aholds that experience is fully real and is a
reliable indicator of sacred realityreliable indicator of sacred reality
 looks to narratives (the story of a religion) tolooks to narratives (the story of a religion) to
discover the meta-narrativediscover the meta-narrative

14.  Postmodern theology is based on thePostmodern theology is based on the
affirmation of nonsensory perception.affirmation of nonsensory perception.
 ““It allows for a dimension or element ofIt allows for a dimension or element of
perceptual experience that is not a product ofperceptual experience that is not a product of
culturally conditioned frameworks and isculturally conditioned frameworks and is
therefore common to us all.” -- (therefore common to us all.” -- (God andGod and
Religion in the Postmodern WorldReligion in the Postmodern World by D.R.by D.R.
Griffen)Griffen)

15.  Postmodern religion tends to considerPostmodern religion tends to consider
religion to be more important thanreligion to be more important than
modernism.modernism.
 The type of religion that it is most interested inThe type of religion that it is most interested in
is of a sacramental or mystical nature.is of a sacramental or mystical nature.