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Foreword by Sir Hermann Bondi
Foreword by Paul Kurtz
Preface and Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 What is Humanism?
The complexities of the term “Humanism”
A working definition
The history of the humanist tradition
The Renaissance
The Enlightenment
Humanism today
The modern Humanist movement
Freethinkers
Ethical societies
The British and American Humanist associations
Literature
Humanist organizations
Is Humanism a religion?
2 The Human Being
The Christian view of the human being
The value of life
Death
The existential life-condition
Humanity
Human potential
The nature of the self
Spirituality
Individuality
3 The Case against Religion: The Rejection of God
Atheism
Agnosticism
Pascal’s Wager
Theism and deism
The Bible
God
Theodicy
Free will
Can it be proved that God exists?
Cosmological arguments for the existence of God
The arguments to design
The ontological argument
Rejection of an afterlife
4 The Case against Religion: The Rejection of Faith
What is religion?
Why do humans need religion?
Adverse effects of religion
Belief
Faith
The Christian faith
The problematic gospels
The Jesus legend
Paul of Tarsus
The charismatic phenomenon
5 Society
Modern society
Freedom
Equality
Is the concept of equality rational?
Equality of the sexes
Education
The Humanist society
The “Good Life”: the Humanist vision for all individuals
6 Morality
Ethics
The nature of morality
Good
Values
Morality as an evolutionary process
Religious morality
A universal ethic?
Humanist ethics
Moral autonomy
7 Rationalism and Reason
Intelligent living
Rationalism and reason
Rationalism
Reason
Reason versus faith
Science
Pseudo-science and the paranormal
8 Some Life and Death Issues
Genetics
Birth
Death
Abortion
Euthanasia
The Humanist response
9 Rites and Ceremonies
Birth
Initiation
Marriage
Death
Notes
Bibliography
Index |
“The best source book
on humanism that is currently available. It is especially
valuable because Dr Fowler not only deals with the theory
of humanism, but its practical applications. She demonstrates
how humanists deal with moral questions – such as equality
of the sexes, education, abortion, euthanasia, genetics, etc.
She also points out that humanists celebrate the rites of
passage – all contributing to shared experiences within
communities. I am glad to recommend this unique and comprehensive
work.” Paul Kurtz, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
at the State University of New York at Buffalo
“A sympathetic, comprehensive statement
of humanism, exploring both its philosophical basis and its
practical application living one’s life.” Humanity,
British Humanist Association
“It is a pleasure to recommend
this book to the reader. Humanism is important in our day
but has lacked a recent thorough and scholarly, yet readable
text describing it and entering into its spirit.” Sir
Hermann Bondi
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