Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets
(2)
The problem with ancient religion is that it is ancient. Human morality has advanced considerably since the old rules were 'handed down' two or three thousand years ago (or more!). Humanism is the new modern religion. Humanism includes secularism, plus the more enlightened aspects of ancient religion (of which there are very few). Given this definition, neither Catholicism nor FLDS 'religion' falls within the category, although some few aspects of both religions might. Humanism also includes drug induced mystical experience (both ancient and modern). Humanism includes - and this is perhaps Humanism's most important contribution - the awareness that we humans are affecting our home planet in a negative way, and that it is our sole responsibility to repair the damage we have done. Humanism includes all of science. Humanism recognizes no gods. Humanism is the modern religion, appropriate to modern times. Prove me wrong if you can.
Before leaving this subject I should mention the connections between ancient religion and misogyny. This aspect of ancient religion is obvious in both the pope's visit and the FLDS interviews. In the Catholic case, although a pragmatic appraisal of modern problems with Catholicism would suggest the ordination of females, 'The Church' rejects this obvious solution based on ancient antipathies. In the FLDS case it is clear and obvious that 'male superiority' is a fundamental tenet of that 'faith.'
For more on this general subject, see The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. Highly recommended.
The problem with ancient religion is that it is ancient. Human morality has advanced considerably since the old rules were 'handed down' two or three thousand years ago (or more!). Humanism is the new modern religion. Humanism includes secularism, plus the more enlightened aspects of ancient religion (of which there are very few). Given this definition, neither Catholicism nor FLDS 'religion' falls within the category, although some few aspects of both religions might. Humanism also includes drug induced mystical experience (both ancient and modern). Humanism includes - and this is perhaps Humanism's most important contribution - the awareness that we humans are affecting our home planet in a negative way, and that it is our sole responsibility to repair the damage we have done. Humanism includes all of science. Humanism recognizes no gods. Humanism is the modern religion, appropriate to modern times. Prove me wrong if you can.
Before leaving this subject I should mention the connections between ancient religion and misogyny. This aspect of ancient religion is obvious in both the pope's visit and the FLDS interviews. In the Catholic case, although a pragmatic appraisal of modern problems with Catholicism would suggest the ordination of females, 'The Church' rejects this obvious solution based on ancient antipathies. In the FLDS case it is clear and obvious that 'male superiority' is a fundamental tenet of that 'faith.'
For more on this general subject, see The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. Highly recommended.
