How do believers of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism feel about Humanism?

Question

Personally I base Humanism on the Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but from a societal point of view.

The Golden Rule exists in all cultures and religions. Given the commonality of that theme, I believe that Humanism provides something the others do not... UNITY.

What is the general feeling about humanists? Do you think they are crackpots, treehuggers, hippies, Satan's concubines? What's your opinion on the nature of Humanism?

Not only in the Bible:
Ancient Greece:
"Do not do unto others what angers you if done to you by others."
--Isocrates (436-338 BCE)

"Refraining from doing what we blame in others." --Thales (quoted in Diogenes Laertius, vol I, page 39)
Bahá'í:
"Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself."
--Baha'u'llah

"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself."
--Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Buddhism:
"A state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?"
--Samyutta Nikaya v. 353

"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."
--Udana-Varga 5:18

"Comparing oneself to others in such terms as Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I, he should neither kill nor cause others to kill."
--Buddhism. Sutta Nipata 705

Answer 1

As a Muslim, I think humanism is a beautiful ideology that places onus on the human race to find goodness within themselves and the people around them.
I don't really believe it's contrary to what is expected of me as a Muslim.
My understanding, however, is that humanists reject the idea of God, or a dependence on God.
In this case, I still don't see the conflict in my eyes, since in Islam we are called upon to do these things, not due to dependence on God, but in humble acceptance of his orders.
There are religious humanists out there, though, usually they come from more liberal religious teachings... but I still don't see it as contrary to what I believe as a Muslim.

Answer 2

Speaking as a Christian, I'm against humanism for one very simple reason: Humanism, at its roots, is based on a focus on SELF, and selfishness is the true root of all evil. Why do people who kill, steal, rape, or harm others do those terrible things? When you get right down to it, they do those things because THEY WANT TO and they believe they have the right to do whatever they want, regardless of how it affects others. The Golden Rule is all fine and dandy, but how many people do you know who consistently put that rule into practice? How many people do you know who are always thinking about the good of the masses and never make decisions based on selfish wants or needs? Maybe Mother Theresa, but she's one case out of billions of people.

Any practice or religion that encourages focus on self is dangerous. The world does not revolve around you, or me, or anyone else. No one lives in a vacuum. Everything we do has the potential to affect others, so we need certain rules in our society to ensure that others don't suffer harm because of our negligence, wrongful act, or wrongful omission. We can't structure our society based on how things would/should be in a perfect world because this world will never be perfect. Our laws and ethical practices as a rule must recognize that there are human beings who cannot or will not control their selfishness and end up purposely harming others as a result.

To answer your question: I have never met a humanist face-to-face, so I can't tell you if they're crackpots, tree-huggers, hippies, or Satan's concubines. Doesn't matter if they are all, any, or none of those things -- God still loves everyone.

Answer 3

I think most humanists have good intentions. If people want to be "tree huggers" thats fine by me if they are also people huggers. Hippies are cool too, I probably would have been on if I was around back then. The Golden Rule is a great rule no matter what faith you follow (even if you don't follow any) I personally believe that everyone needs a Savior and that Savior is Jesus, because no one follows the Golden Rule 100% of the time. Jesus was fond of the Golden Rule too.. so in some senses, you could hug trees and Jesus at the same time ;)

Answer 4

Well, first, the Golden Rule may exist in all cultures and religions, but it is interpreted differently. For example, cannibal tribes. Many do unto others what they attempt to avoid have happen to them. Some cannibalize members of their own tribe as an act of "love." But in any event, there are the exceptions to consider before using the word "all."

Moreover, there are different cultural and/or tribal mores at work in the world, where certain beliefs and practices are instituted in one that many others find objectionable--even abhorrent. Take the clan of peoples (and I'm sorry I forget the name and location, but I haven't sat in an anthropology class in 20 years) where the father takes the daughter's virginity when she begins menstruating. Among this set of people, that is not only okay but the right thing. Imagine if a father in the U.S. had sex with his 12-year-old daughter and claimed that it was okay or right.

My whole point here is that secular humanism is--when you take it to its logical conclusions--a friend of cultural and moral relativism. And when considering relativism--which claims that certain things are okay if they are okay with a big enough group of people who are linked in some way--one must consider the tribes, groups, nations, etc., that seem to be operating on the extreme ends of things. If we are promoting that things are cool so long as people think they're cool, we have to accept some monstrous things as cool--such as cannibalism and stuff that looks a whole lot like incestuous rape.

In any event, humanism provides, at its base, the thought and feeling that people are essentially good. Which appears to me to create the need to fashion an inordinately gigantic set of blinders to wear. Because the evidence from all corners of the globe is that people are not essentially good. And I'm not talking about extremes anymore here. I'm talking about daily, practical stuff. People are at odds nationally, internationally, filially. People resent their children, professors, police officers, fast-food servers, magistrates, blah blah blah.

I don't think that humanists are crackpots, tree huggers, hippies, or Satan's concubines. I think that they are illusionists--embracing the idea that humans are essentially good despite the massive amount of evidence to the contrary. Ignoring the plain, simple, and practical fact that people do not get along.

My opinion on the nature of humanism is that it is impotent. It proposes faith in a creature--the Homo sapiens--that does not merit that faith.

Answer 5

Religion is from God to Human not from Human to God and the best thing for Human is Humanism…
"do unto others as you would have them do unto you" I think this is the truth of religion .. I believe in Humanism and I am Muslim

Answer 6

Hi:

I believe the Golden Rule which you refer to has it's roots in the words of Christ. I do not believe humankind left to themselves will come up with that rule or want to practice it. In the days of Noah man "did what was right in his own eyes" and we read that every thought of his heart was evil continually.

"There is a way which seems right unto a man, the ends thereof are the ways of death". (Prov. 14:12) There are many examples in our world today of man doing what he wants to do and the end result is not harmony and peace. In other words based on the evidence, I do not believe that Humanism has the nature of ...UNITY. Regardless, of our belief, it would appear that we "all come short of the glory of God."

Answer 7

because maximum individuals see Islam as totally a concoction of the thoughts of your so referred to as prophet. there's no longer something "holy" or "of God" about it so a approaches as we are worried. that is the artwork of a guy, era, and not in any respect derived from the words of God. And speaking of your prophet, enable me run this through you. "Allah stated that Muhammad is a prophet by way of the indisputable fact that is what Muhammad stated that Allah stated". Are you attentive to the time period "round reasoning"? Jesus is plenty better than a prophet. he's the obviously, it appears that evidently known Son if God. God stated, "it truly is my Son in whom i'm properly overjoyed". God stated no longer something about some demented hump named Muhammad...who change into nonetheless thousands of years off in the destiny, AFTER Christianity change into favourite. no count number how a lot Muslims attempt to legitimize Islam, they're doomed to fail because it purely isn't something better than the teachings of a murderous, conflict monger pedophile. No Islam, recognize peace & freedom. declare Jesus as your Lord and savior, brother, or you're doomed.

Answer 8

I didn't know there was a word for what I believe, not that I would try to label myself. The concept you are proposing to theists contradicts what they believe. They believe God comes first, not humans. At best, I would say you a get second thought, but not much beyond that. People need ritual and someone to tell them how to live and that there will be a reward for doing right.

Answer 9

Lost faith in humans long ago, rape babies, throw babies in trash bags in dumpsters,look down on every else,war,hate hurt ,you get the idea .I have faith in God only. I pray for mankind,but they
just do not care.America is full of homeless mothers and children hungry ,cold, then a gang comes alone and kills them.

Answer 10

i think most of the jedeo christian reiligions look at humanism as being sort of the worship of mankind instead of god. they see it as though we are giving man the position of god and that offends many of them. i think there is a difference between humanist and humanitarian. in a sense, humanists do deify man, but i dont think it is to the extent that the judeo christians believe.