Posts by David

An Easter Prayer from a Non-Christian Humanist

Posted on March 30, 2015 by David

An Easter Prayer from a Non-Christian Humanist

Let us hope we can rise from a death

From the Powerful where Might makes Right

To a new life of the Spirit: The Spirit of Peace.

Let us be filled with this Spirit of Peace.

And let us talk in tongues

So that people can understand us.

Let us lift up the downtrodden and fearful,

Heal those whose souls and bodies are afflicted,

And blind the oppressors with our light

Like Saul with his conversion to Paul Read more about An Easter Prayer from a Non-Christian Humanist »

World Peace Promoted Most by Non Religious

Posted on January 6, 2015 by David

In today’s (January 6, 2015) The Guardian, there is an editorial entitled “If Peace On Earth is Our Goal, Atheism Might Be the Means to That End” by Adam Lee.  It is a great article revealing several results of various polls on religious societies and non-religious societies throughout the world.  The comments are sufficient themselves to press their points so I am just going to excerpt quotes from it. Read more about World Peace Promoted Most by Non Religious »

Humanism and the musical “Into the Woods”

Posted on December 28, 2014 by David

A popular movie musical that has just come out is “Into the Woods” with lyrics by Steven Sondheim.  It is always good to see humanistic thoughts and values which are expressed by popular media that is outside the realm of the Humanist community. 

Part of the storyline tells of how a witch has taken a child, Rapunzel, and raised her as her own.  Rapunzel says to the witch who has raised her in isolation in her tower:

“I am no longer a child. I wish to see the world.” Read more about Humanism and the musical “Into the Woods” »

"Let It Go" – A Humanist’s Perspective

Posted on December 21, 2014 by David

I don’t have children and so I only have heard “Let It Go”, from the movie “Frozen”, one time – when I saw the movie when it first came out.  However I have heard that others, especially parents, have heard the song so many times that they are actually sick of it.  I read an article the other day that the producer of the movie actually felt the need to apologize for the success of the song to the point where it has gone far beyond the amount of appreciable saturation by the normal adult. Read more about "Let It Go" – A Humanist’s Perspective »

Science of the Brain - Altruism

Posted on September 22, 2014 by David

The Science of the Brain – the Amygdala

I have written in several blogs here about the amygdala – a part of the brain located in the experiential brain (as opposed to the rational brain in the frontal lobes).  The amygdala is the seat of certain emotions including what we have talked about for years as the “fight or flight” syndrome.  But with scientific tests of functional MRI’s (fMRIs), the amygdala is seen as the seat of many emotions and the function of empathy.  Read more about Science of the Brain - Altruism »

Global Interfaith and the United Nations

Posted on September 14, 2014 by David

I received this post from the UU-UNO (United Nations Organization) which is affiliated with the UUA.  It brings out an important aspect in that often we have large prejudices with the whole concept of religion.  Often generalizations are made that do not include progressive religions nor even mainstream religions.  This also emphasizes my former blog that Secularism is NOT anti-religion.  Secularism is to rid governments of being influenced by religions.  But it is not designed to remove religion from various cultures.  For instance, the Indians in Mexico have Read more about Global Interfaith and the United Nations »

Humanism and Humanitarian Aid via MDGs

Posted on July 11, 2014 by David

As Humanists, we are often quick to point out the need for humanitarian aid.  We should be just as quick to be knowledgeable about the efforts of humanitarian aid.  The United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals are a set of goals set by the UN in the year 2000 and set to expire next year, in 2015.  The progress towards these goals has been phenomenal.  Few people realize that extreme poverty was cut in half by the year 2010 – 5 years ahead of schedule.  Few people are aware of the other goals which have already been reached.  And few people are aware of the Read more about Humanism and Humanitarian Aid via MDGs »

Humanist for Secular Government

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David

Government and Religion doesn't work:

In Iraq

Nor in the United States

Nor anywhere

Why haven't I seen the various Secular organizations pounce on Iraq as an example of how religion and government doesn't work?  Iraq is a perfect, irrefutable example of why it is so necessary to keep religion out of our government here in the US.   Read more about Humanist for Secular Government »

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