Humanism as the Next Step.

Lloyd Morain and Mary Morain. Amherst, New York: Humanist Press, 1998.

From what I gather in this well-written and highly informative book (by Lloyd and Mary Morain, both former Presidents of ISGS), humanism can be a philosophy, a "religion," a personal problem solving approach, and a way of bringing together people of different backgrounds. Humanists have a fundamental premise which holds that since things are ever changing and since knowledge is continually increasing it is necessary to remain open-minded to new ideas and to be tolerant of the views of others. In the search for truth, rather than looking to dogma or a higher power, humanists have a high regard for the scientific method with its emphasis on the constant pursuit of knowledge and its support for a change of opinion if warranted.

In a short book review such as this, it is quite impossible to explain humanism in a comprehensive and thorough manner, but much can be learned from Humanism as the Next Step. In chapters titled "How Humanism Serves the Needs of Individuals," "Applying Humanism to Personal Problems," and "Applying Humanism to Social Problems" one gets a thorough grounding in the uses of humanism. In the two appendices, "The Background of Modern Humanism" and "The Humanist Philosophy in Perspective," one can trace the development of humanism and learn more about its workings.

Practitioners of humanism have included such well-known figures as Margaret Sanger, Isaac Asimov, Julian Huxley, R. Buckminster Fuller, Carl Sagan, Ashley Montague, Ted Turner, Steve Allen, and Bertrand Russell. There also exists an American Humanist Association that has bestowed a "Humanist of the Year" award since 1953 to those who have made significant contributions to human well-being. Among those who have received this award are such thoughtful and constructive individuals as Carl Rogers, Betty Friedan, Albert Ellis, Kurt Vonnegut, Alice Walker, John K. Galbraith, Jonas E. Salk, B. F. Skinner, and Benjamin Spock.

For those interested in learning more about a way of thinking that has had a positive influence on human progress, or for those who belong to the twenty percent of the population who no longer receive satisfaction from traditional religions and technical philosophies, I definitely recommend reading Humanism as the Next Step.