Actually, there is humanism (lower-case h), Humanism (upper-case H) and more specific varieties like Secular Humanism. The latter is what I call myself and at it's most basic level, it is a belief that over a long period of time, humans will improve and advance - completely on their own. No deities or other more-evolved life forms needed. It also embraces the scientific method as the best way we know to acquire knowledge and the best way we know to ascertain truth.
One prominent adherent of Secular Humanism was Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry. Consequently, the original series and especially Star Trek: The Next Generation is a fictional depiction of what would be Secular Humanism Heaven. That's the ideal. I'm not talking about the sci-fi setting but the philosophy, the way humans live. Humans are often depicted as weak and/or primitive there but always capable of learning and growing. The idea is that though we are far from perfect, we have what we need internally to grow, to become more than what we are. Ultimately, we have no limits aside from the laws of physics. We are destined for greatness.
Secular Humanists are definitely optimists. Times like the present (where the people of the most prominent nation on Earth elect an evil circus clown for its leader) can make us take pause but over time, things do get better. We continue to rise.
One prominent adherent of Secular Humanism was Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry. Consequently, the original series and especially Star Trek: The Next Generation is a fictional depiction of what would be Secular Humanism Heaven. That's the ideal. I'm not talking about the sci-fi setting but the philosophy, the way humans live. Humans are often depicted as weak and/or primitive there but always capable of learning and growing. The idea is that though we are far from perfect, we have what we need internally to grow, to become more than what we are. Ultimately, we have no limits aside from the laws of physics. We are destined for greatness.
Secular Humanists are definitely optimists. Times like the present (where the people of the most prominent nation on Earth elect an evil circus clown for its leader) can make us take pause but over time, things do get better. We continue to rise.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
