So I was touring all sort of museums and cathedrals during a visit to Rome and the Vatican on the weekend, exploring the history of the renaissance. While I find it difficult to relate fully to the religious buildings there, as fascinating as I find them, I did find the concept of humanism interesting.
Doing a bit more research on this back home, I realize that this actually what my beliefs are much more than just a lack of belief in god. Because I don't "not believe in god" as a belief or some sort of moral principle. It's just one thing I don't believe in, which isn't really that important. But "the value and agency of human beings", as Wikipedia puts it, is something I DO very much believe in. I don't passively not believe in a god; I actively want humans to answer their own prayers.
So I'm very happy to have found a new label that doesn't make it sound like I just don't care. Because I do care... just not about god.
Doing a bit more research on this back home, I realize that this actually what my beliefs are much more than just a lack of belief in god. Because I don't "not believe in god" as a belief or some sort of moral principle. It's just one thing I don't believe in, which isn't really that important. But "the value and agency of human beings", as Wikipedia puts it, is something I DO very much believe in. I don't passively not believe in a god; I actively want humans to answer their own prayers.
So I'm very happy to have found a new label that doesn't make it sound like I just don't care. Because I do care... just not about god.
