Humanism is a great product. There is a huge market out there hungry for this product. But the product is not reaching the market. Why not? Ask any businessperson. No advertising. No distribution. Above all, no enthusiastic word-of-mouth publicity by satisfied users.
Humanism is a product that needs to be sold, the same as cars, carpets and Christianity.
Christians are superb salespeople. Humanists are usually better at defending Christianity than at promoting or explaining Humanism.
Religionists of all ilks have faith in their product. Humanists seem to have little confidence in theirs.
Christians speak up loud and clear. Humanist say "I don't have time to discuss it right now" or "I didn't come here to argue" or "I wouldn't want to offend anybody" or "Well, you may be right" or "I prefer to keep an open mind" or "Well, we don't really know, do we?"
In the course of ordinary daily chit-chat, Christians will say "I ama born-again Christian", "The Bible says .....","Praise be to God!" How often have you heard anybody admit in public that he or she is a Humanist? Or create an opportunity to discuss the subject by saying "I find the Humanist viewpoint on that subject interesting." Or "I disagree with that idea from the Humanist standpoint." Or "You'd make a good Humanist."
Religionists talk to the whole world. Humanists talk mostly to each other.
And then Hymanists wonder "Why aren't we attracting more new members? How can we attract young people?"
Christians go on record in the media tackling any subject. Few Humanists can be bothered to write letters to an editor, protest ato TV producers about the insidious infiltration of irrelevant religiousity in to fictional programs or stand up in any organisation against the imclusion of a prayer in the programme.
Humanist manifestos and position papers sound like Christian texts, never giving a clear statement of what the soiety is against and therefore giving a confusing impression.
Secular Humanism is a brilliant product, a life-enriching philosophy urgently needed to combat life-destroying terrorism, drugs, hijacking, hostage-taking, vandalism, racial strife, environmental pollutiojn, fear of death, undeserved guilt, overpopulation, unwanted lives. Humanism is a set of honourable values, good guidelines (not dogma) for human behaviour.
The market for this product is enormous! There must be thousands of peoplel out there trying to kick the god habit or simply fed up with other people's gods being forced on them. There are people who don[t want to go to religious funerals, weeings and baptisms but they don[t know how to refuse politely. Many people are tired of having grace-saying and invocations forced on them.
There are people who would love to meet honest, kind, upfight, moral humans who cope successfully with life's crises without leaning on supernatural beings, thus developing great inner strength.
But how can they find Humanists if Humanists do not have the moral courage to reveal themselves?
What action have you taken in the last year, individually, personally, alone, to spread knowledge of Humanism, or to get rid of gods? No hard sell is required, no proselytising, no argument, no emotion, no win/lose confrontation, no handing out of literature on street corners. Just ordinary pleasant conversation.
The time is ripe for this product? Everybody is looking for a mind set that will make life worth living.
The old eternal questions have been answered: Q. How did we get here? A. We
evolved. Q. Why do we live? A. Becuase we were born and have not yet died.
Because a male and female mated. Q. What is the purpose of life? A. Any purpose
you choose to give it.
The new questions are: How can we get more satisfaction, more accomplishment
and joy out of life without damaging others? How can we make a profit without
cxausing others ot suffer a loss? Humanism offers some good answers.
Fundamentalists are backing themselves into a corner, unable to evolve because they don't believe in it, unable ot meet changing needs because their rules are absolute and unquestionable.
Christians are slowly becoming aware that their belief system has been based on a fundamental untruth: a nonexistent supernatural being they're struggling to keep what is good and useful from the teachings of a long-dead Jewish philosopher.
New Age enthusiasts are rejecting the dictatorial, violent, jealous gods of the Bible, Koran and Tallmund, and are seeking help from extraterrestrials, channelers, spirits and Shirley Maclaine, not ot mention gemstones with miraculous powers adn subliminal self-hypnosis cassette tapes. Humanism is their next logical step - if they knew it existed. If they had arole models to follow. If they met somebody willing to discuss the subject without hedging.
Why do so many Humanists back off from taking personal action, criticizing those who do? Is it fear? Of what? Speaking honestly with confidence and knowledge on any subject, however controversial, attracts people who are looking for your kind of information and repels those who don't - which is exactly what you want. There is nothing to be afraid of. Besides, moral courage comes with practice, like learning to play the piano. Start with simple finger exercises. And courage is contagious.
Perhaps ordinary laziness is the reason why Humanists can't be bothered to advertise their product. Can't be bothered to study the subject. No time to watch the Asimov vidio. Too comfortable sitting on the fence: "like to keep an open mind" Our minds are closed on man subjects: 2 plus 2 is 4, not 76. The earth is round, not flat. There are no gods, witches, ghosts, fairies or spirits. Any act of moral courage requires the conviction that one is absolutely right and the opposition absolutely wrong at that single point in time. A judgement must be made, a decision taken, and t;he mind firmly closed before the body will act. The mind can be reopened in a flash if new evidence appears.
So you've got the ready-made product; the market is begging for it. What are you waiting for?
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