Humanism and History
PART ONE I “History is bunk.” “History is one damn thing after another.” “History is lies told by the winners.” Are all of these true? In a sense, yes they are, but each is also…
public
Humanism and First Peoples in Canada
PART ONE Humanists seek knowledge from evidence, think scientifically without reference to divine intervention, and are open to discussion. They are also motivated by honesty, empathy, and compassion. How does this approach apply to issues…
Humanism and Economics
PART ONE You do not have to be a doctor to know that good hygiene, nutrition, and exercise are important to help maintain good health. You do not have to be a psychologist to know…
Humanism and Enlightenment
PART ONE The Enlightenment, also known as “The Age of Reason”, was a European intellectual and cultural movement in the 17th century that emphasized reason over faith and science over superstition. (It is not to…
Revisiting “Sex in the Snow”:
Contrasting Media and Police Responses to Recent Multiple Murders in Canada and the US Lloyd Hawkeye Robertson About two decades ago pollster Michael Adams published Sex in the Snow (1997) and Fire and Ice (2003)…
Humanism as Resistance: Reclaiming Dialogue in Divided Times
Previously published in: humanistfreedoms The rise of modern individualism, scientific inquiry, and pluralistic thought did not emerge in Europe because Christianity was uniquely compatible with Enlightenment values. Rather, these developments became possible as the Roman…
Two Solitudes of Secularism
Two distinct interpretations of secularism are discussed by Leslie Rosenblood, Secularism Chair of the Centre for Inquiry Canada, and Michel Virard, President of the Association Humaniste du Québec. Moderator: Robert Hamilton, Vice-President of The New…
Humanism and Religion
PART ONE I Humanism seeks truth from evidence and rational analysis. It engages in calm and open discussions that display a desire to understand various points of view. There is, however, no acceptance of divinity,…
Humanism, Democracy, and Freedom
PART ONE Democracy in government essentially means “rule by the people” rather than rule by a monarch, aristocracy or dictator. Democracy is not a new idea but it is one that has not been put…
Humanism and Art
PART 1 I Because humanists emphasize the importance of analyzing empirical evidence rationally it is sometimes thought that they are cold and machine like. Nothing could be further from the truth. Humanism gives equal emphasis…