by David Bowie

Created on: March 26, 2008

The dictionary defines religion as:

"1. A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects, 2. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices, and 3. Something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience" (Dictionary.com)

These definitions do not restrict religion to believing in a supernatural being. Thus, Humanism, which can be defined by a certain set of beliefs, practices, and ethics, fits very nicely in the niche of religion.

It is errant to believe that religion can and must only be defined by a belief in a deity or supernatural forces. One person can have a totally different set of beliefs than anyone in existence and believe in such forces, but that does not make that person's beliefs a religion, because religion is more strongly related to a community of people that hold the same beliefs.

Humanists generally all agree that the worth of people is based on their ability to determine right and wrong based on human qualities. Logic and rationality are foremost in Humanist thought. Humanists believe what is seen and what can be deduced using intelligence and logic. They believe in the search for truth and reject ideas of supernatural and spiritual explanations for anything. Humanists are nearly universal in this thinking. To them, there is no afterlife, there is simply life.

The religion of Humanism can be seen as replacing gods with man, morals with political correctness, and miracles with science. Changing a few basic ideas, Humanism still maintains a set of beliefs to define the world and human interaction just like any other religion. Humanists are no less devote in there beliefs than any other religion in the world, with strong adherents and even Humanist leaders that could be seen as "prophets" or great teachers.

Because Humanists beliefs can be generalized among all Humanists, even the fact that there is a term for them and their beliefs, shows that they do fall under the term religion. By a Humanist's own means of looking at the world, logic, it can be shown undeniably that Humanism is a religion.

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