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May 1, 1933: The organized Humanist movement went public.
With the publication of the first Humanist Manifesto, Humanism became visible, its purpose clear. In a time of despair, Humanism offered a new and hopeful vision.
The world was in a desperate condition. Adolf Hitler was three months in office, his followers turning to despotism to relieve them of their social misery. In America, thousands were unemployed, the economy was collapsing, hope was low. The Humanists stepped up and presented a way forward.
The 34 signers knew they were not merely continuing an old point of view. They were forging a new philosophy out of the materials of the modern world.
Their ranks included secular philosophers, ministers of religion, a rabbi, an atheist (Barnes), a denier of atheism (Reese), and thinkers who were not averse to the word God (Dewey, Dietrich.) How could persons differing so greatly possibly agree to sign the Manifesto together?
They agreed because they saw what Humanism is: an ethical process through which we can move above and beyond the dogmatic beliefs of old religions and denials of them that are so divisive.
Humanists agree: ethics is based on human experience, and requires no reference at all to anything supernatural. Like the US Constitution, the Manifesto neither affirms nor denies any metaphysical claim; its focus is on human behavior.
The time is past for issues of theism; religious emotions and attitudes are liberated from supernaturalism. Associations exist to fulfill human life. Ethics is a human enterprise. Experience, not conformity to revelation, measures the good.
The central task for humanity is the quest for the good life. We humans are responsible to make real the world of which we dream and to seek the power to achieve it we must look within humanity, not outside it. In a dark time, Humanism's founders affirmed humanity's ability to achieve a better world. They call on us to set intelligence and will to the task.
Since 1933, Humanism has been thoroughly studied, discussed and developed. It's alive and evolving, yet Humanism is now a clearly defined well articulated new worldview, not merely derivative nor needing to be encumbered by any permanent alliances. It is unique, fully worthy of the capital H recommended by the International Humanist and Ethical Union, and it needs no adjective.
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