HOW HUMANISTS CAN HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE - A beginner’s guide from a beginner

 Margaret Mead, the American cultural anthropologist said of change; “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Humanists are few. Humanism is young. The task of helping to shape the future through the lens of our values seems daunting. To borrow from the Christian Bible, “The Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”. At the front of the battle to shape society will be humanists and progressives and so we need to have humanists and progressives in every part of society; the change will be shaped by the people, by activists, and by public servants

SHAPED BY PEOPLE

As individuals, what will our role in this change be? We first have to realize that the change will only work if we create the space for it to thrive. It will start with us, humanists, acknowledging that humanism is not a default, neither are our values obvious to everyone. By admitting this, we will come to understand that our role, at the minimum, is to make accessible these ideas of humanistic values to as many people as possible. How do we do this?

First, we create a space around us that encourages freethinking, progressive ideologies, and intellectual honesty. By doing so, we become the dense center in our sphere of influence that pulls people in rather than pushes them away. That way, we can share our values and hopefully transform others into our way of thinking. The spaces we create could be online (social media), at our workplace, at home, at the pub, or wherever we find ourselves. The fact that people trust that you are willing to listen, to be objective, to not judge them; is a sign that they can open up to you about their feelings and doubts. Your goal is to be as genuine and authentic in your relationships as you possibly can and in so doing, you will find that people of diverse views and orientations will seek your counsel. A substantial aspect of our authenticity is how we express our humanism. Let us be intentionally kind and thoughtful. There is no need to be adversarial by default. That just pushes people away.

Second, we actively seek to expand our circles in numbers and diversity. A few years ago, I made a post about needing Hindu, Etherean, and Gay friends and I found a whole community who have remained friends since. Why did I do this? I was living in a Christian-Muslim-Humanist bubble and so could not tap into how people of different orientations, religious or sexual, thought or felt about issues. By opening up my arms first, it made it easier for people to follow suit and I must admit, diversity is a beautiful thing. I have learned more about the human condition since that post than I could glean from any textbook. I continue to expand my circles, being intentional about bringing people in and through that, bringing people together who otherwise will remain in their own bubbles. In a sense, be the pot in which different bubbles mix, learn, and grow. That way, you can share common values and direct more people to see the humanity in their fellow humans.

Finally, as individuals, we need to seek the economic advancement of everyone in our circle as we continue to expand our circles. Everything is economics. In our business dealings, we need to be fair and honest. We also need to create opportunities for others whenever we can, and intentionally so, to work and make a living. As employers, we should seek out the marginalized, the differently-abled, the unskilled, and find a way to include them in our work. By so doing, we are not only doing what is right but showing what is possible. As employees, we need to push for and create space for others to thrive. We need to seek out people in our circles who could use a little training or even words of encouragement. By doing so, we are not only doing what is right but showing what is possible; a world where intentional empathy has the power to transform.

 

SHAPED BY ACTIVISTS

As activists, what will our role in the change be? Our most important task is building coalitions. In a country where humanists and freethinkers are a minority, we can not have a change of that scale without involving the masses. In the activism space, we find many people with different motivations, working to solve problems in society. Our role as humanist activists, apart from doing the same or similar work, is to weave all the struggles that activists are working to solve, into one story. Our task is to show how all oppressions are linked and offer a way to fight the root of the oppression. Like the story of how a group of lesbian and gay activists raised money to help families affected by the miner’s strikes of ‘84 in the UK, we see how solidarity led to the huge support from the National Union of Mineworkers culminating in the inclusion of gay and lesbian rights in the Labour Party’s programme.

As humanists, we know the role of capitalism in the oppression of women, LGBTQI folks, religious minorities, and the environment. We know the stories of how one struggle leads to another, of the domino effect collective action can have and the tactics capitalism uses of transferring oppression from one point to another when it faces opposition. We are therefore well placed to provide strategy and guidance in the fight against oppression, in a way and manner that causes the least harm to an already marginalized or oppressed group, without creating newly marginalized or oppressed groups.

As activists, our role is to create a network that not only includes humanists but also anyone who shares our core values. Yes, there may be different motivations, but this is where pragmatism should weigh more than sentimentalism. A Christian organization working to end gender-based violence, a Muslim organization working to end radicalization, an atheist organization working to end blasphemy laws; all worthy goals. Our reservations about their motivations notwithstanding, we should be able to work with these organizations and in so doing, draw their attention to how linked their work is. At the minimum, we become objective outsiders, offering counsel, tapering their excesses with our humanist values. At best, we become the glue that binds all these groups together in a larger coalition that can be the political force required for mass change.

 

SHAPED BY THE PUBLIC SERVANT

As public servants, what will our role in the change be? Public service is filled with gatekeepers of the institutions we would like to see reformed. We can not reform these institutions from the outside. Even if public pressure forces reform, these institutions will still need to be run by experienced individuals and we would hope those individuals share in our humanist values. So, the charge for humanists in public service and those who wish to be in the rooms where policies are passed will be similar to what has been discussed of individuals and activists but even more so. The future is humanist lawmakers, humanist law enforcement, humanist judges, humanist social workers, humanist heads of institutions! If you have ever asked yourself why the system is so, or ever thought if you had the power you would do different, go for it! Start the process. Start learning about what your job will require and constantly review it through a humanist lens.  When an opportunity presents itself, go for it, no matter how small. Lead with your humanist values. And most importantly, remain grounded by remaining connected to activists and the humanist community.

The change may be slow, but with the knowledge that by doing our part, we contribute to a future with less oppression, less discrimination, less economic and social inequality, and less pollution, for me, that is the only motivation needed.