This is just a random post sparked by some things I learned by watching The Big Question on BBC. Actually, I just watched the clips on YouTube. Nevertheless, here is the idea: Activists have manuals for various things, but humanist activists don't have a manifesto and guide to effective action in pursuit of a humanistic world.
What to do, when, and where? That would be the activism manual part. The Humanist Manifesto gives a pretty good overview of what humanism is and why it matters. My manual would elaborate on how to enact the values of humanism in the modern world. Recent developments in systems theory, climate science, positive psychology, and behavioral economics need to be accounted for. What do these things mean for humanist activism? Some of the answers are clear, but others are not. That's what I like to think anyway.
There need to be instructions on various sorts of direct actions. How do we deal with churches that post anti-gay slogans outside? Do you picket the place with atheist slogans? (Perhaps.) Steal letters from the sign? (No.) I''m just throwing out ideas here. Many other types of humanist action on many issues seems to be needed. Maybe this items spark some ideas:
1. Action on climate change is slowed down by scientific illiteracy and propaganda.
2. Decisive action on gun violence is slowed down by hysteria, propaganda, and scientific illiteracy.
A manual for humanist activism would have to have lessons on using social marketing as a tool for getting people to adapting a healthy degree of skepticism. Social marketing can be used to "sell" relevant facts and reason and scientific literacy.
What to do, when, and where? That would be the activism manual part. The Humanist Manifesto gives a pretty good overview of what humanism is and why it matters. My manual would elaborate on how to enact the values of humanism in the modern world. Recent developments in systems theory, climate science, positive psychology, and behavioral economics need to be accounted for. What do these things mean for humanist activism? Some of the answers are clear, but others are not. That's what I like to think anyway.
There need to be instructions on various sorts of direct actions. How do we deal with churches that post anti-gay slogans outside? Do you picket the place with atheist slogans? (Perhaps.) Steal letters from the sign? (No.) I''m just throwing out ideas here. Many other types of humanist action on many issues seems to be needed. Maybe this items spark some ideas:
1. Action on climate change is slowed down by scientific illiteracy and propaganda.
2. Decisive action on gun violence is slowed down by hysteria, propaganda, and scientific illiteracy.
A manual for humanist activism would have to have lessons on using social marketing as a tool for getting people to adapting a healthy degree of skepticism. Social marketing can be used to "sell" relevant facts and reason and scientific literacy.
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