BryanBroyles

Mr.Pichette
Philosophy
12/8/15

HumanistManifesto
Section1:ComparingandcontrastinghumanismandPhilosophicalChristianbeliefs
1. WithintheninthaffirmationwhichsaysIntheplaceofoldattitudeinvolvedin
worshipandprayerthehumanistfindshisreligiousemotionsexpressedina
heightenedsenseofpersonallifeandinacooperativeefforttopromotesocial
wellbeingwiththatbeingsaiditisagivenfactthatChristianityisareligionthat
isderivedbyGod,notfromone'sownself.
2. Withinthesixthaffirmationitstates,Weareconvincedthatthetimehaspassed
fortheism,deism,modernism,andtheseveralvarietiesofnewthought.Thisis
sayingthathumanistbelievethatnewviewsofthisworldthroughreligionare
wrong.Christianityisthecompleteopposite,thereligionwouldnotcompletely
rejectsomeone'sbeliefsjustbecausetheybelieveitiswrong.
3. Inthesecondaffirmationitsays,thathehasemergedastheresultofa
continuousprocess.ThisisclaimingthatbeforeGodcameintoexistencethe
worldwasalreadyinprocess.ButasseeninGenesis1:1itstatesinthe
beginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.thesetwothoughtscompletely
contradicteachother.

4. Inaffirmationtenitsays,itfollowsthattherewillbenouniquelyreligious
emotionsandattitudesofthekindhithertoassociatedwithbeliefinthe
supernatural.butaftersayingthisitiscompletelyandevidentlycontradictedin
affirmationfifteenwhenhestatesthatBythispositivemoraleandintention
humanismwillbeguided,andfromthisperspectiveandalignmentthetechniques
andeffortsofhumanismwillflow.Thisisaninterestingperspectivebecauseit
putshumanismintotwodifferenttypesofconclusions.
5. WithinthefifthaffirmationIhavefoundthatitcontradictsthebiblebysaying
Humanismassertsthatthenatureoftheuniversedepictedbymodernscience
makesunacceptableanysupernaturalorcosmicguaranteesofhumanvaluesThe
versethatthispassageisgoingthecompleteoppositedirectionofispsalm118:8
thatsaysitisbettertotakerefugeinthelordthantotrustinhumans.Clearly
thesetwocontradicteachotherbysayingthatweshouldfollowhumansorfollow
God.
6. Asshownintheeighthaffirmationwithclaimsthatthehumanstreasuresareall
basedoffofhowgoodweareasapersonorhowgreatourpersonalityis.This
completelygoesagainstwhatGodtellsustobaseourtreasureson,asshownin
Matthew6:1921whichsaysDonotlayupyourselvestreasuresonearthwhere
mothsandvermindestroyandwherethievesbreakinandstealbutstoreupfor
yourselvestreasuresinheaven.Thisstatesthatalltreasuresonearthare
meaninglessifyoudonothaveasolidrelationshipwithGodanditcontradicts
affirmationeightineverysenseofitsmeaning.

7. Alsofoundinaffirmationnumberfifteenwhichstatesthatweassertwill:(a)
affirmliferatherthandenyit(b)seektoelicitthepossibilitiesoflife,notflee
fromitandendeavortoestablishtheconditionsofasatisfactorylifeforall,not
merelyforthefew.Bythispositivemoraleandintentionhumanismwillbe
guided,andfromthisperspectiveandalignmentthetechniquesandeffortsof
humanismwillflow.Butwiththatbeingsaid,italsostatesinhm2affirmation
sixTherighttobirthcontrol,abortion,anddivorceshouldberecognized.these
twostatementsclearlycontradicteachotheronalldefinitionsofcontradiction
withonestatingthatlifeshallbesoughtoutandencouragedratherthandenied
andtheclaimthattheycanhaveanabortionaswell?absurd.
8. FoundwithinthefirstaffirmationwhichstatesthatReligioushumanistsregard
theuniverseasselfexistingandnotcreated.Thisisahugecontradictiontothe
wholechristianfaithbecausefromthebeginningwehavelearnedthatGodwas
thecreatoroftheheavensandtheearthandnotjustputherebymerechance,luck
orsomethingthathastodowithchaoticcreationsuchasthebigbangtheory.
9. AssaidinthefourthaffirmationHumanismrecognizesthatmansreligious
cultureandcivilization,asclearlydepictedbyanthropologyandhistory,arethe
productofagradualdevelopmentduetohisinteractionwithhisnatural
environmentandwithhissocialheritage.Theindividualbornintoaparticular
cultureislargelymoldedbythatculture.Thisisclaimingthatchristianityisonly
aroundbecauseweforceothersintothereligionwhichisclearlynotthecaseas

seenthroughoutthereligionwhenpeoplethathaveneverevenheardof
christianityarecomingtoGod.
10. AsshowninaffirmationthreeHumanistfindthattraditionaldualismofmindand
bodymustberejected.ButclearlyshowninGenesis1:27whichsays,SoGod
createdmaninhisownimage,intheimageofGodhecreatedhimmaleand
femalehecreatedthem.Asshownagain,therearemajorcontradictionsbetween
humanismandthechristianfaith.

Section2:LogicalFallacies
1. WithinthesecondHumanistmanifestoitisevidentthatwiththestatementthatclaims
naturemayindeedbebroaderanddeeperthanwenowknow,anynewdiscoveries
however,willbutenlargeourknowledgeofthenatural,Thiscanbebothappealtothe
futureandorcircularreasoning.Withtheideathatitmaybecircularreasoningitstates
thatnatureisbroaderandneedthantheyknow,yettheywillstillfindamoredeeper
meaningofnaturewhichbringsitrightbackaroundtothefirstclaimofthequote.And
withappealtothefuturetheyareclaimingthattheywilladdtotheirknowledgeinfuture
means.Claimingthattheywilleventhoughitisnotprovenyet.
2. Withinthesecondmanifestalso,locatedinthefifthparagraphitclaimsthatonlya
sharedworldandglobalmeasureswillsufficeThiscouldverywellbeanappealto
silencebecauseinthecontextofthephrasenoonehasmentionedorbroughtittothe
attentionwiththismeaning.
3. Foundinthesecondhumanistmanifestowasthestatementthatclaimsthenextcentury
canbeandshouldbethehumanisticcenturydramatic.scientific,technological,andever
acceleratingsocialandpoliticalchangescrowdofourawarenessThisisamassive
appealtothefuture,tryingtopromotetheirownreasoningwithclaimsthatcouldnever
andmaynevercometrue.
4. Alsobacktothefirsthumanistmanifestowithinaffirmationfivethereisapartwhich
saystheuniverseisdepictedbymodernscienceThisstatementisbasicallyanappealto
theunknownastheyputalltheirfaithintoscientistwhowillprobablyneverfigureoutall
thereistodiscoverinouruniverseasawhole.

5. Foundinthesecondhumanistmanifestoisaclaimwhichsays,itisnonetheless
obviousthatanyreligionthatcanhopetobeasynthesizinganddynamicforcefortoday
mustbeshapedfortheneedsofthisdayinage.Thisisprimarilyanonsequitorbecause
asitsaysinearlierpremisesthatreligionisoutofthepictureandcannotbefurther
excitedasathought.thepremisesdonotadduptoitsconclusions.
6. FoundwithinthefourteenthaffirmationwhichsaysthatHumanistsfirmlybelieveand
areconvincedthatexistingacquisitiveandprofitmotivatedsocietyhasshownitselftobe
inadequateandthataradicalchangeinmethodscontrolsandassociationwithinstitutions
withsuchviews.Thestatementbeingmadeinthisaffirmationisanoncontradiction.
7. AlsowithinthefourteenthaffirmationbackinManifestonumberoneitstatesthat,the
goalofhumanismisafreeanduniversalsocietyinwhichpeoplevoluntarilyand
intelligentlycooperateforthecommongood.Humanistsbelievethatasharedlifeisa
sharedworldWithallthisnonsensebeingsaiditisapparentthatourworldisnothing
shortofachaotichellhole,withragingwarsandhatecrimesthisstatementisaclearand
evidentuseofthefallacygeneralization.
8. Andfoundwithintheeleventhaffirmationwhichclaims,Manwilllearntofacethe
crisisoflifeintermsofhisknowledgeofthenaturalnessandprobability.Asmaking
claimstowhichtheyhavenoknowledgeoftheoutcomethisisevidentlyauseofappeal
tothefuture.
9. Foundwithinthesecondhumanistmanifestowasaclaimthatsays,werejectall
religious,ideological,ormoralcodesthatdegeneratetheindividual,suppressingfreedom

anddullintellect,dehumanizehumanity.Thisstatementisamajorgeneralization
fallacy.
10. Alsofoundwithinthesecondhumanistmanifestowasthefallacyofequivocation,this
wasunderstoodintheclaimthatsays,cultivationandconservationofnatureismoral
values.

Section3:Fivehardquestions
1. Whyisitthathumanismwillcreatesuchaperfectutopiansocietyforfuturegenerations
andcultureswhenitisevidentthatnothinglikethathaseverbeenmade?whats
different?
Althoughtherearesomanydifferenttypesofreligionsinthisworldthataresupposedto
bringpeaceandpersonalprosperityinthisworldwhywouldhumanismbesuchasignificant
differenceinthewayhumansacttoday.Humanismasawholeisjustonebigfallacyof
appealingtothefuture.
2.HowcanwefullytrustinwhatHumanismisclaimingwhenthecreatorsthemselvesstate
thatthereisnoultimatemoralwaytoolive?
WiththeindepthpagesoftheHumanistManifestoitissuchamisleadingwayoflivingthat
onecannotfullytrustinitslifestyle.Therearesomanyevidentcontradictionsdepictedinthe
Manifestoitselfthatitmakesitquitedifficulttofullyindulgeandappreciatetheideaofaperfect
lifestyleundertheinfluencesofHumanism.
3.ThroughouttheManifestositclaimsthatwarwillperishifeveryonejumpsontheHumanism
bandwagon,Howcanthisactuallybetrue?
Withtheevidenthatethatourworldhasshownthroughoutitsmanyyearsofexistencemankind
hasneverbeenaracethatfullyagreeswithwhatotherhumanbeingsaresaying.Thisleadsto
wars,violence,hatecrimes,terrorism,vandalism,andmuchmorecrudeanddementedactivities
inlife.ThethoughtthatHumanismalonecouldendallthisviolenceandterroris

incomprehensibleandIpersonallyseeabsolutelynoreasontobelievethatitcouldpossiblybe
true.
4.Howcanthecreationofourplanetandeverythingoutsideofitpossiblybeexplainedby
scienceitself?
Assciencehasadvancedthroughtheyearssomanynewdiscoverieshavetakenplace,yet
scientiststillcannotfullygivealogical,trustworthyconclusiononhowourworldcameinto
existencewithoutmentionthebigbangtheory.Ashighlightedinitstitle,allitisisaTHEORY,
thereisnoprooforevidencetoshowforit,Humanismclaimsitsnotatypeoffaithordeist
beliefandyetittakesthesameamount,ifnotmorefaithtobelieveinitsclaims.
5.HowcanyoustatethatHumanismisanobviousrealisticchoiceoveranyotherreligionwhen
infactthatisbasicallywhathumanismis?
AsHumanismiscomparedtoreligionsthroughouttheManifestoitisevidentthattheydonot
believereligionisanacceptableformoffaithinthisworld,yettheygivenoclear,persuasive
evidenceofwhyHumanismisbetterotherthantheirownsubjective,personalthoughton
somethingthattheycreated.Nopremisesleadtoanaccurateconclusiononwhichwillhelpmake
adecisionofwhoiswrongorrightthroughouttheManifestos.

Section4:counterarguments
1. Asshowninthesecondmanifestoandalsothroughoutcertainpartsoftherestofit,they
claimmultipletimesthatsharingaworldequallywithhumanswillmakeaperfectand
peacefulworld.Yetasitshowstoday,wedosharetheworldanditisclearthatourworld
isneitherperfectnorisitpeaceful.Suchclaimsarejustappealstothefuturewhichhave
noreconciliationwithanythingthistypeoffaithhastooffer.Thereisnofactsor
evidencethatshowsuchawayoflivingwillactuallyinthelongrunworkoutforthe
greatergood.
2. WithintheManifestoitisclaimedthatthereisnocorrectvisionofmoralstandardsand
thengoontoclaimthatweasapopulationmustexpandintheareasofcommunication
andtransportationwithoutborders,toallfrontiers.Thatitisnecessaryfortheworldtobe
diverse,butthengoontoclaimthatwehavenofreewill.Theamountofcontradiction
throughoutthisManifestoisridiculous,doweordontwehavefreewill?
3. Withtheclaimthatthereisnocredibleevidencethatlifesurvivesthedeathofthebody,
itisevidentthatthecreatorsofHumanismareunsureabouttheafterlifeandcannotfully
decidedandcometoaconclusionaboutit.Areyouorarentyouonboardwiththeideaof
anafterlife?

Section5:conclusion
Withallthefallaciesandcontroversiesthatwereputforthandrecognizedwithinthethree
differentsectionsoftheHumanistManifestoitwasaveryeyeopeningexperienceandprojectto
learnaboutanactualtypeoflivingthatiscreatedandmerelyblindandignoranttoallother
ideas/factorsofliving.ThatfactthatHumanistsdontevensuggestoracknowledgethe
possibilityofreligioniscompletelyridiculousandshouldnotbefurtherthoughtaboutorworth
thetimetolookfurtherintotheideaitself.Anyreligionorfaithtypewayoflivingthatdoesnot
takeintoconsiderationotherwaysoflifeandjustremainsinabubbleofwhattheybelievetobe
theendalltooeveryhorrid,despicablethingtoexistwithinourworldisnotawayoflivingthat
shouldbepracticedbyhumanswhowanttofurtherexcelineveryaspectoflife.Astaughtin
philosophy,itisofutmostimportancetobelivinglifewithasenseofovertnesswithyour
approachtopeople,religions,ideasoftheunknown,stancespeopletakethatmayoffendyou,
anytypeofneworthoughtprovokingconcept.Withthatbeingsaid,Humanismdoesnottake
anyofthatintoconsiderationorevenpondertheidea.Asfarasthefallacieswithinthecreation
oftheManifestosgo,itwashardformetofullyconsidertheideaofHumanismknowingthat
theygavesomanydifferentpremisesthatwereaboutasstrongasseaweedwiththebackupof
theirconclusion.ThiswasacompleteturnofftotheideaofHumanismandledmeastraywith
trustingtherestoftheManifestos.AlthoughtheconceptbehindHumanismwasnotparticularly
appealingitwasagreatinsightintothedifferentapproachesandlifestylespeopletakewhen
dealingwiththeworldaroundus.OneofthemajorclaimsthatsurprisedmeaboutHumanism
wasthattheyclaimedtonotbelieveinfaithorreligionbutyettheybelieveinsciencewhich
almosttakesmorefaithtobelievethanchristianitywould.ThereismoreproofforChristianity

thanthereprobablywilleverbeforscientifictheories.Allinallthiswasagoodassignment
andwasenjoyabletopartakein.