Humanism is not atheism, nor secularism, nor rationalism, but a non-theistic positive life stance with a tradition going back to ancient Greece, Buddhism and Confucism. Humanism asks what is true in the light of reason, science, personal experience and compassion. The course leader will be Michael Werner, past president of the American Humanist Association, treasurer of the Friends of Religious Humanism and a faculty member of the Humanist Institute.

Class 1 February 1st - What is Humanism and the Humanist Tradition? We will explore the historical evolution of free thought, the changing ideas and where Humanist thought is today. We will explore the various "styles", resources and common grounding. We will explore what an integrated story based on naturalism means to us.

Class 2 February 8th - What is Truth and What Can We Believe? It wasn't only Pilate who asked, "What is truth?" It is at the core of any religious/philosophical journey. By questioning the nature of knowledge we ask, "What are our ultimate foundations?" We will explore modern foundations of knowledge and see if there is any credible basis for belief. What do we know and how do we know it?

Class 3 February 15th - What is the Basis for Morals? Most religions ask us to be good for one reason or another. If God does not exist, is anything permitted as Dostoyevsky asked? Why be good? Are morals entirely relativistic and merely a matter of taste? We will look at various ethical models and what modern ethical theory tells us. How should we live our lives?

Class 4 February 22nd - What is a Humanist life? Living a secular lifestyle is not a Humanist lifestyle. How do we "do" Humanism? How do we build an integrated, whole life of meaning and purpose? Is there an "exit" as they say, from existential angst? What are the ways we can live our lives keeping intellectual credibility, but feeding our romantic longings without losing religious/intellectual integrity?

Class will take place Sundays from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 4 South 535 Old Naperville Rd., Naperville IL, 60563. All classes are stand alone and participants can enter course at any time

Questions? Please call and preregister at 630-416-0855

YOU'VE GIVEN UP THE OLD RELIGIONS, BUT WHAT HAS REPLACED THEM?