My Sense Of Purpose in Humanism

by Glemir Sordilla

 For some time, humanity has always been curious what is the purpose of our existence. That question plagued our ancient philosophers back then and continues to ignite that curiosity deep in each one of us. I am not an exception to this. Nowadays, this query is still unanswered but humanism plays a huge part in my life where it gave me a sense of purpose and a place where I feel like I belong.

  Empathy is one of the main characteristics that a humanist embodies. It can be defined as the capacity to understand and share the feelings of others. It is the capability that makes you conscious of other people’s experiences and feelings.

  I can recall how my younger self can already grasp the concept of empathy. Even at a young age, being empathetic just came naturally to me. I figured that this quality is important in having a harmonious and cordial relationship with other people.

 Not only was my young mind compassionate, but I am also curious and receptive, much to the amusement and dismay of my parents. Amusement because random things can spark my interest, dismay due to me questioning sensitive subjects such as the existence of god or their superstitions that they religiously follow. Most of the time, these questions remain unanswered or dismissed. I used to feel ashamed and scared when I would even have an inkling thought of questioning these things.

  It is quite understandable why my immature mind would be frightened about this. The Philippines proudly boasts how religious this country is and my upbringing is inclined to these teachings. You are obligated to do practices routinely when you do not even have an idea of what does it do. It was a period in my life that is full of confusion and realization. I finally came to peace with being an atheist in my teenage years.

  For a long time, I did not even know what humanism even means and how I can relate to it. Humanist Global Charity (HGC) simplified what humanism is, “doing good without God.” It is doing righteous deeds without expecting spiritual incentives.

  My humanist journey truly started when I joined Humanist Alliance Philippines, International (HAPI). It was the avenue where my perspective was broadened and where I can explore so many possibilities in helping and engaging many communities. Being a humanist in an extremely religious and superstitious is met with several difficulties. One of these is that religious personalities, in this country, have an influence and they are taken more seriously. This results in their complaints and advice being considered more than anyone.

  Many humanists and activists are threatened and they go on about their daily lives in constant fear. Living in misogyny and violence-driven government makes you vulnerable and an easy target.

  Even when struggle arises in certain situations, being a humanist keeps me inspired and motivated to continue asking questions and do things that make this world a bit better. It gives me a sense of purpose even if it is just writing an article or sharing relevant information that is backed up by science. I believe that if you have a platform, you are ought to use it effectively. A small platform is still a platform that can reach people.

 The youth in my country are currently the frontrunners in terms of challenging traditional ideas that have long gone influenced this country. The stances that the younger generation screams and fight for are deeply rooted in humanist values such as human rights, climate justice, and anti-corruption.  The future of humanism in my country is bright and promising. It is undeniable that religious doctrine still plagues this whole country and the majority of the population is more than likely to follow these teachings due to familiarity and lack of education, which is something we can’t blame them about. Regardless, the next generation is willing and are open-minded enough for change, notably if these ideas are entrenched with science and reality.

  One day, maybe humanity will conclude what is the purpose of life. Perhaps the answer to this question that has persistently tormented the human race is simply just humanism. We came into existence to help other people while we help ourselves navigate life.