Humanism Can Lead to Future Tolerance and Human Unity
a call issued by Global Citizens for Tolerance and Decency by Professor Mike Whitty, Birmingham Temple, USA
Secular Humanism has a key role in the global coalitions seeking a just and better future for humanity and the planet.
A wide range of noble causes and values currently face a common foe - religious extremism often rooted in ultra fundamentalism.
The 2016 and 2020 elections were a breakthrough point for US fundamentalists and religious extremists.
Many recent articles in the New York Times, WSJ and Washington Post have documented the ideological role of theocracy in providing a religious framework to nationalism/patriotism and even a fusion with militias and the far right. Imagine this as an unholy alliance of those wishing fundamentalist religious governance and control over society with our long standing nativism and the fear/hatred of fashionable scapegoat groups and various shadow trends reflected worldwide not just in the US context.
Let’s call for a truce in the cultural wars - both at home and abroad.
Global humanism is an antidote to human alienation and fear thus the importance of outreach organizing to re-balance future evolution toward a future of tolerance and acceptance of our unity in diversity.
Know this is part of a global battle for the future often framed as the cultural wars fought on all fronts globally.
Our basic short run argument is a call for a truce in the Cultural Wars, to do mega networking and coalition building in the decade to come.
Tolerance, civility and non-violence are the first steps toward a truce in the cultural wars. This truce buys time & allows freedom & liberty to grow in the hearts & minds of youth
Most thought leaders especially tomorrow's youth see the necessity of a live & let live future, and acceptance of our circumstances until humanity evolves to a new paradigm of global humanism.
Our Global Strategy in 2021 and beyond is first a political cease fire, toning it down with restraint and respect for each other, restoring civility, being as polite as we try to be in family, neighborhood and worklife.
Rejecting religious extremism and scapegoating, at home and abroad, and hoping for a compassionate conservative to restore compassion to conservatism!!
To have this proposed truce:
First, we need to start with our own inner peace, our own approach to religion and politics.
Second, we must extend our civility to our neighbors, co-workers & fellow citizens
Third, once we secure more civility in the oncoming 2022 election cycle, we must incorporate a global strategy that restores a live-and-let-live world model for tolerance of diversity.
People are OK everywhere. Political & religious extremists are a minority - that wags the dog. We can change that with freedom & liberty. Cosmopolitanism is humanism!
Let’s take this talk to all secular allies & religious liberals. The world requires practical steps to recreate common ground for the common good, civil society and the dream of the beloved community.
Reassert the communal leadership of secularists, humanists and religious moderates at home & abroad can marginalize religious fanatics and political extremists.
Capturr the moral high ground by recreating the commons with an inclusive agenda of positive tolerance and unity in diversity -accepting a live and let live philosophy
Restore the separation of church and state by mounting a multilevel educational, political and media campaign to create the necessary tipping point of confidence in the future and a love-based calm in the present. Let’s take a stand that Love Wins.
Work the interfaith justice network, religious liberals and the core institutions of secular society to offer civility, tolerance, decency and hope.
Almost everybody wants peace of mind and peace on earth.
Join the average human in calling for a cease fire in the cultural wars and inner and outer peace on earth!
In the name of GOD stop the killing and hating in the name of God.