why people cannot appreciate how a humanist could give up his life in the best interests of humanity or of those he loves, just like anyone else
It's the whole mind set, Karen. Christians have on auto-pilot the whole mind set that there is a life to follow this one, a reuniting with those departed, some meaning to the life lived lived on earth.
Take all of that away ... that THIS life is it. Then, I don't see how I could convince myself as to why I should be willing to end my life just to better someone else's. What stake would I have in the future of humanity? Why would I even exchange my ONE AND ONLY life for that of a loved one?
Given that these life or death decisions are made on the spot, on impulse ... I would need some kind of inner belief system that would tell me, yes, it is a good thing for me to give this life up for another, there is a purpose to be served by that. Otherwise, on rationality alone, I would feel that hey, bad luck for them, but my life matters just as much as theirs ... I'm holding on to it for as long as I can. Even for loved ones.
There has got to be something beyond rationality and logic to give me a motive. Some higher ideal, some higher purpose. And these move you toward "religion."
Just IMHO, of course. |
