The True Meaning of Humanism: Religion and Human Values w/ Randall Poole
Jul 9, 2024
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Professor Randall Poole discusses Catholic humanism, human dignity, and the intersection of humanism with religion. They explore the development of humanism, religious anti-humanism, and the religious foundations of Renaissance humanism. The conversation delves into the evolution of humanism from religious roots, the concept of personalism, and the importance of personhood in religious humanism.
Renaissance humanism intertwined faith with celebrating human dignity based on divine reflections.
Religious humanism challenges secular ideologies like Marxism, embracing Christ as the ideal of human perfection.
Personalism is a powerful philosophical defense against secular humanism, advocating for human dignity and rights.
Deep dives
Humanism Rooted in Faith
Humanism, historically rooted in faith, celebrates man's dignity and potential as reflections of God's glory. Contrary to popular belief, Renaissance humanism was deeply religious, embracing man's personhood and achievements as linked to divine ideals.
Religious Humanism vs. Secular Ideologies
Religious humanism, exemplified by figures like Edith Stein, challenges secular ideologies like Marxism and social Darwinism. Stein's life and martyrdom reflect a profound dedication to Christ as the ideal of human perfection, showcasing the values of true religious humanism.
Personalism as a Philosophical Foundation
Personalism emerges as a strong philosophical foundation against secular humanism's tide. Figures like Jacques Maritain and John Paul II espouse personalism's value in upholding human dignity and rights, providing a robust response to secular humanist ideologies.
Freedom of Conscience in Humanism
Freedom of conscience plays a central role in religious humanism, emphasizing the human capacity for ideal self-determination. This concept serves as a critical human right, rooted in the notion that truth must be freely recognized and embraced internally, rather than imposed externally.
Embracing Catholic Humanism
Catholic humanism, rooted in the acknowledgment of man as a beloved child of God, must resist temptations of self-centeredness and uphold the true dignity originating from divine love. Redirecting focus from self to the divine light is core to understanding and living true Catholic humanism.
The word “humanism” was still in its nineteenth century infancy when it was stolen and transformed by Marxists and atheists. But, today, is there a religious humanism that champions human dignity, acknowledges man’s response to God’s saving grace, and wills the good of the other on their way to God? Join me and Professor Randall Poole as we discuss a Catholic humanism that invigorates the spirit while rebutting empty ideology.
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You can get more content like this in the quarterly print journal of the Word on Fire Institute, Evangelization & Culture.
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