Comments on: ‘The real beauty comes from contemplating the universe’: humanism with Sarah Bakewell https://freethinker.co.uk/2023/05/interview-sarah-bakewell/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=interview-sarah-bakewell The magazine of freethought, open enquiry and irreverence Thu, 27 Jul 2023 18:43:02 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 By: Colin Swinburn https://freethinker.co.uk/2023/05/interview-sarah-bakewell/#comment-197 Tue, 30 May 2023 13:53:58 +0000 https://freethinker.co.uk/?p=9153#comment-197 Wow 700 years and here was me thinking that the term Humianism was a relatively new concept. I have always thought of humanism in a relatively western English speaking way (with possibly the exception of the French) and it is encouraging to see that the Germans, Italians and Chinese are looking to get hold of translations of the book.

I thought Sarah’s comments on religion as part of a human activity resonated with me, as I too marvel at some of the beauty in religious buildings and traditions. I too also think that the universe and the many unanswered questions are much more awe inspiring than religion.

The mention of Boris Johnson and his ability to quote Latin elegantly and the fact that he cannot necessarily be trusted made me smile.

I thought that the part on changing the definition of humanism to involve respect for the rest of the natural world and for other species was something that I could buy into given that we cannot survive without them.

There was also a nice uplifting tone relating to hope over despair. Appeals to the optimistic side of me, although hopefully not too naively optimistic (see later in the article)

My favourite line was “I am wary of simplistic answers….” as this chimes with my thoughts on the essence of life.

]]> By: Bob Forder https://freethinker.co.uk/2023/05/interview-sarah-bakewell/#comment-196 Sat, 27 May 2023 07:44:05 +0000 https://freethinker.co.uk/?p=9153#comment-196 A wonderful book Sarah and another important contribution to the humanist/freethought intellectual tradition and to laying the ghost that suggests the religious are ethically and morally superior to us benighted unbelievers.
I’m not sure I can share your understanding of a distinction between atheism and agnosticism. As the founder of this journal G.W. Foote put it, ‘agnosticism is atheism with a top hat’. Anyway, I dislike these ‘a’ words. I want to be defined by what I am, not by what I’m not. Your book helps with that. I’m a proud freethinker and probably a humanist too. Well, most of the time anyway.

]]>