Religious humanism combines a belief in God with a celebration of human achievement and potential.

An early example can be seen in Psalm 8, from the Jewish and Christian tradition, which states:

When I look at thy heavens,
the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars which
thou has established;

What is man that thou art mindful of him,
and the son of man that thou
dost care for him?

Yet thou has made him little less than the angels
and dost crown him with glory
and honor.

In the past, humanist versions of major religions, such as Christian humanism, Jewish humanism and Islamic humanism played an important role in world history. Now, however, humanism is dominated almost exclusively by secular humanism. This has given rise to a newer version of religious humanism which is essentially a subset of secular humanism

While retaining a number of religious beliefs and/or practices, this new religious humanism still gives human interests, values, and worth a central place.

One such approach to religious humanism, promulgated by the Church of Spiritual Humanism, recognises the necessity of religious behaviour while it rejects supernatural explanations. Thus, it endorses religious ceremonies, rituals, and rites. Since these religious behaviors have endured from before recorded history, they hold it probable that they are integrated and "hard wired" into humans. By redefining the meanings of these behaviors in the light of rational and reasoned scientific processes, humanist values can be instilled into existing cultures and societies.

Another approach, promulgated by the Liberation Fellowship , is to observe the best of human traits and elevate them to a level that theists would attribute to the divine. Thus, the human being's senses become the tools of creation and the rituals, ceremonies and rites of religion become the avenues for human expansion and growth.

A new third approach, Christian Existential Humanism, represents a return to an older style, featuring a humanist perspective grounded in genuine religious belief; where humanity is something to be celebrated, but not as a replacement for the divine.

See also

• Unitarian Universalism
• Alawite

References and external links

• HUUmanists
• Church of Spiritual Humanism
• Liberation Fellowship Int'l Association
• Christian Existential Humanist Web