Being a Humanist When You Lose Faith in Humanity

It is a hard time to be a humanist. How do you trust in the ultimate goodness and unlimited potential of human beings when humanity seems to be doing everything in its power to prove you wrong? Our politics are toxic. Our economics are oppressive. Our environment is on the verge of collapse. Rather than recognizing and addressing these challenges, those in power—or striving to gain power—use them to turn us against one another instead of uniting us in common cause.

Whether the threat is environmental collapse, economic or political catastrophe, or an AI-fueled apocalypse, it can be difficult to believe that humanity has a future at all—much less the inclusive, healthy future Humanism strives to bring about. Society seems to be actively rejecting the goals and values of Humanism. So how do you remain a humanist when you lose faith in humanity?

When discouraged or despairing over the state of society, it is easy to forget that Humanism is personal as well as societal. Each of us is a member of that species and society we are hoping to transform. As Julian Huxley —an influential early humanist thinker— put it, “Humanism is not merely a social or political program, but a personal philosophy of life.”

Being a humanist means living a life grounded in reason, inquiry, integrity, empathy and humility. Cultivating these attributes and living them consistently is itself a life-long endeavor. Though this standard is self-imposed, with none to answer to but our own conscience, it is difficult to achieve and maintain. Regardless of how well we succeed in this endeavor, the effort itself results in a better life.

The more we strive for rationality, the further removed from superstition we become. The more empathetic our worldview, the less anger and hate we feel. The more questions we ask and answers we find, the less ignorance we endure and the more wonder we experience. In the process, the frustration and dismay we feel toward the state of the world often gives way to compassion, if not pity.

Even so, in today’s cultural climate it is easy for even the most grounded humanist to feel isolated and discouraged. Despite years of decline, it feels as though religious affiliation is on the rise, particularly in the most toxic brands of theology. About 30% of Americans now qualify as Christian nationalism adherents (10%) or sympathizers (20%) and their political influence continues to grow. The “manosphere” couches its grievance and misogyny in biblical terms backed by divine authority. Formerly fringe theologians now preach from the White House.

As disheartening as these trends are, remember that they are a backlash to the gains made towards humanist goals. Though society is backsliding, it can only do so because progress has been made. It is difficult to find a pundit, political or theological, who doesn’t lament, in the words of Christian author Tim Lahaye, “the stranglehold” humanism has on America. The unifying motivation of religious populists and Christian nationalists is winning the country back from the forces of secularism. This in itself is revealing. The rallying cry, “Take Back America for God!” unintentionally acknowledges that it has already been lost.

At the moment, however, power resides with those who actively oppose humanist values and goals. Laws are disregarded. Institutions are being dissolved. Science is being ignored. Opposing voices are ridiculed and often forcefully silenced. The odds are definitely stacked against us.

A sensible response to the current social and political climate would be to surround ourselves with likeminded individuals, hunker down in our self-created enclaves of rationality and wait for the tide to shift. Unfortunately, this is not an option if we are to remain true to our values.

Two of The Ten Commitments of Humanism are “Peace & Social Justice” and “Service & Participation.” For those who take those commitments seriously, activism is an important part of our lives. The current environment can make that activism seem futile or even punishing, like Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the mountain with no hope of ever reaching the summit. But sometimes reaching the summit isn’t the point. In the words of Camus, “The struggle itself is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

There is a term in Sanskrit, Niṣkāmakarma (निष्कामकर्म), that means desireless action, or doing what is right without clinging to the results. This is not passivity; it is engagement without illusion. This worldview is a saving grace for humanists in these difficult times. We do what is right, because it is right, not because success is assured. We live as we do because our values call us to do so. It is essential to the world that we succeed, but at an individual level, if we are true to our values, we already have.

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* Christian Nationalism Across All 50 States: Insights from PRRI’s 2024 American Values Atlas