The term humanism has been employed by numerous writers and critics throughout the twentieth-century. Seldom, however, has usage been unambiguous or consistent. In reality, America has given birth to a number of distinctive forms of humanism, some of which have religious connotations. This study offers a definitional prolegomenon of humanism, develops an original typology for religious humanism, and explains how humanism (including secular humanism) can be treated as a bona fide religion. Further chapters explore the impact of religious humanism on American culture and show the many ways in which it has been appropriated and transformed by a host of eminent thinkers. Among the most notable exponents of religious humanism treated in the study are: John Dewey, Walter Lippman, Bertrand Russell, Walter Kaufman, and Joseph Wood Krutch. Separate chapters treat humanism's historical roots and the criticisms leveled at the movement by both conservative Christian and secular writers. / The author maintains that religious humanism may best be explained as a complex phenomena with two identities: the doctrinal and the practical. Doctrinal religious humanism has sectarian features and its principles reflect statements found in the Humanist Manifestos. Practical humanism is an un-selfconscious, unstructured worldview which shares certain features in common with Doctrinal humanism but lacks its confessional quality. / Failing to recognize important differences between the several types of humanism, the religious right charges that all humanists--even those whose sole purpose is to support the "humanities--are dangerous and subversive. This study demonstrates that humanism is a multi-facted, individualistic aspect of American culture which poses little threat to anyone. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-09, Section: A, page: 3021. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74927 |
| Contributors | SCHULER, MICHAEL ANTHONY., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 272 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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