Higher Calling

As Spiritual Humanists we recognize a Higher Calling, the Calling to make a the world a better place. Despite the centuries that have past since human reason was first used to build a better world by combating ignorance, superstition, and tyranny we still find ourselves at a crisis point in human history.

There is a powerful way that each one of us can help reason prevail and prevent our descent into a second dark age of ignorance: Spread and promote rationalism. It may seem obvious to you that all beliefs should be based on reason and the scientific method, but it is not so clear to many in the general population. The entrenched powers depend on a systematic miasma of confusion and ignorance that maintains their status and obscures spiritual truth.

We must test all assumptions, and challenge all traditional opinions, along every step of the path to understanding the true nature of the cosmos. We can only get there if rationalism is widespread and respected as a compelling vision for humanity.

IN THE NEWS

A Dawning Age of Unreason
In 21st-century America, people seem to prefer placing their unquestioning faith in divine mysteries than worshipping at the altar of science.

By Will Englund February 27, 2005

Reason has been taking a beating recently, and it's not hard to see why. If Americans are flocking to religious faith, to revealed dogma, to creationism, to a place where no one pays any heed to a logic based on if x then y, it's because reason gave us a world that hardly makes sense anymore.

see full story at

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/booksmags/bal-bk.reason27feb27,1,7930166.story?coll=bal-artslife-books&ctrack=1&cset=true

EDITORS NOTE:

Technology cannot be produced by faith, nor can the advancement toward religious truth.

READERS WRITE IN

If you have a question feel free to email me at info ( at ) spiritual humanism.org
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Sandy & Evan write:
Why is exorcism excluded from acceptable rituals an Ordained Clergy Person may perform. Is it the demon paradigm itself that Spiritual Humanism opposes, and if so, on what grounds? What if, hypothetically, one hypothesizes that a demon (an invisible, perhaps non-physical entity) is present and then conducts exorcism experiments of a scientific nature to investigate this field? Has this research been performed? If so, what have the findings been?
Thanks for the information and may peace be with you in these troubled times.
Sandy & Evan

REPLY

Sandy & Evan,
Spiritual Humanism requires verifiable scientific evidence for religious beliefs. Since there is no such evidence that people can be possessed by supernatural entities that can be driven out by exorcism the Church does not permit this practice, especially because these rituals can lead to injury and death.
If verifiable proof that invisible, non-physical entities existed the Church would be very interested indeed! As far as I know no such research has ever achieved a positive result.

Best regards,
RA Zorger

CONCLUSION

Mark your calendar! The Spring Equinox is March 20th at 7:33 am EST. The Officiant's Manual includes information on celebrating the Spring Equinox, sample ceremonies, etc., and the companion CD has marriage laws for all 50 states. It's are available in our online store http://www.spiritualhumanism.org/shop.htm The fees charged for these packs are our only income and help defer the cost of the web site, advertising, PO Box, and fund the purchase of a permanent location for our regular religious services.

RA Zorger
President, The Church of Spiritual Humanism

News
There is no god, church billboard proclaims
Thu, 01 Sep 2011
While the local Mid Ohio Atheists group thinks the billboard promotes their own message, some confused Christians have complained. The purpose of the billboard was to make people think more about their beliefs and promote the church's website.

Osama Bin Laden Is Dead, Time To Bring Home the Troops
Mon, 02 May 2011
He is gone and that’s a good thing. Now it is time for America to get our house in order. It is time to end the wars and occupation that Bin Laden provoked. His goal was to pull us in to conflict with all of the Muslim world so that they might unite under his banner to battle against us. In this he failed. We have prevailed and now it is time for us to move on to face even greater threats and challenges.

Happy Spring Equinox
Sun, 20 Mar 2011
The Spring Equinox is today March 20th 2011. Also known as the Vernal Equinox, the official start of spring occurs today at 7:21 pm Eastern Daylight Time. If you are interested in the spiritual aspects of the natural event take a look at my Spiritual Equinox 2011 celebration post.

Spring Equinox 2011
Mon, 14 Mar 2011
Each season has its own flavor, and atmosphere. The essential nature of spring is hope. Even though the whole of winter's bluster has not entirely faded, there is a change in the air. The days have slowly been growing longer to noticeable degree. There are no fruits in vegetables coming in for harvest but the crocus has sprouted and come into bloom.