Susan Rich Talks…with Humanist Jen Hancock

It started off as a sedate discussion.

We were talking about the philosophies of Socrates, Thomas Jefferson, Spinoza…and then the chat room lit up, a caller chimed in, and co-host Annemarie Schuetz closed her Retro Kitchen so we could keep talking with Jen Hancock, author of the Humanist Approach to Happiness.

What got us fired up? In part religion — or, to be more accurate — a non-religious approach to being a good person, without worrying about the after-life, or following the dictates of established religion.

We all aspire to being good people, doing good works for the short time we walk this planet. But the Humanist perspective deals solidly with the here and now – a naturalist, not super-natural, approach.

Jen explains: If a farmer’s crops are dying from lack of water, he and his community might pray for rain. The Humanist approach eschews the prayer and instead shifts into problem-solving mode: Digging a ditch for irrigation, looking for tactical ways to solve the immediate, physical reality of no water.

Not too long ago, such a belief was blasphemous here in this US. (It’s still a hot topic, if you think about how polarizing religion is in today’s political debate.)
And in some countries (think Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran) – it is still a crime punishable by death to disagree with the established religion of the land.

Humanists are analytical, pragmatic “free-thinkers” — the movement does not subscribe to ANY formal religious belief, nor does it denounce formalized religion, or anyone who practices religion. Humanism is just another way of looking at life as a sentient being.

To believe or not believe

There’s more to Humanism than whether you should pray for rain or dig an irrigation ditch.  Humanists lean hard on the idea of ethics and morality, and that is why Jen wrote her book. “Actions have consequences,” she says. Humanism is more about how to evaluate the pros and cons of any situation before you take action.

Jen shared the story of a young girl who’d had sex with a boy she just met. She thought he was her boyfriend; that he would call her again. It dawned on Jen that many young girls were not clear about the difference between dating, relationships and sex. She wrote the book for young adult readers to address this question, among others.

The themes presented are so universal that the book is being translated into Swahili in hopes it will help stem the unprotected sex that leads to AIDS.

Did you miss the show?

If you think you missed a great show — you’re right. So please join us again next week on Susan Rich Talks…Friday Potpourri.

Susan Rich Talks airs live 5 days a week, 11 am ET on The All Women’s Radio Network, and Potpourri is every Friday morning. Join me and my co-host Annemarie Schuetz as we talk about the thought-provoking topics, or uplifting news that ends the work-week on a bright note.

If you want to be a guest, a co-host, or sponsor the show, contact me. I can help boost your personal visibility with some great, get-you-noticed tactics.

~sr~