Fish Stark Visits Denver
Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association, visited Denver, Colorado, and spoke at the Secular Hub and at the Jefferson Humanist Chapter Meeting on February 22 and 23.
Fish is a dynamic and inspiring speaker about Humanism. In a meeting with Humanist Chapter leadership, Stark spoke of AHA being something for people to belong to, to believe in, and to fight for. In that context, he spoke of restructuring the language around Humanism. Is Good without God enough to explain Humanism? Stark suggested “The Golden Rule without a Belief in God” as maybe more appropriate, sending the message of caring for others.
Fish reported that AHA would reopen the AHA legal center and fight for the rights of Humanists in lawsuits. He pointed out that Humanism is legally a religion. Lately, most lawsuits from Christians to protect their right to practice their religion have won. AHA is ready to fight for Humanists to practice their religion, Humanism. The fact that Humanism happens to not believe in a god is irrelevant to the definition. Another goal of AHA is to support local chapters like Jefferson Humanists and the Secular Hub.
In his public presentation at the Hub, Stark spoke eloquently about Humanism. He said Humanism is a belief in people where the highest moral good is to help others. Humanists believe in human dignity and potential. Humanists answer questions about our ethical and moral relationships with others. No supernatural being is coming to save us. We are responsible for building the relationships we want. We must build the world we want. The cause of anxiety in our world today is insecurity. Humanism can provide security in the community to help with this anxiety.
Stark was asked how to live a Humanistic life in today’s society. Stark said you can still be civil and confront people. We can recognize the ability for redemption in everyone and that they can change; that regardless of political opinion, there is a basic humanity in everyone, that people are individuals. Stark went on to say that we can be American heroes by being Humanists and that we can make a difference.
At the Jefferson Humanist Chapter Meeting the next day, Fish spoke on How & Why Humanist Ideas Power America Now. He said that Humanists believe in human wealth and dignity, have a philosophy of imagination, and push the boundaries of the possible. Humanists were the original innovators of the concept of separation of church and state. Stark spoke of noted Humanists throughout American history: John Dewey who reformed our public educational system; Maslow who developed the hierarchy of needs beyond basic survival; Benjamen Spock who reformed the understanding of child development; Jonas Salk who saved lives through a vaccine; and Steve Wozniak who transformed technology. These and others pushed back on what people assume is possible.
In the field of human relations, Stark mentioned Emma Goldman who fought for birth control, and Gloria Steinem who helped found the National Organization of Women (NOW). Turning to literature, spoke of Samuel Clemens who changed literature, and, in modern times, Christian Bell (A Good Place) and Quinta Brunson (Abbot Elementary) brought Humanist ideas to television.
Stark finished by saying that people are looking for a path beyond the tyranny of social custom. Humanism connects us to our past heroes and helps us look for and become our new and current heroes. We look forward to having Fish Stark visit Colorado again.
