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Intro to Humanism Part 6A: 19th Century Precursors to Religious Humanism - Page 2

© Lynne H. Schultz

Meanwhile precursors to Religious Humanist ideas began to spread within certain groups. Elias Hicks from Long Island began preaching about the "Christ within" and the relative unimportance of the virgin birth, the crucifixion, resurrection and other fundamental Biblical beliefs. Hicksite, a liberal wing of the Society of Friends (Quakers) now emphasizes social progress over doctrines such as these.

Humanistic tendencies spread among the Jewish community as many Jews (along with many Unitarians) became involved in the founding of the Ethical Culture at this time, and later on in the founding of Humanistic Judaism as well. Ethical Societies in Britain and America took on some of the social and educational work that had traditionally been done by churches.

Felix Adler, a Reformed Rabbi, founded Ethical Culture in 1876 because he wanted to create a society focused on ethical behavior rather than creedal statements. To that end, Adler excluded ritual and prayer from the meetings. Ethical Culture, like Humanism, believes in the worth of every person. Adler argued that we should each use our uniqueness to bring out the best in others and ourselves. Although Adler was not an atheist, Ethical Culture welcomes both atheists and theists and has provided such services as free kindergarten, nursing, housing for homeless families and orphans, schools and other projects, all without efforts at proselytizing or indoctrination.

Another Ethical Society formed in 1888 when a congregation of a dissenting Unitarian chapel in London, led by American minister Moncure Conway, rejected the belief in the existence of God. Other Ethical Societies followed, meeting to discuss ethical issues and share cultural or educational events such as concerts, lectures and dances. Together with Stanton Coit, they united in 1896 to form the Union of Ethical Societies, which later became the Ethical Union, and then much later in 1963 became the British Humanist Association.

The Leaders' statement of 1895 explained the Ethhical Culture's use of the word "religion". Ethical Culture is a religion when religion is defined as "passionate devotion to a supreme cause."

Ethical Culture was also active in the formation of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in 1909. The Ethical Culture movement spread from the US to Europe and an international association of Ethical Societies and Humanist groups formed, which is now called the IHEU (International Humanist and Ethical Union).

Some 19th century philanthropists such as George Baille and Andrew Carnegie were non-believers. George Baillie (1784-1873) endowed Baillies's Institute for the education of workers, and offered prizes encouraging rationalist and deistic writings. American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) openly rejected all creeds. When asked why he had donated organs to many churches, he said he hoped "that the music would distract the audience from the rest of the service."

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