Reason and Reverence: Religious Humanism for the 21st Century

by William R. Murry

Answering the critics who find humanism lacking the power to inspire, Murry brings a new vision of religious humanism?one that evokes compassion, spirituality and a language of reverence while grounded in reason, community, social responsibility, science and ethics. Along with an accessible account of humanism's historical development, theological challenges and future directions, on these pages readers will discover a more open and inclusive humanism, one that speaks to the heart as well as the mind.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Spirituality, Philosophy

183 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2006

About the author

William R. Murry became a Unitarian Universalist minister in 1977, first serving the congregation in Bloomington, Indiana. He began a 14-year tenure at the River Road Unitarian-Universalist Church in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1980. In 1994 Murry was tapped to become President and Academic Dean of Meadville-Lombard Theological Seminary. Murry is credited with saving the school fiscally and reviving it's reputation for providing a world-class pastoral education. Retiring in 2003, Murry travels and writes, teaches, and sermonizes on Religious Humanism.

Reviews

[David Killian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between theism - classical and new-age - on the one hand, and classical humanism on the other, Murry plots a third, overlooked, course: Humanistic Religious Naturalism. Where theism presents many with paradoxes unacceptable to reason and modern science, and classical humanism has no answer to traditional religion and spiritual problems that naturally arise and which draw good people into faith. Its locus classicus, then timely, is now ironically dated: from the same year Hitler consolidated power, 1933’s “Humanist Manifesto." With the problem of evil since spreading and mutating virally, this humanism's moral optimism is more than passe, it’s plain hard to buy. In fact, two of its central doctrines are in serious conflict (perhaps they always were so, and now it’s just too obvious). The allegiance to reason against faith or ungrounded belief of any sort no longer fits the Rousseauan claim of humanity's natural goodness, which, given the apparent facts of human selfishness and capacity for cruelty, can only be held as an article of faith.
Meanwhile, theism today seems to have no trouble winning converts and, and to many of us that spells trouble. And the crazier the theology, the more its adherents breed, which spells many multiples of trouble. Thus, far from countering this tendency, perhaps confused - its members withdrawn to lead lives of private irony (Rorty) while fighting often defensive, piecemeal, political battles - classical humanism has had something of a quiet subsistence existence for some time now. For those of us concerned that our world-view is not only true, but politically effective as well, humanism's inability to win new adherents with the kind of pace needed to survive, let alone grow (let alone take over the world, muah ha), makes it all the more insufficient.
In this context, Murry’s intervention is sorely needed and deeply welcome. Put that together with a style of broad appeal, being both accessible and stimulating, and you've a real winner. I should think further that it merits at least consultation from anyone who is minimally open-minded.
Humanistic Religious Naturalism promotes virtues of decency, love, dignity and respect for all being, gratitude for life and reverence for fortune, wonder at nature’s fantastic intricacies. It understands religiosity as an attitude towards life and concern over the world-community rather than as the function of an institution. It has an up-to-date scientific worldview and a morality grounded in nature yet not incompatible with spirituality likewise grounded. In short, it fits appropriately on the shelf between Jerry Stone’s Religious Naturalism Today (via which I discovered this author) and Ursula Goodenough’s Sacred Depths of Nature.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look forward to using ideas and excerpts of this book for my upcoming sermon at my Unitarian Universalist congregation on the topic of sacred nature. What I appreciate most is that it goes beyond secular humanism to re-sacralize nature for us. Humans are at the center of the universe anymore, and our theology should reflect that. It can feel dense and repetitive at times, so enjoy some coffee while you read.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about humanism as understood from the perspective of religious naturalism. In fact, Murry calls his approach "humanistic religious naturalism," and writes:

"I believe it is important to conceive of religious humanism within the broader context of religious naturalism, one of the most exciting developments in religious thinking in the last century." (p61)

"As a religious humanist, I use the word spirituality to refer to a quality of life in the here and now, a quality that has to do with genuineness, depth, and devotion to values other than my own self-interest." (p108)

I have been a humanist and a naturalist for several years, and when I left organized religion, I thought I had given up being a religious person. However, as I read this book and learn what it means to be a reasonable person and have reverence for the wonderful aspects of this natural universe in which we live, I am finding that I am still a religious person in a humanistic and naturalistic way as described by William Murry.

I recommend this book to any humanist or naturalist who wants to learn more about what it means to have reverence for nature and for life.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murry has written a great introduction to religious humanism including a history of the movement as well as his view of where it needs to go to stay relevant to today's world.

I am a little disappointed that Murry's history of the religious humanism truly begins in the 1920's and ignores Felix Adler and the Ethical Culture movement, founded 1876.

[T.Kay Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even when a book isn't written in a supremely compelling manner, if it lays out nearly a mirror image of my belief system in a way that I cannot yet articulate and in a more precise and complete way than any other source that I have found, I have got to give it 5 stars. This book really nailed it for me.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just acquired this book yesterday. I have read a few pages before returning to my Little Book of Atheist Spirituality.....also very exciting

[Pkandis]

State of the art religious / spiritual thought by the past president of a liberal read free thinking university school. Please also see Spiritual Evolution by Dr Geo Valient

[Pamela]

or, Making the Manifesto: The Birth of Religious Humanism

[Colleen Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily accessible theological overview of religious humanism and religious naturalism.