Humanism As Religion—Sir Julian Huxley

Quoted in Creation Ex Nihilo 22(4):23 (Sepember–November 2000)

A religion is essentially an attitude to the world as a whole. Thus evolution, for example, may prove as powerful a principle to coordinate men’s beliefs and hopes as God was in the past. Such ideas underlie the various forms of Rationalism, the Ethical movement and scientific Humanism.

Humanism: An outlook that places man and his concerns at the centre of interest. Modern Humanism, which does away with traditional Christianity, is characterised by its faith in the power of human beings to create their own future, collectively and personally.

In other words, evolution = religion. That is, people (not God) set whatever rules they want. In practice, this usually becomes “might makes right,” including the tyranny of the majority.

Reference

Huxley, Sir Julian, ed., Growth of Ideas. The evolution of thought and knowledge (London, England: Macdonald, 1965), 99, 336.