I find it difficult to marshall an
argument in favor of the survival of secularism at a time when our
species seems to be displaying an almost universal willingness to
follow narrow-minded, shortsighted, and ignorant leaders. I certainly
hope that secularism will survive as the loss of free thought and
rationalism is too depressing to contemplate.
In some respects, the current swing toward faith-based fundamentalism may bring future generations to their senses. Clearly, the fundamentalists are going to continue to create sociopolitical conditions where world peace and real global development cannot take root. One can only hope that the basic human qualities of free thought will overcome the consequences of “herd” behavior and from this will emerge a new generation of practical and rational leaders.
Am I optimistic that this will happen soon? No, I am not, and I believe we will see far greater problems before things begin to get better. I am thankful that immortality is but a fiction and that I, along with many other secular rationalists, will not have to live with these problems.
Richard E. Leakey is a world-renowned paleontologist and environmental activist and a former director of the National Museums of Kenya. He is a Laureate of the Academy of Humanism.
CFI SUMMIT
OCTOBER 24-27 2013
TACOMA, WASHINGTON
Joint Conference of the Council for Secular Humanism, Center for Inquiry, and Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
The transnational secular humanist magazine
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