MILESTONES, sort of

Today, I finished a book (FLIM-FLAM by James Randi)

YIPPEE!  I have so many books, most partly read, but some also 100% not read.  And a few completely read.

Not too many days ago, my son Joe sent me a video clip of my grandson Oliver taking some of his first steps.  He turned 1 on August 12.

Now, because I'm "converted" to James Randi's thinking and sense of humor, I'm ready to tackle the world - MY world - sort of.  And since Randi's a humanist, I want to know more about that.  I'm still a believer in Creator-God, and I talk to CG every morning, soon after I realize that I've lived to greet another day.

So, humanism.  I'm in 9th Grade, sort of, and my teacher uses the word "humanism" and asks if anyone knows what it means.  No hands go up.  So she asks, "What do you THINK it means?"

I'm giving my "what I think it means" below.  Don't laugh.  After I've written what I think it means, I'll search for the meaning, and then decide if I want to be one.

Taylor's initial definition/guess on HUMANISM:  The philosophy/thinking that human beings are a product of evolution, and are capable of becoming something unique through their own devices; while there might be a creator, a human being acts independently of that creator, and is responsible for what he becomes.

Hmmm.... I'm not particularly happy with that.  But I'm curious. 

So I'll first consult Wikipedia:
Humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence (rationalism, empiricism) over established doctrine or faith (fideism). The meaning of the term humanism has fluctuated, according to the successive intellectual movements which have identified with it.^[1] Generally, however, humanism refers to a perspective that affirms some notion of a "human nature" (sometimes contrasted with antihumanism).
In modern times, humanist movements are typically aligned with secularism and with non-theistic religions.^[2] Historically however, this was not always the case.


OK.  So maybe I was a bit close by saying that a Humanist still might believe in a creator.  But the striking difference I noticed (between my initial stab at it, and Wikipedia) is that I spoke from a point that asks what I will DO with my human existence.  Wiki defines Humanism as merely a state of being defined by evidence and rational thinking and not by established doctrine.  So..... doing v being.  NOT mutually exclusive.  But it points out where my thinking sort of comes from (i.e., the Plan of Salvation taught in Mormonism; iow, what are you DOING with your life?)

Well, my brain is the place I think things.  At least I THINK it is.  And it's filled with a bunch of anecdotal evidences presented by HUMANIST Randi, that show there is no "supernatural" or "paranormal" force - as far as he knows - acting within our human environment.

If I follow my life-long pattern of "learn-possibly assimilate-forget,"  all this will likely fade away.  Especially at my age of 64.  Some might say "why should it?"  but I say it's what happens to me in most cases.  I can recall some stuff, and I forget some other stuff.  Because I'm also a procrastinator (and lazy, too), I'm not going to try to evaluate what I recall, and what I forget.  I'm going to hope........ HOPE -- that I will retain the important stuff of the book, and move forward with evaluating (and remembering, I hope) what I learn about Humanism.

But not now.  Now I'm going to turn on the TV and watch some mindless advertising, sprinkled with what America calls news/entertainment.  Feed me.