We opened today’s Platform with the induction of new member Jamie and her two kids into Society membership by Membership co-chair Lisa Schwartz and ECS Pres. Susan Lesh. Jamie’s school age kids have become enthusiastic ECS Sunday School students.
This being the first of the month, ECS Leader Joe Chuman gave today’s platform address which was entitled, “Is it About Me or Us? How Should I Direct My Life?”
Joe’s talk dealt with the question of what it means to Humanists to be an autonomous individual and to what exent are we accountable to others?
In traditional monotheistic religions we are beholden to a supreme, supernatural being who gave us not just life but also free will. As Humanists, whether or not we believe in the supernatural, we recognize that we are part of a web of relationships to our family, our friends, and our community, and that to a great extent it is this set of relationships that gives meaning and purpose to our lives. This in no way diminishes our individuality, rather it recognizes that we are social creatures who do not live in isolation from others.
