Changing cultures .......

The impact on this on religion, politics and culture will be profound. Already the alliances of the 20th century are breaking down. Political parties are almost indistinguishable from each other as the seek to show how they can best manage a modernising economy rather than having a set of alternative values from which the electorate can make a reasoned choice. The traditional established religions of the last two centuries have been in decline for some time with falling membership and attendance. And our cultures are becoming more diverse leading to both increasing cosmopolitanism and parochialism at the same time – a contradiction that has the potential for disharmony and conflict.

The challenge for humanists and those with humanist values is to inject some cohesion into the chaotic and uncertain culture of change that surrounds us like a whirlwind. The danger is that humanists will get sucked into the old debate and tensions and as if the 20th century is no longer over. Rather than create alliances with those who hold similar values of compassion and self discovery, they may fall into the old trap of attacking all those who do not sign up to a 19th century rationalistic perspective. If they do then they will end up joining forces with the very movement that has led to arch modernity that seeks to impose and control. Humanism has to be both rational and understanding.