"HOMO RATIONALIS" AND HUMANIANITY

[Edit (1/30/2016): Note that the above wording is somewhat misleading. Humanianity is a “movement” within Religion in general, and within our species in general. Thus, it is not a religion to replace other religions, but a personal religious orientation that any person can have, whether he or she identifies with a specific religious tradition or not. Thus, any religious organization can become increasingly Humanian, just as can any individual, and any individual can consider himself or herself Humanian, no matter what his or her specific religious membership or identification might be, if any.]

In one sense, the religion is not new, in that we have begun to practice it to an increasing extent.

In another sense, it is indeed new, in that it has not been recognized as an official religion, it currently has no organization, and it has not even had a name.

I am giving it a name: "Humanianity." One who practices it I am naming a "Humanian." I will comment later on these names.

The pronunciation of "Humanianity" is "hu MAN ee AN i tee." The pronunciation of "Humanian" is "hu MAN ee an."

The definition of this religion is "the intention and advocacy to live completely by the REUEP."

The REUEP, given in the Introduction, is an ultimate ethical principle. There is no mandate to live by it. Living by it is not obeying someone. There is no reason to live by it. There is nothing logically above it. There is no proof that it is right, or good, or necessary. It is arbitrary. That is why it is "ultimate." You just decide to live by it (or don't).

But if you live by it (as your ultimate ethical principle), your life, and the lives of others around you, will be very, very different. That is what this book is about.

"REUEP" stands for "rational-ethical ultimate ethical principle." "Rational-ethical" has a special meaning, spelled out and elaborated upon in the free "textbook" available to everyone on the Internet at the PHILOSOPHY section of humanianity.com. The name of the book is:

Rational-Ethical Living and the Emergence of ‘Homo Rationalis’: FOR EVERYONE (The Most Important Book).

That book does not mention Humanianity but it will be helpful in understanding Humanianity within a broader context. It also will be helpful in understanding certain basic details about Humanian living.

In that book, "rational" means "consistent with the rules of logic and the rules of evidence," the tools which are especially relied upon in the scientific methods.

In that book, "ethical" means "pertaining to beliefs about what we should do."

In that book, "Homo rationalis" is the metaphoric name used to label our species at some time in its future when we will have, for the first time, begun to live in a drastically better manner than we ever have so far, no longer causing ourselves so much pain, suffering, disability, and early death (PSDED).

In that book, the thesis is that we have already begun to change in that direction, but that the change is so early in its development that it is difficult (though not impossible) to see. (In other words, our species is just a toddler.)

In that book, the thesis is that we will indeed at that time live, globally, by the REUEP--not that everyone will be equally successful, but that the global culture will agree upon the REUEP as the ultimate ethical principle, and will therefore have a much better life than we do now.

[Edit 09/03/2020: Since this book was first completed (01/23/2013), the name for the ultimate ethical principle of Humanianity has been changed from the Rational-Ethical Ultimate Ethical Principle (REUEP) to the Humanian Ultimate Ethical Principle (HUEP), because it became apparent that there could also be other ultimate ethical principles that could be adhered to rationally.]

Beyond your intention to live by the REUEP, there is no further requirement for being a Humanian. There is no required creed or belief about anything concerning the world or existence.

Yet there is much to be figured out, much to be decided upon, and much to start doing. And this book is an effort to promote that process.

This book consists of my opinions, which may be correct or not. None of these opinions are beliefs required by Humanianity.

However, my opinion is that these opinions of mine follow from a combination of the REUEP and what all of us can agree upon about the nature of the world, and therefore my prediction is that you are likely to agree with at least most of these opinions.