Comments on: Winterlight Day

By: Ash

Ash — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:20:15 +0000

That’s very clever, Erwin However, the holiday that I’m referring to is, in my opinion, a largely American secular event. The fact that it occurs in our winter is relevant, not merely an accident of the position of the Earth relative to the Sun. You will note that I did not claim that the holiday needed to reflect a global ethic (although it might, even if at different times of the year), but that Humanism does aspire to, which is where I sense a conflict. But it’s my own reaction to the name, and I don’t expect anyone else to necessarily share it.

By: Erwin Hessle

Erwin Hessle — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:03:42 +0000

I don’t think you can say that “Winterlight” creates a “global ethic” when it excludes an entire hemisphere.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:30:00 +0000

I like Winterlight…it actually has a nice ring to it…though I don’t think Solstice is the private property of the neopagans.
In limited experience with humanists my impressions is their open mindness, compassion, and world view, as enlightened as it is does not extend beyond humans. It is by its very term exclusive. I don’t think there is a way around that. I much prefer the term naturalist, religious naturalist, or even ever more popular term sacred naturalist.

By: Ash

Ash — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:31:40 +0000

My wife is a UU, I grew up UU, and I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t know about Chalica. After reading up on it, I think it’s a wonderful extended ritual. In fact, that is my initial take on it, that Chalica is more of a ritual than a holiday. Not that that is a bad thing, of course…ritual is important. The nice thing about it is that I can see any group incorporating it into their tradition…there is nothing there that contradicts the major world religions, even though it is grounded in UU tenets.

Thanks for the reference! Folks can read more here…

By: Ash

Ash — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:21:46 +0000

I don’t dig on making a holiday that is specifically about humanism because to my mind that goes against the idea of humanism, which is to create a global ethic rather than a sectarian one. That’s why I propose “Winter”, which is more about the season than the people celebrating it. In that sense, I guess HumanLight is too self-referential for my taste.

But I didn’t intend any insult to Humanism. I’m a dedicated humanist myself and Sacred River incorporates humanist principles. I’m sorry to hear that you’ve met some bad eggs, but in my own experience, humanists tend to be thoughtful, open minded, and compassionate.

As to your last question, the holiday of Solstice has been adopted by the Neopagans, and I think they should be able to keep their own tradition. In fact, Winterlight is far closer to the secular form of Christmas.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:29:34 +0000

I agree…way to anthropocentric as is humanism in general. Every humanist I have yet met or read, and my exposure is of course limited, is so small in their world view, as human centered as any fundamentalist I have met…such a chain of being is as dysfunctional and misguided as the religious anthropocentric positions. Even the name ‘humanism’ is a turn off. btw..I like ‘Winterlight’ too but isn’t that the same as ‘Solstice’ ?

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:47:01 +0000

We are UU an celebrate Yule as well as a secular Christmas and the new UU holiday of Chalica