People of faith often argue that without God, there can be no morality.
Indeed, without religion, our lives are left without meaning and are
likely to degenerate into moral chaos. In this Very Short
Introduction, philosopher Stephen Law explains why these claims are
false and why humanism--though a rejection of religion--nevertheless
provides both a moral basis and a meaning for our lives. Indeed, Law
shows that humanism is a quite positive alternative to religion. The
humanist is not simply one who denies the truth of religious belief, but
one who believes we can enjoy meaningful, purposeful, and good lives
without religion. And far from embracing moral nihilism, humanists are
often deeply committed people, to be found at the forefront of many
important ethical campaigns. Law goes on to show how the term "humanism"
is used in a variety of ways. Marx described himself as a "humanist" but
the Pope has also expressed support for what he calls "humanism." Law
argues for humanism as
it is most commonly understood--as a positive, moral form of atheism.