Existential Humanism: How to Live Authentically in Today's World

By Ronald Haines

Existential humanism is a tool to provide a sense of what the world is all about and how the individual can fit into it without having to compromise who they are.
The author could have put his scholarly hat on and made this a 500 page tome, but that would have exhausted him and bored you. Today's reader looks for bite- sized nuggets written in plain English, so that is what you'll find in these pages.

Something is wrong with the way many people are living their lives. How do we know that? Let's consider the following facts:
The most common regret of dying people is that they didn't live their lives being true to themselves, and instead did what others expected of them.
Many people are suppressing their feelings in order to keep peace with others, and thereby settling for a mediocre existence, never becoming the person they are capable of being.
When fear of change causes people to pretend to others and to themselves that they are content, when deep within they long to laugh and have the silliness of childhood back in their lives, something is clearly wrong.
A third of Americans admitted that they regret many of the major life decisions they have made and wish they had taken more risks when making those decisions.
When asked to design their ideal life, half of Americans respond that they would like to live a life unique to their own interests instead of following a traditional path.
When people do not realize that happiness is a choice, that they can simply choose to break free of the comfort of the familiar and the established, something is definitely wrong.
Do not wait for the clarity of impending death before you realize that something is wrong in your own life.  Instead, recognize that you can gain that clarity now. 

Choose to live your life filled with happiness and personal satisfaction. Take control and live an authentic life with Existential Humanism.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Haines Communications
• Release date: Nov 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781637860250

Ronald Haines

Ronald thoroughly enjoys his life and has a fully working understanding of what life is.  He is a perpetual student, constantly seeking out new information and updating his world view when he comes across knowledge that expands it. He is also a teacher, sharing what he has learned with interested others, and in this way may be able to contribute to the progression of humanity. He has no need for superstition or rote belief in anything, and lives life on his own terms. He is a firm advocate of individual freedom and its necessary companion, personal responsibility.

Book preview

Existential Humanism:  How to Live Authentically in Today's World

by Ronald Haines

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Copyright © 2022

Table of Contents

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Preface:  Something is Wrong

Introduction

Chapter 1:  Overview

Chapter 2:  Becoming Authentic

Chapter 3:  Embrace Your Humanity

Chapter 4:  Religion

Chapter 5:  Atheist Perspective

Chapter 6:  Belief and Faith

Chapter 7:  Truth

Chapter 8:  Science

Chapter 9:  Other People

Chapter 10:  Who You Are

Preface:  Something is Wrong

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Something is wrong with the way many people are living their lives. How do we know that? Let's consider the following facts:

The most common regret of dying people is that they didn’t live their lives being true to themselves, and instead did what others expected of them.

Many people are suppressing their feelings in order to keep peace with others, and thereby settling for a mediocre existence, never becoming the person they are capable of being.

When fear of change causes people to pretend to others and to themselves that they are content, when deep within they long to laugh and have the silliness of childhood back in their lives, something is clearly wrong.

A third of Americans admitted that they regret many of the major life decisions they have made and wish they had taken more risks when making those decisions.

When asked to design their ideal life, half of Americans respond that they would like to live a life unique to their own interests instead of following a traditional path.

When people do not realize that happiness is a choice, that they can simply choose to break free of the comfort of the familiar and the established, something is definitely wrong.

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Do not wait for the clarity of impending death before you realize that something is wrong in your own life.  Instead, recognize that you can gain that clarity now. 

Choose to live your life filled with happiness and personal satisfaction. Take control and live an authentic life with Existential Humanism.

Introduction

––––––––

I could have put on my scholarly hat and made this a 500 page tome, but that would have exhausted me and bored you. Today’s reader looks for bite- sized nuggets written in plain English, so that is what you'll find in these pages.

Existential humanism is the tool I developed to provide a sense of what the world is all about and how the individual can fit into it without having to compromise who they are. Life is simple, but not particularly easy. I encourage you to live it, enjoy it, be a part of it, but don’t diminish all the life around you by attempting to give it a reason for existing. Rather, recognize that there is no meaning to life beyond the meaning we individually give our own lives.

Chapter 1:  Overview

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TODAY'S ISSUE WITH RELIGION

We hear a lot in the news nowadays about the newest religion being no religion at all.  Many people are abandoning their long held religious beliefs, often referring to themselves as spiritual-but-not-religious, or atheist. Established religious doctrine is simply no longer working for these people as they try to make sense of the modern world, and the resulting feeling of unrest, angst, is causing significant religious exodus.

How is it that religions that have been a source of answers and comfort for people for hundreds, in some cases thousands, of years suddenly appear to be broken? Certainly, there are multiple and varied reasons on the individual level, but by standing back and taking a big picture look the driving force behind this movement becomes quite clear. Religions arose concurrently with civilizations in more-or-less homogeneous, stable societies. But societies today are rapidly becoming less homogeneous, and people are being exposed to new information and scientific discoveries on an almost daily basis.

While increased knowledge and more information about the world is certainly a positive occurrence, in many cases it has caused people to question what their particular religions may have led them to believe, and this conflict between long held beliefs and current information encourages them to reach out for answers to calm their growing feelings of angst. I have always considered religions in a positive light in that they provide people with a sense of comfort, community and a ‘track to run on’ through life and give the individual a sense of who he is relative to the world at large. Unfortunately, when people today reach out to them in search of answers, the traditional solutions offered by their religious leaders frequently results in more angst, and often compounds it with a sense of guilt about incorrect thinking which many find they can do nothing about. Dissatisfied and not willing to simply stop thinking, these are the people who are leaving their religions in search of something that will be a better fit for them. But where can they go?

As human beings they seek answers to the big questions about life, but what religion exists for the individual who enjoys free thinking and constantly questions the nature of the world around him? According to studies, many of them are becoming atheists.  But that term is most likely being misapplied in these cases since atheism isn’t about the absence of religion; there are numerous secular religions in the world.

Religions provide a sense of belonging, being a part of society as a whole, to the point where people who may not believe in them often go along with them so as not to be ostracized, but doing so is also a cause of inner turmoil. Existential humanism is not about being critical of any religion; an essential part of this approach is the equal recognition of all religions and the freedom of individuals to follow whatever path they wish. A later chapter will explore what a perfect religion might look like, and provides a guide for anyone attempting to find a religion that is more suitable for them.

I present existential humanism as an