During a discussion yesterday at an event organized by Humanesia—oh, by the way, Humanesia is a humanist organization from Indonesia that’s officially recognized as a member of Humanists International—we talked about humanism: what it is, what Humanesia and Humanists International represents, and why it matters. At one point, the speaker asked: Why do you prefer to be labeled as a humanist instead of an atheist?
Reflecting on My Identity
At that moment, I couldn’t answer. That question had never crossed my mind before. Honestly, I’m never confident labeling myself as a humanist. But since then, I’ve been thinking about it, and now I think I know the answer.
The reason I prefer to identify as a humanist rather than atheist is because I’m not entirely sure I’m an atheist. While I am 100% non-religious, I’m hesitant to label myself strictly as an atheist. I’m a pantheist and I feel more comfortable with the term humanist because it encompasses a broader and more inclusive perspective. Humanism isn’t just about being non-religious or rejecting theism—it’s about a commitment to humanity as a whole. It includes people who are religious and non-religious alike.
The Larger Meaning of Humanism
Humanism, to me, represents something larger than the binary divide of religion versus atheism. It goes beyond atheism and focuses on our shared humanity. It’s not about thinking I’m better than anyone else or being self-righteous. Instead, it’s about striving every day to be a good person. After hearing some participants’ answers, I realized I’m not alone in feeling afraid to be labeled as a humanist because it might sound pretentious to some.
For me, identifying as a humanist is both a commitment and a reminder. It’s my responsibility to keep working on becoming a better person. How do I define being a good person? By treating others the way I’d like to be treated.
In the end, I think being a humanist gives me a greater sense of purpose. It’s not just about rejecting the idea of God—it’s about embracing humanity and the work we need to do to create a better world for everyone.