This article originally appeared in the SSA eMpirical No. 19 - After the Conference.

SSA Board Member Andy Buttler writes about the New Humanism Conference’s Saturday panel, entitled “Toward an Abrahamic Humanism?”  The panel spotlighted the three major Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) and their compatibility with humanism.

Saturday’s panel, “Toward an Abrahamic Humanism,” spotlighted the different flavors of humanism that have emerged from secularized Jewish, Christian, and Islamic societies.

Rabbi Sherwin Wine of the Society for Humanistic Judaism discussed the influence of the humanistic tradition within Jewish culture. Although roughly half of the world’s Jews are nontheists, many remain interested in their Jewish identity. “Why do I have to throw away the culture,” Rabbi Wine asked, “if I have no interest in the religion?” He also explored humanism in general, suggesting that the difference between religious and humanist values is that “the old value system emphasized redemption through suffering, whereas the new humanist value system aims to reduce suffering.” As for humanism today, Rabbi Wine argued that it’s been very good at “gathering the wounded,” but that the next challenge is to present a positive humanism with mass appeal beyond those who feel they’ve been victimized by religion.

Rev. Dr. William Murray spoke next on the post-Christian humanism of Unitarian Universalism, which he noted has never had a creed and can thus change with the times.  He explained how Unitarian Universalists celebrate human life and believe in the value of reason, intellectual honesty, and community.

Salman Rushdie wrapped up the panel with his perspective on secular Islam in his homeland of India. The Indian subcontinent has a rich history of skepticism, he said; Pakistan was founded by an agnostic, and most Indian Muslims from the 50's onward tend to identify more with the culture than with the religion. Rushdie’s father was fascinated with the chronological disorder in the Qur’an, and critical discussion of religion was welcomed in his home. Rushdie concluded with a call for more open dialogue within Islam about God, religion, and society.

Salman Rushdie is also featured in this month's episode of the HNN Podcast.  You can listen in for free at  http://humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=295&article=0

This article originally appeared in the SSA eMpirical No. 19 - After the Conference.