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The Genesis of a Humanist Manifesto

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Have you ever noticed that the first Humanist Manifesto (of 1933) was much more sympathetic to religion than the later Manifestos? Well, perhaps that's because 15 of the original 34 signers were Unitarians, and the ideal of "Religious Humanism" prevailed among the signers. American philosopher John Dewey said that he was willing to sign it precisely "BECAUSE it had a religious context."

That's quite different from the later Manifestos (e.g., Manifesto II and III; Secular Humanist Declaration; A Declaration of Interdependence; IHEU Minimum Statement on Humanism; Humanist Manifesto 2000; the 2002 Amsterdam Declaration).

Well, Edwin Henry Wilson was THERE---he was one of the original signers, as well as a Unitarian minister, and even the first Editor of "The Humanist" magazine. His book is filled with many insights about how the first Manifesto came into existence.

(Interestingly enough, Wilson notes that Corliss Lamont and Paul Blanshard---later secular Humanist luminaries---didn't sign the first Manifesto. And few scientists and social scientists signed it.)

This is not a "book for the MASSES," but for any of us with Humanist sympathies (or at least an interest in the subject), it is fascinating reading.