“Every word has consequences. Every silence, too.” Jean Paul Sartre Humanism Church logo humanism.church
Every choice we make, even choosing to do nothing or stay silent, has a consequence that can change our life's trajectory. We can change our future one word at a time. #Humanism #Existentialism #Sartre #Philosophy #HumanismChurch
“An intellectual man in complete solitude has excellent entertainment in his own thoughts and fancies, while no amount of diversity or social pleasure, theatres, excursions and amusements, can ward off boredom from a dullard.” Arthur Schopenhauer Humanism Church logo humanism.church
A thoughtless man will have a dull mind. We must expand and grow our intellects because there is no amount of external stimulus that can replace genuine thought. #Humanism #Philosophy #Schopenhauer #HumanismChurch
“The fundamental difference between signs and symbols is this difference of association, and consequently of their use by the third party to the meaning function, the subject; signs announce their objects to him, whereas symbols lead him to conceive their objects.” Suzanne K. Langer Humanism Church logo humanism.church
Our lives are filled with signs of all sorts but even more so with symbols. They are endlessly created and fill both our external and internal worlds with meaning and context. #Philosophy #SuzanneKLanger #Humanism #HumanismChurch
“Wonder is the seed of knowledge.” Francis Bacon Humanism Church logo humanism.church
The wonder of the universe never diminishes no matter how much knowledge we acquire, and is always enticing mankind to learn and understand more. #Philosophy #FrancisBacon #Humanism #HumanismChurch
“Contemplation is the highest expression of man’s intellectual and spiritual life. It is that life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive.” Thomas Merton Humanism Church logo humanism.church
The ability for deep contemplation is uniquely human and where we are free to be ourselves. Our minds are our own to control separate from the human world. #Humanism #ThomasMerton #Philosophy #HumanismChurch
Truths reveal both themselves and falsity. Without truths upon which to construct our moral and ethical systems, they'll collapse like a building constructed on loose sand. #Philosophy #DaVinci #Humanism #HumanismChurch
Truths reveal both themselves and falsity. Without truths upon which to construct our moral and ethical systems, they'll collapse like a building constructed on loose sand. #Philosophy #DaVinci #Humanism #HumanismChurch
“These new products, which are decidedly of our own making, are our myths, our ideas, and especially our scientific theories: theories about the world we live in. I suggest that we may look up on these myths, these ideas and theories, as some of the most characteristic products of human activity. Like tools, they are organs evolving outside our skins. They are exosomatic artefacts.” Karl Popper Humanism Church logo humanism.church
Our ideas and theories are creations of our own human genius, as real as the tools and objects we can create but even more powerful. They help us understand the physical world in which we all live. #Humanism #Popper #Philosophy #HumanismChurch
“A boundary is not that at which something stops but, as the Greeks recognized, the boundary is that from which something begins its presencing.” Martin Heidegger Humanism Church logo humanism.church
We cross over boundaries every day, and we can choose to cross over a boundary and start anew whenever we want. Every day is an opportunity to push your boundaries farther or cross them. #Humanism #Philosophy #Heidegger #HumanismChurch
A peaceful forest scene with tall trees and sunlight streaming through the leaves, illuminating a path on the forest floor. Centered on a light overlay is the quote: “To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don’t grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float. In the midst of insecurity, there is a sanctuary.” — Alan Watts. Bottom left shows the Humanism Church logo, and bottom right reads “humanism.church”.
We can and must find sanctuary in the midst of our daily lives, or we will surely drown in them. Instead of fighting the waters for survival, we can rise above and live. #Humanism #Philosophy #AlanWatts #HumanismChurch
A serene cave-like setting with stalactites hanging from above and clear blue water below. Centered on a light overlay is the quote: “However expressive, symbols can never be the things they stand for.” — Aldous Huxley. Bottom left shows the Humanism Church logo, and bottom right reads “humanism.church”.
The symbols in our minds can never be expressed with complete fidelity since the meanings we assign to them are always personal and unique to ourselves. #Philosophy #Humanism #AldousHuxley #HumanismChurch
A scenic mountain landscape with wildflowers in the foreground and clouds over distant peaks. Centered on a light overlay is the quote: “Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom.” — Bertrand Russell. Bottom left shows the Humanism Church logo, and bottom right reads “humanism.church”.
Philosophical thought is more than just idle contemplation or day dreaming. It can expand the boundaries of our knowledge and understanding and it helps shake off the constraints of our own familiar perspectives and assumptions. #Philosophy #Russell #Humanism #HumanismChurch
A tranquil garden scene with a pond, moss-covered stones, and lush greenery. A koi fish swims near the bottom. Centered on a light overlay is the quote: “True intelligence operates silently. Stillness is where creativity and solutions to problems are found.” — Eckhart Tolle. Bottom left shows the Humanism Church logo, and bottom right reads “humanism.church”.
Contemplation is quiet, and mostly incompatible with the noise of modern living, but it is when our minds are still that we can discover the most profound thoughts. #Humanism #Philosophy #EckhartTolle #HumanismChurch
A snowy forest with tall trees and soft sunlight casting long shadows across the snow. Centered on a light overlay is the quote: “The truth is a snare: you cannot have it, without being caught. You cannot have the truth in such a way that you catch it, but only in such a way that it catches you.” — Søren Kierkegaard. Bottom left shows the Humanism Church logo, and bottom right reads “humanism.church”.
We can't own truth or capture it. We can only apprehend it or be captured by it. Truths exist outside of ourselves and it is our ability to learn and understand that make it possible for truth to ensnare us. #Humanism #Philosophy #Kierkegaard #HumanismChurch
A star-filled night sky forms the background. Centered on a light rectangular overlay is the quote: “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” — Plutarch. Bottom left shows the Humanism Church logo, and bottom right reads “humanism.church”.
We are not merely empty repositories into which you can pour information. Our minds consume information and through our experiences and thinking it is transformed into knowledge and wisdom. #Philosophy #Humanism #Plutarch #HumanismChurch
A serene beach at sunset with waves rolling onto the shore under a warm orange sky. Centered text reads: “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.” — William James. Bottom left shows the Humanism Church logo, and bottom right reads “humanism.church”.
Our attitudes and preconceptions greatly influence how we experience the world and also how we interact with other people. We each have the power to change these things spontaneously, for ourselves. #Philosophy #Humanism #WilliamJames #HumanismChurch
Image of a sunlit forest with tall trees and rays of light streaming through the leaves, illuminating a path on the ground. Overlaid quote reads: “The humanity in his person must be holy to him.” — Immanuel Kant. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
That sanctuary that we each have in our minds is inviolable is something to be treasured and respected. We must maintain our minds as the sacred space where we're truly free to exist authentically. #Humanism #Philosophy #Kant #HumanismChurch
Image of a cave with stalactites hanging from the ceiling and clear blue water below, reflecting the rock formations. Overlaid quote reads: “We think only in signs.” — Charles Sanders Peirce. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
Language may influence our thoughts but we do not think in language; our thoughts are more than words or pictures. They have ineffable qualities that aren't easily expressed. #Philosophy #Peirce #Humanism #HumanismChurch
Image of a bright mountain landscape with wildflowers in the foreground and mountains under a partly cloudy sky in the background. Overlaid quote reads: “Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all knowledge.” — Abraham Joshua Heschel. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
The first philosophers were inspired and energized by the wonders they saw surrounding them. The capability to experience wonder and awe is a gift from nature. #Philosophy #Heschel #Humanism #HumanismChurch
Image of a tranquil garden with a small pond, moss-covered stones, and greenery surrounding the water. A fish is visible near the bottom. Overlaid quote reads: “Leisure is a form of that stillness that is the necessary preparation for accepting reality; only the person who is still can hear, and whoever is not still, cannot hear.” — Josef Pieper. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
True understanding and appreciation come from contemplation and deep thought. In order to open your mind to greater understanding you must shut out all noise and disturbances. #Philosophy #Pieper #Humanism #HumanismChurch
Image of a snowy forest with tall trees and sunlight shining through the branches, casting long shadows across the snow. Overlaid quote reads: “The hardest thing to see is what is in front of your eyes.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
Without thinking clearly and deeply, we can overlook the obvious. We must be open minded to the world around us. If we don't increase our understanding we might as well walk around with blinders on. #Humanism #Philosophy #Goethe #HumanismChurch
Graphic with a starry night sky background. Centered on a light panel is the quote: “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” — Abraham Maslow. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
Without an open mind receptive to new possibilities and ways of thinking, we limit ourselves and our thinking. It is not enough to be observant. We must be willing to learn and change. #Philosophy #Maslow #Humanism #HumanismChurch
Graphic of an ocean shoreline at sunset with waves rolling onto a sandy beach under an orange sky. Overlaid quote reads: “To venture causes anxiety, but not to venture is to lose one’s self… and to venture in the highest is precisely to be conscious of one’s self.” — Søren Kierkegaard. Humanism Church logo and the text “humanism.church” appear at the bottom.
Anxiety and trepidation are both normal experiences and healthy. Without pushing the limits of ourselves we can't grow. Turning away from growth we'll wither and die. #Philosophy #Kierkegaard #Humanism #HumanismChurch
Image of a quiet forest with tall trees and soft sunlight filtering through the leaves, illuminating a path on the forest floor. Overlaid text reads: “I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.” — Henry David Thoreau. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
Solitude doesn't have to be lonely. To be alone with one's own thoughts can be fulfilling and even rejuvenating. It's also a place where we're truly free to be ourselves without pretense. #Philosophy #Thoreau #Humanism #HumanismChurch
Image of a rocky coastal cave with turquoise water and sunlight illuminating the rock formations. Overlaid text reads: “Physical reality seems to recede in proportion as man’s symbolic activity advances. Instead of dealing with the things themselves man is in a sense constantly conversing with himself.” — Ernst Cassirer. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
Symbols not only enhance our understanding of the world and communicate with others, but through our ability to transform materials we can bring into the physical world symbols. #Philosophy #Humanism #ErnstCassirer #HumanismChurch
Inspirational quote graphic over a scenic mountain landscape with clouds and a wildflower meadow in the foreground. Centered text reads: “The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” — Rachel Carson Humanism Church logo appears in the lower left corner. The text “humanism.church” appears in the lower right corner.
The more we appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us, the less easily we can stomach its destruction. #Humanism #Conservation #RachelCarson #Philosophy #HumanismChurch
Image of a peaceful garden pond with green moss-covered rocks and plants surrounding the water. A koi fish swims near the bottom of the image. Overlaid text reads: “It is perhaps the advantages of our times that bring with them a decline and occasional underestimation of the vita contemplativa. But one must admit to himself that our age is poor in great moralists… that work and industry… sometimes seem to rage like a disease. Because there is no time for thinking, and no rest in thinking, we no longer weigh divergent views: we are content to hate them.” — Friedrich Nietzsche. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
Real contemplation cannot be productive. We are not machines to be optimized for efficiency. The closer you get to machine-like efficiency, the farther away from humanity. #Humanism #Philosophy #Nietzsche #HumanismChurch
Image of a snowy forest with tall trees and sunlight shining through the branches. Overlaid text reads: “The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of… We know the truth not only by the reason, but also by the heart.” — Blaise Pascal. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
Humans are not purely rational animals, and while we have that capacity, we also have other resources to draw on. Our feelings can give us clarity and guidance beyond comprehension. #Humanism #Philosophy #Pascal #HumanismChurch
Image of a star-filled night sky with a light nebula-like glow in the center. Overlaid text reads: “Language is a labyrinth of paths. You approach from one side and know your way about; you approach the same place from another side and no longer know your way about.” — Ludwig Wittgenstein. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
Our language helps us order our thoughts and learn but also help us understand them. The very construction of our language informs how we perceive the world. #Humanism #Philosophy #Wittgenstein #HumanismChurch
Image of a beach at sunset with waves rolling onto the shore. Overlaid text reads: “For the beginning is thought to be more than half of the whole, and many of the questions we ask are cleared up by it.” — Aristotle. Humanism Church logo appears at the bottom left, and the text “humanism.church” appears at the bottom right.
There is always a new beginning available to us, if we're prepared to invest the time and effort into something new. Getting started can be time consuming and difficult, but rewarding. #Humanism #Philosophy #Aristotle #HumanismChurch
Image of a peaceful forest with sunlight streaming through tall trees and illuminating a path on the forest floor. Overlaid text reads: “Nowhere you can go is more peaceful – more free of interruptions – than your own soul.” Marcus Aurelius Humanism Church logo appears in the lower left corner. The text “humanism.church” appears in the lower right corner.
There is always an impermeable sanctuary within each of us where we can go. It's quiet and still and totally private. #Humanism #Philosophy #MarcusAurelius #Stoicism #HumanismChurch
