Let’s be more

July 10, 2011

Cory Derringer compared the human race to moss... in a good way!

This post originally appeared on UNI Freethinkers & Inquirers blog.

If the universe were completely void of life with the exception of some thin and insignificant layer of moss on a random rock hurling through space, that moss (if it were conscious) would think, "Wow, the universe is perfectly designed so that I could exist." It's because the moss infers design with an end goal in mind, and that end goal is the current situation, regardless of whether that situation is ideal. It's the ultimate head-start for theism. Well, I call bullshit.

We are that thin layer of moss, clinging for dear life to some unimportant rock in a suburb of some unimportant galaxy. The most important thing to remember is that this view does not diminish the value of humanity. On the contrary, we should treasure humanity, and we should do everything possible to ensure that this life (which is, as far as we can tell, the only life we get) is as good as possible for as many if our fellow creatures as possible.

Gods don't make life worth living. Being the object of a divine plan doesn't make life worth living. Humanity--and to that end, humanism--makes life worth living.

With this in mind, although I don't want to get too specific just yet, I have an idea for something that is going to bring humanism and secular values to the forefront of discussion at UNI.

I want to change the way people think of UNIFI. I want to be more than just "that blasphemy group"; I want to be the group that stands for the humanist values that so many of us (even some who identify as theists) cherish. Stay tuned.

About the Author: Cory Derringer

Cory Derringer is a senior at the University of Northern Iowa where he is studying Psychology. He is the current President of the <a href="http://www.unifreethought.com/">UNI Freethinkers and Inquirers</a>, a group he has been involved with for three years.