Naturalistic Humanist communities will offer a new kind of experience, substantially different from those which are traditional and faith-based, supernaturally oriented, or existing freethought alternatives.
Activities offered by most freethought groups are usually educationally oriented, primarily focused on satisfying intellectual needs. Most meetings will have a lecturer or a panel followed by a question-and-answer session usually involving topics that, to the audience, are noncontroversial. The vast majority of freethought groups do not address attendee’s emotional, creative, spiritual and playful needs.
Given their narrow focus, it is understandable that, compared to the traditional faith based and supernaturally oriented communities, most freethought groups are small.
Traditional faith based and supernaturally oriented communities speak to a wide range of people’s needs but they do so in a manner designed to intensify commitment to the faith, not to activate self-actualization. The beliefs in many of those communities is that our humanity is hopelessly flawed and our highest value is realized only by transcending our lowly human condition and opening up ourselves to God, or by allowing some “higher power” to be expressed through us.
Unlike existing freethought groups, Naturalistic Humanist communities will address a wide range of needs, and unlike traditional faith based and supernaturally oriented communities, they will empower participants and support the fullest expression of their human potential.