Does life have meaning if one rejects belief in God? This book responds affirmatively to that question. Paul Kurtz, America's leading secular humanist, provides a powerful defense of the humanist alternative, rejecting both religious spirituality and nihilism. In this inspirational book, Kurtz outlines the basic virtues of the secular humanist outlook. These virtues include
courage
, not simply to be or to survive, but to overcome and
become
; that is, to fulfill our highest aspirations and ideals in the face of obstacles. The two other virtues Kurtz identifies are
cognition
(reason and science in establishing truth) and
moral caring
(compassion and benevolence in our relationships with others.) Kurtz offers an optimistic appraisal of the human prospect and outlines a philosophy both for the individual and the global community.