Life stance
A term for ultimate concern, encompassing religious and non-religious views.
A life stance, or lifestance, defines an individual's relationship with what they consider ultimately important, encompassing both the presuppositions behind that view and a commitment to live it out in theory and practice. It represents an integrated perspective on reality and valuation, closely related to the concept of a worldview, though the latter is more common and comprehensive. The term was deliberately created as a neutral, shared label that includes both religious perspectives—such as Buddhist, Christian, or Pagan life stances—and non-religious spiritual or philosophical alternatives like humanist, personist, or Deep Ecology life stances, without favoring any.
The phrase originated in the mid-1970s, coined by humanists involved in educational matters, particularly Harry Stopes-Roe of the Rationalist Press Association and British Humanist Association. It emerged from debates over the City of Birmingham’s Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, which referenced "non-religious stances for living." Stopes-Roe later led a successful campaign for the term’s adoption by the International Humanist and Ethical Union, though it was controversial among some humanists. The term was introduced to establish a clear identity for Humanism and gain recognition and respect. Stopes-Roe defined a life stance as a style and way of living based on a coherent set of values and beliefs, which may be theistic or non-theistic. The British Humanist Association later offered a more analytical definition drawing on jurisprudence related to "religion or belief" in the European Convention on Human Rights. Orthographically, a life stance may be distinguished from general support of a cause by capitalizing the first letter, as in Humanism versus humanism, though not all life stances follow this convention. A life stance emphasizes what is of ultimate importance, differing from a worldview or belief system in that focus, and from eupraxsophy, which typically implies a strictly non-theistic outlook. Religious life stances often involve supernatural claims, moral codes, rituals, and traditions, while non-religious alternatives include atheism, agnosticism, secular humanism, and various philosophical systems. Different life stances hold different intrinsic values and purposes.
- coined_by
- Harry Stopes-Roe
- field
- Philosophy of religion, education
- known_for
- Developing the concept of life stance
- associated_organizations
- Rationalist Press Association, British Humanist Association, International Humanist and Ethical Union
Lore & Background
A person's life stance defines their relationship with what they consider ultimately important, resting on foundational presuppositions and a commitment to live by them in both thought and action. It offers an integrated view of reality and how to assign value, making it similar to a worldview, though the latter is more common and comprehensive. The term serves as a neutral label for both religious perspectives—such as a Buddhist, Christian, or Pagan life stance—and non-religious spiritual or philosophical alternatives, including a humanist, personist, or deep ecology life stance, without favoring any. A life stance emphasizes what is of ultimate importance, distinguishing it from a worldview or belief system. It also differs from eupraxsophy, which is strictly non-theistic, whereas a life stance may be theistic or non-theistic, supernaturalistic or naturalistic. The orthography of a life stance can be indicated by capitalizing the first letter, as in Humanism versus general humanism, though not all life stances follow this convention. Different life stances hold different intrinsic values and purposes in life.
Reader's Guide
The term 'life stance' was introduced to establish a clear identity for Humanism and gain recognition and respect, aiming to describe what is good in both Humanism and religion without being encumbered by what is bad in religion. Stopes-Roe defined it as 'the style and content of an individual's or a community's relationship with that which is of ultimate importance; the presuppositions and commitments of this, and the consequences for living which flow from it.' The British Humanist Association later offered a more analytical definition based on jurisprudence related to 'religion or belief' in the European Convention on Human Rights. The term differs from worldview or belief system by emphasizing ultimate importance, and from eupraxsophy by including both theistic and non-theistic outlooks. Its orthography distinguishes a life stance (e.g., Humanism) from general support of a cause (e.g., humanism) by capitalization of the first letter, though not all life stances use this convention.
Did You Know?
- The term 'life stance' was coined in the mid-1970s by humanists interested in educational matters.
- The term was intended to be a shared label encompassing both religions and alternatives to religion without discrimination.
- Stopes-Roe hoped the term would end arguments among humanists about how to characterize their position.
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