If somebody asked you about the difference between humanism and humanitarianism, what would you say? I’d begin by quoting Albert Schweitzer: ‘Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose.’ Then I’d point out that this is a principle to which most humanists would at least pay lip service, but that humanists often embrace other principles besides (e.g. scientism, atheism, anti-clericalism, etc.) which sometimes take precedence over humanitarianism in their respective scales of value. I’d also point out that religious belief is not necessarily incompatable with humanitarianism. And I would probably end by suggesting that humanitarianism is the antithesis of the ‘us vs. them’ mentality that characterises many … Continue reading whitecraw