Quotes About Humanhood

realize there are some teachings that claim we are completely perfect and spiritual now, and therefore all of this would be unnecessary. In our spiritual identity that's true; but it certainly isn't true of our humanhood. And it is our humanhood, or to our humanhood, that we are trying to bring light so that we may outgrow this humanhood

A person is either himself or not himself; is either rooted in his existence or is a fabrication; has either found his humanhood or is still playing with masks and roles and status symbols. And nobody is more aware of this difference (although unconsciously) than a child. Only an authentic person can evoke a good response in the core of the other person; only person is resonant to person.

There is another use of the term 'human', one proposed by Joseph Fletcher, a major figure in the development of bioethics. Fletcher compiled a list of what he called 'Indicators of Humanhood' that includes the following: self-awareness, self-control, a sense of the future, a sense of the past, the capacity to relate to others, concern for others, communication and curiosity.