Why I choose humanism over faith | Leo Igwe

翻译人员: XING LI 校对人员: Yinchun Rui

Something happened

当我在修道院学习，

while I was studying in the seminary

想要成为一名牧师时，

and training to be a priest.

发生了一些事情。

I came in contact with a different idea of life.

我接触到了一种 截然不同的生活理念，

An idea of life that contradicted the main teachings of religion --

一种与宗教主要教义 相矛盾的生活理念——

humanism.

人文主义。

Some of you may be wondering, what on earth is humanism?

你们之中一些人或许会有疑问， 究竟什么才是人文主义？

Humanism is a way of thinking and living

人文主义是一种强调以人为本

that emphasizes the agency of human beings.

的思维和生活方式。

Humanism stresses the fact that we, human beings,

人文主义强调了一些事实，

are capable of changing the world.

即我们人类可以改变世界。

That we have the power to make a difference in our lives,

即便不求助于外部力量，

both individually and collectively,

我们人类，不论作为个体还是集体，

without recourse to some outside force.

都有能力使自己的生活变得不同。

It may interest you to know that the best humanist lessons I learned

如果我说，我所学习 的有关人文主义的最好一课

were not from reading philosophy books

并非源于哲学书籍，

or from poring over humanist manifestos and declarations.

也并非源于对人文主义宣言 的深度研习，你可能会感到好奇。

No, not at all.

没错，都不是。

The best humanist lesson I learned was from the life of my own parents.

我所学习的有关人文主义 最好的一课，是源于我父母的生活。

My parents come from a poor family background

我的父母都出生于 尼日利亚东南部城市

in Mbaise, in southeastern Nigeria.

姆巴依斯的贫寒家庭，

They had limited opportunities.

他们的机会十分有限。

But my parents did not allow the circumstances of their bad upbringing

但是他们不愿因自身贫寒

to determine the ambition and dreams for themselves and for their children.

而束缚自己和孩子们的理想与梦想。

My father worked part-time, trained as a teacher,

我的父亲找了份兼职工作， 经过培训成为了一名教师，

and rose to become a headmaster at a local primary school.

随后又升任了当地一所小学的校长。

My mother dropped out of school quite early,

我的母亲很早的时候就已辍学，

because her mother, my grandmother, could not afford her education.

因为她的妈妈，也就是我的祖母， 负担不起她的学费。

As a parent, my mother worked very hard,

作为家长，我的母亲十分努力，

combining farming, petty trading and taking care of my siblings and me.

她在干农活儿的同时，还要进行 一些小额贸易，并照顾我们几个孩子。

By the time I was born --

当我出生的时候，

that was shortly after the Nigerian civil war --

正值尼日利亚内战结束后不久，

life was very difficult, a struggle day by day.

当时人们的生活十分艰苦， 只能日复一日地挣扎。

My family was living in a hut.

我和家人们当时住在一个棚屋里。

With the eye of a child, I can still see water

我仍记得在我小时候，

dripping from the thatched roof of our house when it rained.

在下雨的日子，雨滴就会 从茅草屋顶滴落下来。

My father reared goats to supplement the family income.

我的父亲靠养山羊 来维持家庭的生计。

And part of my duty after school hours or during vacation

而我每天放学后， 或放假时的部分职责

was to feed these goats.

就是喂养那些山羊。

There was no electricity, no pipe with water.

当时家里没有通电，也没有自来水，

We trekked to fetch water from the nearby streams.

我们得长途跋涉至附近的溪流取水。

That was an easy work in the wet season,

在雨季里这项工作很容易，

but kilometers when it was hot and dry.

而到了炎热的旱季， 我们就要多走上几公里。

Through hard work and perseverance,

通过坚持不懈的辛勤工作，

my parents were able to erect a block apartment

我的父母终于建起了一幢公寓楼，

and send my siblings and me to school.

并送我和兄弟姐妹们去学校读书。

They made it possible for us to enjoy a standard of living

他们成功地让我们享受到了

which they never did

他们不曾拥有的生活，

and to attain educational levels

以及他们不曾拥有的教育，

which they only imagined when they were growing up.

这一切他们只曾梦想过。

My parents' life, their story, is my best lesson in humanism.

我父母的生活，他们的故事， 便是我学习人文主义的最佳一课。

So as a humanist, I believe that human beings

因此，作为一名人文主义者，

are challengers, not prisoners of faith.

我相信人类是信仰的挑战者， 而绝不是信仰的囚徒。

Our destinies are in our hands, not predetermined.

我们的命运掌握在自己手中， 而不是先天注定的。

And it's left for us to shape our lives and destinies

而如何依照我们的希望 与心愿来塑造

to reflect our best hopes and aspirations.

我们的生活与命运， 需要我们自己把握。

I believe that human beings have the power

我相信人类有能力

to turn situations of poverty into those of wealth and prosperity.

从贫穷变得富有。

We have the capacity to alleviate suffering,

人类也有能力缓解痛苦，

extend life, prevent diseases,

延长寿命，预防疾病，

cure debilitating ailments, reduce infant mortality

治愈危重的患者，降低婴儿的死亡率，

and preserve our planet.

并保护我们的地球。

But we cannot accomplish all these goals by wishful thinking with our eyes closed

但是我们无法仅凭 闭眼许愿，或纸上谈兵，

or by armchair speculation or by expecting salvation from empty sky.

又或等待救世主从天而降， 来实现所有的这些目标。

In contrast, millions of Africans imagine that their religious faith

数百万的非洲人都在 幻想着他们的宗教信仰

will help their dream come true,

将帮助他们梦想成真。

and they spend so much time praying for miracles

他们花费了太多时间 祷告奇迹的发生，

and for divine intervention in their lives.

以及有圣灵来改变他们的生活。

In 2009, a Gallup survey in 114 countries

2009 年，盖洛普公司 对 114 个国家进行了调查，

revealed that religiosity was highest in the world's poorest nations.

结果显示，在越贫穷的国家， 人们的信仰程度越高。

In fact, six of the 10 countries where 95 percent of the population

事实上， 有 10 个国家，其中 95% 的公民认为宗教是他们日常生活中

said that religion was an important part of their daily lives, were African.

十分重要的一部分， 而其中有 6 个是非洲国家。

In some cases, religion drives many Africans to extraordinary length:

有些情况下，宗教 使许多非洲人走向了极端，

to attack other human beings, to commit ritual killing,

他们袭击他人，或进行仪式性的杀戮，

targeting those living with albinism,

排斥白化病患者，

those with a humpback,

或是驼背的人。

and as I recently learned, those with a bald head.

而我最近又了解到， 他们还排斥秃头的人。

In Africa, superstition is widespread,

在非洲，迷信无处不在。

with so many people believing in witchcraft,

许多人都相信巫术，

something that has no basis in reason or in science.

而巫术是毫无根据，也不科学的。

Yet alleged witches, usually women, children and elderly persons

那些据说会巫术的人们 通常是女性，孩子，或者年长者，

are still routinely attacked, banished and killed.

而他们仍经常被攻击， 被驱逐，甚至被杀害。

And I've made it part of my life's mission

因此，我确定了我人生中的一个使命，

to end witchcraft accusation and witch persecution in Africa.

要终止在非洲发生 的巫术指控与巫术迫害。

So as a humanist, I believe in a proactive approach to life.

作为一名人文主义者， 我信仰积极的生活方式。

The changes that we want cannot be achieved only by dreaming

我们想要改变一些事情 并不能仅凭空想，

but require doing as well.

我们必须付诸行动。

The challenges that we face cannot go away

如果我们退缩，仅靠许愿与想象，

if we recoil and retreat into our shells, wishing and imagining

期待那些问题会神奇地消失，

that those problems will somehow magically disappear.

那么我们所面对的挑战将永远存在。

The good life that we desire will not fall like manna from heaven.

我们所希冀的美好生活 不会像甘露那样从天而降。

My parents did not erect a block apartment by wishing and dreaming.

我的父母并不是通过 许愿与想象建起公寓楼的。

They worked hard, they failed, they tried again.

他们辛勤地工作，不断历经失败， 但是他们屡败屡战。

They toiled with rolled-up sleeves,

他们捋起袖子埋头苦干，

with their hands deep in debt, they plowed ahead,

他们负债累累却仍奋勇直前，

growing their dreams into reality.

将自己的梦想化为现实。

So as a humanist, I believe we must be adventurous and even daring.

因此作为人文主义者，我认为 我们必须要有冒险精神，要有气魄，

The path of success is paved with risk and uncertainties.

通往成功的道路充满了 风险与不确定因素。

We have to muster the will and courage to do what people have never done.

我们必须坚定意志，鼓起勇气， 去完成从未有人完成的事情，

To think what people have never thought.

去思考从未有人思考过的事情，

Envisage what people have never imagined.

去设想从未有人想象过的事情。

Go to places human beings have not been to.

前往从未有人类到达的地方，

And succeed where people have tried but failed.

在前人失败的事上取得成功。

We must be ready to explore new frontiers of knowledge and understanding

我们必须准备好探索 知识与认知的新前沿，

and attempt doing not just what is possible

并不仅仅尝试那些可能之事，

but also what is seemingly impossible.

也要尝试那些看似不可能之事。

But I realize that at the end of the day,

我也明白到最后，

our efforts do not always yield our desires.

我们付出的努力并不总是 会实现我们的愿望，

We fail, we suffer disappointments and setbacks.

我们会经历失败，感到失望，遭受挫折。

Some problems, such as wars and conflict, poverty and diseases

有一些问题似乎永远无法解决，

and other natural and human-made disasters

例如战争与纷争，贫穷与疾病，

seem as if they may never go away.

以及其他一些人为或非人为的灾难。

Solutions to old problems have led to new dangers,

旧问题的一些解决方法 又会产生新的危险，

new cures to diseases have resulted in new health risks.

疾病的一些新疗法 又导致了一些新的健康危机。

But the fact that these problems persist

但即便这些问题很顽固，

and that solutions sometimes create their own problems

解决方案也可能带来新的问题，

is not a reason for us to give up or to resign.

这却并不能成为我们放弃的理由。

It's not a reason for us to think that our efforts are of no consequence.

我们也不应当认为 我们的努力毫无结果。

In fact, there is fulfillment in striving,

事实上，在我们砥砺前行，

and trying to provide answers and solutions

为人类所面临问题 寻求回答与解决方案，

to the problem humanity faces

甚至当结果很可能是失败时，

even when the likely outcome is failure.

这其中的过程也意义非凡。

So as a humanist, I believe we must not despair for humanity.

因此作为一名人文主义者，我认为

Even in the face of overwhelming difficulties

即使我们面对重重困难， 所处环境黯淡无光，

and in the bleakest of circumstances.

我们也不能对人类感到绝望。

Human beings are creative beings.

人类是富有创造力的群体，

We have the power to generate new ideas, new solutions and new cures.

我们有能力产生新的想法， 新的解决方案以及新的疗法。

So why despair when the unexpected knocks on the horizon?

所以当意料之外的事物发生时， 我们为何要感到绝望呢？

It is in our nature to create anew, to be inventive and innovative,

创造是我们人类的天性， 人类天生就会创造与创新，

so why languish in idle expectation of a savior from above?

那么我们为何又要心力憔悴地 等待着上天的救赎呢？

So it is time for us Africans to take our destiny in our hands

是时候让我们非洲人民 自己掌握自己的命运了，

and realize we have agency in the scheme of life.

是时候让我们非洲人民 明白我们是自己生活的主宰。

We need to put an end to this game of blame

我们应当停止抱怨，

that has prevented us from taking full responsibility for our own lives.

不再让它阻碍我们 为自己的生活负责。

For too long, we have been prisoners of our past.

我们作为自身历史的囚徒太久太久，

We have allowed despair and pessimism to drain us,

我们已被绝望与悲观榨干，

drain our energies, limit our imaginations

耗尽了我们的能量， 限制了我们的想象，

and dim our vision for a better and brighter future.

甚至使我们丧失了长远的眼光， 无法看到更美好，更光明的未来。

We have let this continent flounder.

是我们让非洲大陆苦苦挣扎，

Why passing the buck like a Frisbee?

为何要像扔飞盘那样推卸责任？

We've blamed slavery, colonialism and the new colonialism

我们经历困顿，甚至自作自受，

for the woes we experience, including our own self-inflicted wounds.

我们抱怨奴隶制， 殖民主义以及新殖民主义。

We have conducted ourselves

我们生活的方式就像是

in ways that seem as if Africa is damned and doomed.

非洲注定要在生死线上苦苦挣扎。

And that all these experiences in history

历史上的那些经历

have irreversibly, irreparably foreclosed the chances and possibility

都不可挽回地阻碍了

for Africa to emerge, thrive and flourish.

非洲的发展成长与繁荣。

We must realize that there is no part of the world

但是我们必须意识到， 世界上没有一个地方

that has not been colonized or enslaved in the past.

在历史上不曾受过殖民或奴役。

And if other parts of the world have moved on,

倘若世界上的其他地方 都能走向未来，

why can't we, now?

那么我们为何不能？

So as a humanist, I believe that the past is gone;

因此，作为一个人文主义者， 我认为过去的都已化为历史，

we cannot change it, we cannot alter it.

我们无法改变，无法选择，

But the future beckons us on with limitless possibilities

但是未来却有无尽的可能 正朝我们招手。

to recreate, reshape and remake our destinies.

我们可以重建，重塑， 重新书写我们的命运。

So let's all of us seize this opportunity.

那么就让我们抓住此次机会吧。

And as my parents did, begin the urgent task

就像我父母那样努力，

of rebuilding Africa, brick by brick.

开始一砖一瓦重建非洲的大计。

Let's give free reign to our ideas and imaginations,

让我们像 TEDGlobal 2017 中 阐述的那样，

as demonstrated at this TEDGlobal 2017.

自由放飞我们的观念与想象。

Let's open our hearts and minds.

让我们敞开心扉，解放思想，

And exert our energy, intelligence and ingenuity

发挥我们的能量，智慧，独创性，

and begin the urgent task of rebuilding Africa

开始重建非洲，

and of transforming this continent

使非洲大陆成为

into a citadel of unrivaled prosperity and civilization.

一片无与伦比的繁荣且文明的土地。

This is what I believe as a humanist, as an African humanist.

这就是我作为一名人文主义者， 一名非洲的人文主义者所的信仰。

Thank you.

谢谢各位。

(Applause)

（掌声）