Why I choose humanism over faith | Leo Igwe

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Peipei Xiang

Something happened

我經歷了一件事，

while I was studying in the seminary

那時我就讀神學院，

and training to be a priest.

受訓要成為神職人員。

I came in contact with a different idea of life.

我接觸到了一種不同的人生想法。

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

這種人生想法和宗教的 主要教義有所矛盾──

humanism.

人道主義。

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

在座有些人可能納悶， 人道主義到底是什麼？

Humanism is a way of thinking and living

人道主義是一種思考和生活的方式，

that emphasizes the agency of human beings.

強調的是人類的施為。

Humanism stresses the fact that we, human beings,

人道主義強調一個事實：

我們人類有能力改變世界。

are capable of changing the world.

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

我們有力量讓世界因我們而不同，

both individually and collectively,

不論是單打獨鬥或通力合作，

without recourse to some outside force.

而不用求助於外在力量。

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

你們可能會想知道， 我所學到最棒的人道主義課，

were not from reading philosophy books

並不是來自閱讀哲學書籍，

or from poring over humanist manifestos and declarations.

也不是來自熟讀 人道主義宣言及聲明。

No, not at all.

不，完全不是。

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

我所學到最棒的人道主義課， 是來自我父母的人生。

My parents come from a poor family background

我父母來自貧窮的家庭，

in Mbaise, in southeastern Nigeria.

位在奈及利亞南部的姆巴依斯。

They had limited opportunities.

他們的機會有限。

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

但我父母不讓那糟糕的教養環境

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

決定他們及孩子的野心和夢想。

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

我父親一邊打工， 一邊受訓成為老師，

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

升遷成為一間地方小學的校長。

My mother dropped out of school quite early,

我母親很早就休學，

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

因為她的母親，我的祖母， 負擔不起她的教育。

As a parent, my mother worked very hard,

身為家長，我母親非常努力，

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

同時務農、做小額貿易， 還要照顧我和我的手足。

By the time I was born --

到我出生時──

that was shortly after the Nigerian civil war --

那是奈及利亞內戰之後沒多久──

life was very difficult, a struggle day by day.

生活非常困苦，每天都是場硬仗。

My family was living in a hut.

我的家庭住在一間簡陋小屋中。

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

那時我還是個孩子， 到現在我還看得到

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

下雨時水從我們房子的 茅草屋頂滴落。

My father reared goats to supplement the family income.

我父親有養羊，來補足家庭收入。

And part of my duty after school hours or during vacation

我下課後或是假日時有一部分責任

was to feed these goats.

是要餵食這些羊。

There was no electricity, no pipe with water.

那時沒有電力，沒有自來水。

We trekked to fetch water from the nearby streams.

我們要艱苦跋涉到附近的溪流取水。

That was an easy work in the wet season,

在雨季，那是簡單的工作，

but kilometers when it was hot and dry.

但在又熱又乾的日子， 要走上數公里。

Through hard work and perseverance,

透過辛勤工作和堅持不懈，

my parents were able to erect a block apartment

我父母才得以建了一棟公寓，

and send my siblings and me to school.

並讓我和我的手足可以上學。

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

他們讓我們享受到的生活水平，

which they never did

是他們從來沒有的，

and to attain educational levels

讓我們達到的教育水準，

which they only imagined when they were growing up.

是他們成長時只能用想像的。

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

我父母的人生，他們的故事， 是我學過最棒的人道主義課。

So as a humanist, I believe that human beings

所以，身為人道主義者，

我相信人類是信仰的挑戰者而非囚犯。

are challengers, not prisoners of faith.

Our destinies are in our hands, not predetermined.

我們的命運掌握在 我們的手中，不是注定的。

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

要由我們自己來形塑 我們的人生和命運，

to reflect our best hopes and aspirations.

來反映出我們最好的希望和熱望。

I believe that human beings have the power

我相信人類有力量

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

能夠把貧窮轉變成富有和興榮。

We have the capacity to alleviate suffering,

我們有能力可以緩和苦難、

extend life, prevent diseases,

延長生命、預防疾病、

cure debilitating ailments, reduce infant mortality

治癒讓人衰弱的病痛、 減低嬰兒死亡率，

and preserve our planet.

並保護我們的星球。

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

但要達成這些目標，我們不能 閉上眼一廂情願地打如意算盤，

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

不能做不切實際的思索推測， 也不能期望救贖會從天上掉下來。

In contrast, millions of Africans imagine that their religious faith

相對的，有數百萬非洲人 想像他們的宗教信仰

will help their dream come true,

會讓他們的夢想成真，

and they spend so much time praying for miracles

他們花了好多時間在祈禱奇蹟發生，

and for divine intervention in their lives.

祈禱他們的人生中出現神聖的干預。

In 2009, a Gallup survey in 114 countries

2009 年，蓋洛普有一項 對 114 個國家進行的調查，

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

指出在世界上最貧窮的 國家，最多人篤信宗教。

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

有 95% 人口都說宗教是他們 日常生活重要部分的國家中，

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

有六成都是非洲國家。

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

在一些情況中，宗教驅使 許多非洲人到不可思議的程度：

to attack other human beings, to commit ritual killing,

去攻擊其他人類或犯下儀式性殺戮，

targeting those living with albinism,

把矛頭對準有白化症的人、

those with a humpback,

駝背的人，

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

我最近才知道，還有光頭的人。

In Africa, superstition is widespread,

在非洲，迷信是很普遍的，

with so many people believing in witchcraft,

好多人相信巫術，

something that has no basis in reason or in science.

那些沒有理由或是科學根據的東西。

Yet alleged witches, usually women, children and elderly persons

而被指控為巫師的人，通常 是女人、孩童，以及老人，

are still routinely attacked, banished and killed.

仍然經常被攻擊、流放，及殺害。

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

我的人生一大任務就是

to end witchcraft accusation and witch persecution in Africa.

要終止非洲對巫師的指控及迫害。

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

身為人道主義者，我相信人生 要採取積極主動的方式。

The changes that we want cannot be achieved only by dreaming

我們想達成的那些改變， 不是用夢想就會實現，

but require doing as well.

而需要行動。

The challenges that we face cannot go away

我們所面對的挑戰不會不見，

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

如果我們只是畏縮退怯地 在自己的保護殼當中，

that those problems will somehow magically disappear.

希望和想像那些問題會神奇地消失。

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

我們渴望的好生活不會像以色列人 漂泊時神賜的食物一樣從天而降。

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

我的父母並不是透過希望 和作夢而建起公寓的。

They worked hard, they failed, they tried again.

他們奮鬥，他們失敗， 他們再次嘗試。

They toiled with rolled-up sleeves,

他們捲起袖子苦幹，

with their hands deep in debt, they plowed ahead,

他們負債累累， 他們艱難地緩慢前進，

growing their dreams into reality.

把他們的夢想變成現實。

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

身為人道主義者，我相信 我們必須要冒險，要大膽。

The path of success is paved with risk and uncertainties.

成功之路舖滿了風險和不確定性。

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

我們得要堅定意志、鼓起勇氣， 去做以前沒人做過的事。

To think what people have never thought.

去想以前沒人想過的事。

Envisage what people have never imagined.

正視以前沒人想像過的事。

Go to places human beings have not been to.

去以前沒人去過的地方。

And succeed where people have tried but failed.

把其他人嘗試過 但失敗的事做到成功。

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

我們必須要準備好探索 知識和理解的新邊境，

and attempt doing not just what is possible

不只嘗試去做可能的事，

but also what is seemingly impossible.

也要嘗試去做似乎不可能的事。

But I realize that at the end of the day,

但我明白到最後

our efforts do not always yield our desires.

我們的努力不見得一定會 得到我們希望的結果。

We fail, we suffer disappointments and setbacks.

我們會失敗，會因為 失望和挫折而受苦。

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

有些問題，比如戰爭 與衝突，貧窮與疾病，

and other natural and human-made disasters

以及其他自然與人為災害，

seem as if they may never go away.

似乎永遠不會遠離。

Solutions to old problems have led to new dangers,

對舊問題的解決方案 反而導致了新的危險，

new cures to diseases have resulted in new health risks.

對疾病的新解藥反而 造成了新的健康風險。

But the fact that these problems persist

這些問題持續存在，

and that solutions sometimes create their own problems

且解決方案本身有時也會創造問題，

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

但這不是我們放棄或投降的理由。

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

這並不表示我們的努力就沒有結果。

In fact, there is fulfillment in striving,

事實上，我們的努力不會是白費的，

and trying to provide answers and solutions

我們試圖提供答案和解決方案，

to the problem humanity faces

來處理人類面對的問題，

even when the likely outcome is failure.

即使結果可能會是失敗。

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

所以，身為人道主義者， 我相信我們不能對人性絕望。

Even in the face of overwhelming difficulties

即使是面對讓人無法招架的困難，

and in the bleakest of circumstances.

即使是在最令人沮喪的情況中。

Human beings are creative beings.

人類是有創造力的。

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

我們有力量可以產生出新點子、 新解決方案，以及新解藥。

So why despair when the unexpected knocks on the horizon?

所以，為什麼要在未預期的 結果出現時感到絕望？

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

我們的天性就是要重新創造， 我們有發明才能也有創新力，

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

那為什麼要無根據地 期待救星從天而降？

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

該是我們非洲人掌握 自己命運的時候了，

and realize we have agency in the scheme of life.

要知道，我們在人生 計畫中都是有施為的。

We need to put an end to this game of blame

我們得要停止不斷地怪罪別人，

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

這樣我們才能對 自己的人生全權負責。

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

我們長期以來一直被過去給囚禁，

We have allowed despair and pessimism to drain us,

我們允許絕望和悲觀使我們耗竭，

drain our energies, limit our imaginations

耗盡了我們的能量， 限制了我們的想像，

and dim our vision for a better and brighter future.

模糊了我們的視線讓我們 看不見更好、更明亮的未來。

We have let this continent flounder.

我們讓這塊大陸舉步維艱。

Why passing the buck like a Frisbee?

為何要把責任像飛盤一樣丟來丟去？

We've blamed slavery, colonialism and the new colonialism

我們已怪罪過奴隸制度、 殖民主義，及新殖民主義，

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

怪它們造成我們所經歷過的痛苦， 包括我們自己造成的傷口。

We have conducted ourselves

一直以來我們都表現得

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

好像非洲已經被詛咒 且注定遭受厄運一樣。

And that all these experiences in history

歷史上所有的這些經歷

have irreversibly, irreparably foreclosed the chances and possibility

已經消滅了所有的機會和可能性， 不可挽回、不可彌補，

for Africa to emerge, thrive and flourish.

非洲永遠不可能出頭、興旺、茁壯。

We must realize that there is no part of the world

我們必須要了解， 世界上沒有一個角落

that has not been colonized or enslaved in the past.

在過去沒有被殖民過、奴役過。

And if other parts of the world have moved on,

如果世界上的其他地方 都已經走出陰影，

why can't we, now?

我們現在為什麼不能？

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

身為人道主義者， 我相信過去已經過去了；

we cannot change it, we cannot alter it.

我們不能改變它，修改它。

But the future beckons us on with limitless possibilities

但未來在向我們招手， 帶著無限可能，

to recreate, reshape and remake our destinies.

可以重新創造、重新塑造、 重新打造我們的命運。

So let's all of us seize this opportunity.

讓我們大家抓住這個機會。

And as my parents did, begin the urgent task

就像我父母一樣，開始這項一磚一瓦

of rebuilding Africa, brick by brick.

重建非洲的迫切任務。

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

讓我們自由支配我們的想法和想像，

as demonstrated at this TEDGlobal 2017.

就像在 TEDGlobal 2017 中 所展現的一樣。

Let's open our hearts and minds.

讓我們打開我們的心胸。

And exert our energy, intelligence and ingenuity

發揮我們的能量、智慧、巧思，

and begin the urgent task of rebuilding Africa

開始這項迫切任務，重建非洲，

and of transforming this continent

將這塊大陸打造

into a citadel of unrivaled prosperity and civilization.

成為無比繁榮和文明的安全城堡。

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

身為人道主義者，非洲人道 主義者，這是我所相信的。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）