the background influences that have affected the development of humanism over the years. Numerous too, is the spectrum of those who have made these influences. It should be clear, therefore, as we endeavor to examine the background influences of humanism and their foundational philosophies, that humanism is not a creed or a dogma. Although it is true that the majority of humanists share the same view of man in relation to his universe; are critical of supernaturalistic attempts to deemphasize man’s