An Interview with Amjad Sattar
Scott Jacobsen: Was there a family background in humanism?
Amjad Sattar: Yes, our great grandparents were secular and pragmatic in nature. They co-existed with multiple faith believers until their children had to leave their ancestral land due to division of Greater Punjab & Bengal on religious grounds by the colonial masters.
Jacobsen: When did humanism become the philosophical and ethical worldview for you?
Sattar: I had been participating in free thinkers’ forums since 2002. My friends, who had more schooling than me, were active in study circles against religious dogmatism in Pakistan. Thousands of innocent citizens have been murdered since 1977, due to state sponsored extremist clergy. Seeing the predicament of innocent dissenting voices in this country, the importance of humanism was a natural development for me.
Jacobsen: What seems like the main reason people become humanists? What is the best argument for it?
Sattar: There are reasonable solutions for existing human problems by using scientific and rational approach. Blind faith on scriptures has spread chaos and bloodshed through the history.
Jacobsen: What is your current work? How does your humanist value set influence this work?
Sattar: Besides my business, I am promoting Humanism, wherever I can for peace and solidarity with fellow human beings.
Jacobsen: What are the main threats to humanism today?
Sattar: Extremely religious and dogmatic stance of terrorists and some nation states, for political gains under any sort of funding or sponsorship is a major threat to Humanism. We got to resist religious narrow mindedness all over the world.
Jacobsen: Thank you for your time, Amjad.
