Good without God: What do you think of humanism?

Are alternatives to religion, such as humanism, good replacements for organized religion?
    “Atheism alone, as the rejection of gods and the supernatural, cannot meet our deepest human needs for connection and inspiration,” writes Greg Epstein in his just-released book, "Good without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Believe." (He's in the photo at right.)
    Epstein is the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University. This chaplaincy “is dedicated to building, educating, and nurturing a diverse community of humanists, agnostics, atheists, and the non-religious at Harvard and beyond,” according to the organization’s web site.
    Defining humanism is a tall order. Here’s a short video clip of Epstein, providing his definition—one that he sums up in three words: Good without God.
    Part of his mission is to define what humanism is, not what it’s against. Humanists often debate the existence of God, when he says they should be focusing on the concrete alternatives to religious belief and practice.
    These practices often mirror religious practices. He promotes secular celebrations of the major moments in life, such as “baby naming ceremonies” that involve friends and family. Others choose “welcoming ceremonies” as another alternative.
    An alternative to choosing “godparents,” he says, should be a public ceremony for choosing and naming “guide parents.”
    Secular wedding ceremonies are another obvious alternative to a religious wedding. “After the vows are exchanged,” he writes, “I think it’s good to ask those in attendance to answer a question: do you, this couple’s family and friends, promise to encourage and support them in creating a strong and vital marriage? The answer is always ‘We do’.”
    What do you think of Epstein’s advice?
    Is humanism a reasonable alternative to traditional religious beliefs and practices?
    What secular practices do you engage in, if any?

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