Belief in the ability of humans to reason and improve themselves?

The belief in the ability of humans to reason and improve themselves is a philosophy that doesn't necessarily deny the existence of God yet in it's normative practice by it's most ardent adherents, exempts any real need for God. The most ultimate example of this is the Renaissance Humanistic period where human ability as seen in the arts, mathematics, philosophy, etc., many say, had it's height. As painters, inventors, philosophers and the like began to experience more freedom from the church's authoritative rule, expression in some of it's most creative forms came forth.

Here, one felt no weight of the supernatural pressing on the human mind, demanding homage and allegiance. Humanity-with all its distinct capabilities, talents, worries, problems, possibilities-was the center of interest. It has been said that medieval thinkers philosophized on their knees, but, bolstered by the new studies, they dared to stand up and to rise to full stature (""Humanism"". "The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Second Edition. Cambridge University Press. 1999.)