If you don't believe in God, are you a secular humanist?

[gnosis92]

I'm curious as to why some nontheists do not also consider themselves secular humanists.

[AthenaAwakened]

Well, just like there are more than one kind of theist, there are more than one kind of atheist. When you think about it, theist and atheist are words that really don't tell you a lot about a person.

[Merzbow42]

I suppose an atheist who hates humanity could be termed a secular anti-humanist, so there you go.

[EarlOfLade]

I am and I think that the tenets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanist#Tenets) are something worth working towards.

[gnosis92]

I am and I think that the tenets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanist#Tenets) are something worth working towards.

I am deeply skeptical of Enlightenment philosophy.

[motorhead]

I am deeply skeptical of Enlightenment philosophy.

Why?

[gnosis92]

Why?

Because all putative rationalities are mere ideological covers for racist, classist, sexist, and elitists interests tied to, and cannot transcended, historicism.

[JustBlazed]

Because all putative rationalities are mere ideological covers for racist, classist, sexist, and elitists interests tied to, and cannot transcended, historicism.Yes, because the need to test beliefs with reason, evidence and the scientific method are elitist and racist at the same time. :huh:

[gnosis92]

Yes, because the need to test beliefs with reason, evidence and the scientific method are elitist and racist at the same time. :huh:

"beliefs" "reason" "evidence" all presuppose perspectives.

[RAFH]

I don't accept any of the religions nor do I have any religious beliefs, including a belief in a god or gods but I didn't vote because I am just not a very good *ist.

I did look up various detailed explanations and definitions of secular humanist and while I share many of those characteristics, there seemed to be too strident of a commitment to being good-twoshoes, save the world, make life meaningful for everyone that I just don't have. Not that I mind it in others, but mostly I'm a go along, get along type. As long as you leave me alone and are otherwise reasonable, do or believe what you like. That was a major issue with me and religions, I just don't like being in a group with the expectation I will share the groupthink, the groupexperience, the groupjoy, the groupsad, the grouppolitic, the group anger, the groupmovement, the groupcool. Personally I think you are all looney, just some loonier than others, particularly those with imaginary friends and especially those highly subject to belief in magic.

[gnosis92]

I don't accept any of the religions nor do I have any religious beliefs, including a belief in a god or gods but I didn't vote because I am just not a very good *ist.

I did look up various detailed explanations and definitions of secular humanist and while I share many of those characteristics, there seemed to be too strident of a commitment to being good-twoshoes, save the world, make life meaningful for everyone that I just don't have. Not that I mind it in others, but mostly I'm a go along, get along type. As long as you leave me alone and are otherwise reasonable, do or believe what you like. That was a major issue with me and religions, I just don't like being in a group with the expectation I will share the groupthink, the groupexperience, the groupjoy, the groupsad, the grouppolitic, the group anger, the groupmovement, the groupcool. Personally I think you are all looney, just some loonier than others, particularly those with imaginary friends and especially those highly subject to belief in magic.


why not vote no?

[steamer]

I don't accept any of the religions nor do I have any religious beliefs, including a belief in a god or gods but I didn't vote because I am just not a very good *ist.

I'm leaning towards some sort of humanoid myself. Frankly I like Humanistic Utillitarion Naturalist (HUN) for short. We can elect a leader and call him Atilla. That'd be fun, then we all go about our business as if nothing happened.

[show_no_mercy]

I'm curious as to why some nontheists do not also consider themselves secular humanists.

Maybe cuz they're buddhists?

[Overkill]

Kind of like how most people assume that all atheists are liberals. Whats with this secular humanist shit? Could someone be a theological humanist?

[Merzbow42]

I am a secular long-view Epicurean moral absolutist. :)

[FunkyDemon]

Which god?

[Revolutionary]

"beliefs" "reason" "evidence" all presuppose perspectives.This is why I call myself a Humanist. I find your view very frustrating and I want to show that not all atheists hold it.

[gnosis92]

This is why I call myself a Humanist. I find your view very frustrating and I want to show that not all atheists hold it.

you don't hold it so you've succeeded :)

The view I am expressing is called post-modernism, and Allan Sokal submitted a text to the Social Text espousing the sexism present in physics sokal hoax

Feminists like Nancy Harrigan and Luci Iragay will argue with a straight face (or maybe lesbian) that they regard physics as a sexist-male chauvinist, elitist white -male privilege perspective.

[Anat]

Could someone be a theological humanist?
Well, some people think they can be Christian Humanists or somesuch, but I think that belief in a personal deity that has a will of its own and can make demands of people may cause people to occasionally put aside humanistic values in favor of pleasing the deity of choice.

[Mr. B]

No, because I associate secular humanism with loony leftists.

[gnosis92]

No, because I associate secular humanism with loony leftists.

I think the capitalism v.s socialism issue is one that can split the secular humanists into warring factions.

Murry and Hernstein's The Bell Curve split secular humanists on the issue of IQ and class and race and gender.

It's a common enemy, Christian fundamentalism, that unites the secular humanists for the time being.

[Merzbow42]

I think the capitalism v.s socialism issue is one that can split the secular humanists into warring factions.

Murry and Hernstein's The Bell Curve split secular humanists on the issue of IQ and class and race and gender.

It's a common enemy, Christian fundamentalism, that unites the secular humanists for the time being.

Not even that. Those on the right, like me, consider Islamism to be a far greater thread that Christian fundamentalism at the moment.

[gnosis92]

Not even that. Those on the right, like me, consider Islamism to be a far greater thread that Christian fundamentalism at the moment.

So you're NEOCON?

[Qam1]

No,

because what Intelligent Design is to Creationism, Secular Humanism is to Communism

just another friendlier sounding name for the same thing and in both cases they a'int fooling anyone

[TNorthover]

The view I am expressing is called post-modernism, and Allan Sokal submitted a text to the Social Text espousing the sexism present in physics sokal hoax

Could you elaborate on what you're trying to show here? I got the impression that you subscribe to postmodernism, but here you produce a hoax as if it strengthens your point.

[tensorproduct]

No,

because what Intelligent Design is to Creationism, Secular Humanism is to Communism

just another friendlier sounding name for the same thing and in both cases they a'int fooling anyone

Huh? How does Secular Humanism relate to Communism?

[Doug Shaver]

"beliefs" "reason" "evidence" all presuppose perspectives.
Do you make no presuppositions?

Or are your presuppositions OK, unlike anybody else's?

[gnosis92]

Do you make no presuppositions?

Or are your presuppositions OK, unlike anybody else's?

I make presuppositions. Other's presuppositions may be okay as well. But they don't necessarily agree.

[funinspace]

Sure I guess, if you mean something like this (not sure why some people think these constructs force one political wordview…):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanists
Secular humanism describes a world view with the following elements and principles:
Need to test beliefs - A conviction that dogmas, ideologies and traditions, whether religious, political or social, must be weighed and tested by each individual and not simply accepted on faith.
Reason, evidence, scientific method - Commitment to the use of critical reason, factual evidence, and scientific methods of inquiry, rather than faith and mysticism, in seeking solutions to human problems and answers to important human questions.
Fulfillment, growth, creativity - A primary concern with fulfillment, growth, and creativity for both the individual and humankind in general.
Search for truth - A constant search for objective truth, with the understanding that new knowledge and experience constantly alter our imperfect perception of it.
This life - A concern for this life and a commitment to making it meaningful through better understanding of ourselves, our history, our intellectual and artistic achievements, and the outlooks of those who differ from us.
Ethics - A search for viable individual, social and political principles of ethical conduct, judging them on their ability to enhance human well-being and individual responsibility.
Building a better world - A conviction that with reason, an open exchange of ideas, good will, and tolerance, progress can be made in building a better world for ourselves and our children.

[Merzbow42]

So you're NEOCON?

Yup, and proud of it.

[Steve Schlicht]

The wikipedia link that funinspace offered is particularly articulate regarding secular humanist elements and principles.

I am an atheist. My wife is not.

We are both secular humanists.

Together we crafted the following view regarding the commonality of our respective perspectives:

Humanism includes those who are agnostic about claims of ultimate realities, supernaturalism and absolute truths and who adhere to an enlivened ethic that informs our lives and guides our relationships with all living things. It also includes those who have examined religious claims and found no evidence to support a belief in them.

That said, it is also notable that not all atheists are secular humanists.

Steve