Comments on: The Davids React to Sam Harris http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:59:02 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Daylight Atheism > On Branding http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-75349 Daylight Atheism > On Branding Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:43:10 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/#comment-75349 [...] and has collected responses to Harris, including from Ellen Johnson of American Atheists, David Koepsell of the Council for Secular Humanism, and of course PZ Myers. (Harris' original speech is here.) In this post, I'd like to respond as [...] [...] and has collected responses to Harris, including from Ellen Johnson of American Atheists, David Koepsell of the Council for Secular Humanism, and of course PZ Myers. (Harris’ original speech is here.) In this post, I’d like to respond as [...]

]]> By: The Meaning of “Atheist” « The High Inquisitor http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-74788 The Meaning of “Atheist” « The High Inquisitor Sat, 06 Oct 2007 21:00:16 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/#comment-74788 [...] Filed under: personal ruminations — David @ 2:59 pm There’s been recent talk about whether non-religious peoples should use the term “atheist” to describe [...] [...] Filed under: personal ruminations — David @ 2:59 pm There’s been recent talk about whether non-religious peoples should use the term “atheist” to describe [...]

]]> By: Vincent http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-74687 Vincent Sat, 06 Oct 2007 11:57:09 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/#comment-74687 Just chiming in with the rest. Atheist describes what I don't believe. Humanist describes how I behave (or try to). They aren't synonyms at all. I would like to point out though, that where I grew up (Oklahoma) the word atheist is not nearly as reviled as "secular humanist." I had a teacher in high school tell me she thought secular humanism was the greatest evil ever released upon the world. Of course, now that I've become better educated I realize that she, and others like her, did not actually know what the term meant. They viewed it as a sort of paganism where the individual believes himself to be godish. Just chiming in with the rest.
Atheist describes what I don’t believe.
Humanist describes how I behave (or try to).
They aren’t synonyms at all.
I would like to point out though, that where I grew up (Oklahoma) the word atheist is not nearly as reviled as “secular humanist.”
I had a teacher in high school tell me she thought secular humanism was the greatest evil ever released upon the world.
Of course, now that I’ve become better educated I realize that she, and others like her, did not actually know what the term meant. They viewed it as a sort of paganism where the individual believes himself to be godish.

]]> By: Felicia Gilljam http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-74675 Felicia Gilljam Sat, 06 Oct 2007 11:15:18 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/#comment-74675 I agree with C. L. Hanson, and that was my first thought as I read Silverman. I agree that agnostic is a rather useless term, but Humanist? It's my worldview! "Atheism", while a label I proudly wear and staunchly defend, doesn't really tell people anything about what I actually think of life, the universe and everything - only what I DON'T think about the existence of gods. So no. I'm not going to abandon Humanist, ever. I agree with C. L. Hanson, and that was my first thought as I read Silverman. I agree that agnostic is a rather useless term, but Humanist? It’s my worldview! “Atheism”, while a label I proudly wear and staunchly defend, doesn’t really tell people anything about what I actually think of life, the universe and everything – only what I DON’T think about the existence of gods. So no. I’m not going to abandon Humanist, ever.

]]> By: skyqueen http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-74674 skyqueen Sat, 06 Oct 2007 11:14:58 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/#comment-74674 Agnostic is NOT always the same. I wish people would stop this. people should be able to label themselves whatever they like. that's THEIR choice, not this guy's. Agnostic is NOT always the same. I wish people would stop this. people should be able to label themselves whatever they like. that’s THEIR choice, not this guy’s.

]]> By: C. L. Hanson http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-74650 C. L. Hanson Sat, 06 Oct 2007 09:04:23 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/#comment-74650 I don't think we should necessarily eliminate the "Secular Humanist" label. It represents a philosophy in addition to atheism. If we agree that atheism is just absence of god-belief, then it's reasonable to have a word for the affirmative value system one has adopted. For myself, atheist is the primary label I identify with. However, if you ask me if I'm also a secular humanist, I would say I think I am (but that I have to research a bit more about it to be sure ;) ). I don’t think we should necessarily eliminate the “Secular Humanist” label. It represents a philosophy in addition to atheism. If we agree that atheism is just absence of god-belief, then it’s reasonable to have a word for the affirmative value system one has adopted.

For myself, atheist is the primary label I identify with. However, if you ask me if I’m also a secular humanist, I would say I think I am (but that I have to research a bit more about it to be sure ;) ).

]]> By: Mriana http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-74599 Mriana Sat, 06 Oct 2007 04:44:35 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/#comment-74599 I agree, we need organizations like AHA, CSH, CFI, National Atheists, American Atheists, etc. However, people won't know the numbers are swelling if we don't speak up and use the labels. Although, sometimes I don't know what I am, except I know I'm not a theist. :lol: I agree, we need organizations like AHA, CSH, CFI, National Atheists, American Atheists, etc. However, people won’t know the numbers are swelling if we don’t speak up and use the labels. Although, sometimes I don’t know what I am, except I know I’m not a theist. :lol:

]]> By: Susan http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-74502 Susan Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:56:53 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/#comment-74502 PZ has gotten a response out too. <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/10/letter_to_a_nonatheist_new_ath.php#more" rel="nofollow">here</a> PZ has gotten a response out too.
here

]]> By: Rev. Mark J. Seydel http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-74494 Rev. Mark J. Seydel Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:36:02 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/10/05/the-davids-react-to-sam-harris/#comment-74494 I am very much against labels altogether. Labels are a product of serapatism and we serve a "movement" best by example. I am very much against labels altogether. Labels are a product of serapatism and we serve a “movement” best by example.

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