Comments on: Atheist or Humanist? Well, It Depends… http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/03/12/atheist-or-humanist-well-it-depends/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:04:45 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Christopher Ray http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/03/12/atheist-or-humanist-well-it-depends/comment-page-1/#comment-144275 Christopher Ray Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:32:43 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/03/12/atheist-or-humanist-well-it-depends/#comment-144275 I'd like to clarify my comment since unfortunately it is the only quote of mine that made it into the final story. The quote that appears is only the first part of the sentence. For the rest of the sentence, I essentially said "but some of us will," meaning that I described how we are all on the cusp of the entering professional employment and so we will become the new public face of atheism, and as such it is our responsibility to aggressively defend our views and the fact that we are perfectly good and productive US citizens. I more or less appealed to future atheists to use the water-cooler discussion to normalize atheism and humanism, given that we don't have the convenient social sidearm of a pulpit or a ministry to let us all just sit around all day and be professional atheists. I'd hate to be presented in atheist media as that guy who wants us to keep our insight to ourselves. I’d like to clarify my comment since unfortunately it is the only quote of mine that made it into the final story. The quote that appears is only the first part of the sentence. For the rest of the sentence, I essentially said “but some of us will,” meaning that I described how we are all on the cusp of the entering professional employment and so we will become the new public face of atheism, and as such it is our responsibility to aggressively defend our views and the fact that we are perfectly good and productive US citizens. I more or less appealed to future atheists to use the water-cooler discussion to normalize atheism and humanism, given that we don’t have the convenient social sidearm of a pulpit or a ministry to let us all just sit around all day and be professional atheists. I’d hate to be presented in atheist media as that guy who wants us to keep our insight to ourselves.

]]> By: Efrique http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/03/12/atheist-or-humanist-well-it-depends/comment-page-1/#comment-139811 Efrique Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:13:37 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/03/12/atheist-or-humanist-well-it-depends/#comment-139811 To me "atheist or humanist" is like saying "left-handed or Italian". Atheism is absence of god-belief. End of story. It contains no normative elements (though many atheists will then produce normative statements, none of these seem necessary to atheism). Humanism is largely normative. They're labels that relate to different things. To me “atheist or humanist” is like saying “left-handed or Italian”.

Atheism is absence of god-belief. End of story.
It contains no normative elements (though many atheists
will then produce normative statements, none of these
seem necessary to atheism).

Humanism is largely normative.

They’re labels that relate to different things.

]]> By: Mriana http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/03/12/atheist-or-humanist-well-it-depends/comment-page-1/#comment-139806 Mriana Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:31:06 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/03/12/atheist-or-humanist-well-it-depends/#comment-139806 Being the Bible Belt, I don't say anything unless I'm directly asked, then I either say non-theist or Humanist. On campus I don't have too many problems, except with one woman, but there are some Evangelicals off campus that act like it's a crime and want to chop your head off. University students seem less religious than others around here and it maybe because not all of them are from here or if they are, they don't buy into what the Evangelcals preach. However, two profs, both males, admitted to being atheists and many students say they are against established religion. Interesting statement that one is- "against established religion". I'm not sure what that means, exactly. Are they atheists, agnostic, spiritual but not religious, religious but don't attend any church? I never asked when I hear that one, esp because such admissions come up during class when the piece of literature we are reading is of a religious nature or similar topic. At the same time, getting a Secular group started is difficult. Another student with less responsibilities than I have is trying now. Not sure how well he is succeeding, except it's been slow. Being the Bible Belt, I don’t say anything unless I’m directly asked, then I either say non-theist or Humanist. On campus I don’t have too many problems, except with one woman, but there are some Evangelicals off campus that act like it’s a crime and want to chop your head off.

University students seem less religious than others around here and it maybe because not all of them are from here or if they are, they don’t buy into what the Evangelcals preach. However, two profs, both males, admitted to being atheists and many students say they are against established religion. Interesting statement that one is- “against established religion”. I’m not sure what that means, exactly. Are they atheists, agnostic, spiritual but not religious, religious but don’t attend any church? I never asked when I hear that one, esp because such admissions come up during class when the piece of literature we are reading is of a religious nature or similar topic.

At the same time, getting a Secular group started is difficult. Another student with less responsibilities than I have is trying now. Not sure how well he is succeeding, except it’s been slow.

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