There was me thinking I was an atheist all those years!

[John_fi_Skye]

‘Atheism is phrased in negative terms – rejection of religion – whereas humanism, like religion, is phrased in positive terms.

I would argue that any religious group that names itself in a way that suggests its primary attribute is a rejection of atheism could be effectively paired against atheists, while any religion that names itself in terms of what it believes (which includes all of Christianity, Judaism, and most other religions) would be comparable to humanists, not atheists.

Humanists and atheists are the same group. There is no significant difference between them, except that humanism is about what they do believe, whereas atheism is about their rejection of God and religion.

So I think it’s perfectly fair to treat “atheism” as different than religion. When people who embrace the Enlightenment’s core beliefs are describing themselves as atheists, they are doing it as culture warriors arrayed against the enemy religion. When these same people are pursuing positive goals, rather than negative ones, they themselves tend to prefer the term humanist.’


http://www.firstthings.com/masthead

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'm a husband, a cat-lover, servant to wolves, historian, maniac, and, oh yeah, an atheists.

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

Atheist is the name given to non-beleivers by the Religious (Theists) - always useful to give folks a label before you kill them.

Humanism (etc) is the name some folks give to themselves - the folks who give a shit.....But IMO most "Atheists" are not Humanists - simply because they don't give a shit.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

"Secular humanist" is what you tell your mom you are. "Atheist" is what you tell that asshole fundy on the Net you are.

[John_fi_Skye]

Ahhh, euphemisms! I love them.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

How often does the issue of religion come up for anyone other than on the Net?

[Hermit]

When people who embrace the Enlightenment’s core beliefs are describing themselves as atheists, they are doing it as culture warriors arrayed against the enemy religion.

[John_fi_Skye]

How often does the issue of religion come up for anyone other than on the Net?

I live in an area where there are quite a lot of Wee Frees and other such fundies, and I've spent a bit of time in secondary education, finding that a lot of teenagers were having a bit of a struggle coming to terms with the discrepancy between what their parents were saying and life as depicted in the media. Now that I'm a humanist celebrant, I'm pleased that I've started being invited into schools to give assemblies, since I'm keen to reassure young folk that it's OK if they're not swallowing the god myth hook-line-and-sinker.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

How often does the issue of religion come up for anyone other than on the Net?

I live in an area where there are quite a lot of Wee Frees and other such fundies, and I've spent a bit of time in secondary education, finding that a lot of teenagers were having a bit of a struggle coming to terms with the discrepancy between what their parents were saying and life as depicted in the media. Now that I'm a humanist celebrant, I'm pleased that I've started being invited into schools to give assemblies, since I'm keen to reassure young folk that it's OK if they're not swallowing the god myth hook-line-and-sinker.

http://rationalia.com/gawdzilla/nonreli ... monies.pdf (Something Mai loaned me.)

[John_fi_Skye]

How often does the issue of religion come up for anyone other than on the Net?

I live in an area where there are quite a lot of Wee Frees and other such fundies, and I've spent a bit of time in secondary education, finding that a lot of teenagers were having a bit of a struggle coming to terms with the discrepancy between what their parents were saying and life as depicted in the media. Now that I'm a humanist celebrant, I'm pleased that I've started being invited into schools to give assemblies, since I'm keen to reassure young folk that it's OK if they're not swallowing the god myth hook-line-and-sinker.

http://rationalia.com/gawdzilla/nonreli ... monies.pdf (Something Mai loaned me.)

Yep. That's the kind of stuff we do.

http://www.humanism-scotland.org.uk/

Thanks.

[Rum]

How often does the issue of religion come up for anyone other than on the Net?

Very rarely in my case. But the subject of religion or things happening in a religious context is also pretty invisible here in the UK. The recent skirmishes about militant atheism and prayers in council meetings are a relative rarity here.

[Audley Strange]

Recently the cheesy Cult have been prowling round my area like hungry nosferatu near a blood bank. We've had a recent influx of African and Polish immigrants who they just can't wait to get their fangs into. There actually more bothersome than the foxes and rats.

While I don't think we need a terminology to be defined by, I think Humanist implies a faith in Humanity, which I just do not have. However "Rejectionist of mystical or political Behavioural Control Myths" is a bit long if accurate.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I-don't-give-a-fuck-about-your-delusions-ist

[Audley Strange]

I-don't-give-a-fuck-about-your-delusions-ist

Dismissist!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I-don't-give-a-fuck-about-your-delusions-ist

Dismissist!

Disdainist.