Political Crossfire Forums

[Sataere]

I have been atheist for a good period of time, and recently I have been looking at atheistic 'subcategories' of beliefs that I think match my ideals the best. I just discovered secular humanism yesterday, and I could not be more happy. I have actually been secular humanist for a long time; I just didn't realize it or know that my exact beliefs had a name. I happen to share every belief in the SH Declaration wholeheartedly and with great passion. Is anyone else here secular humanist? I have decided to join the Council for Secular Humanism and go to the group that meets in near me. If you don't know what secular humanism is, then look at these very unbiased and accurate descriptions from the CSH website:

http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=what
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=affirmations
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=declaration


I posted this thread because I have never seen anyone mentioning secular humanism and I thought it would be nice to suggest it to people as well as seeing if anyone else shares my beliefs.

[feederband]

Interesting concept...."subcategories" for Atheist...But I think it just might complicate the simplicity of it...But looking At the definition of secular humanism isn't this just another word for Atheist?

[Secondary Oak]

feederband wrote: Interesting concept...."subcategories" for Atheist...But I think it just might complicate the simplicity of it...But looking At the definition of secular humanism isn't this just another word for Atheist?
I wouldn't say Secular Humanism is a "subcategory" of Atheism. Instead, I would say Secular Humanism is a set of morals which includes Atheism as one of its traits.

[feederband]

Secondary Oak wrote: feederband wrote: Interesting concept...."subcategories" for Atheist...But I think it just might complicate the simplicity of it...But looking At the definition of secular humanism isn't this just another word for Atheist?
I wouldn't say Secular Humanism is a "subcategory" of Atheism. Instead, I would say Secular Humanism is a set of morals which includes Atheism as one of its traits.

That makes sense...

[Gilbert1908]

Sataere wrote: I have been atheist for a good period of time, and recently I have been looking at atheistic 'subcategories' of beliefs that I think match my ideals the best. I just discovered secular humanism yesterday, and I could not be more happy. I have actually been secular humanist for a long time; I just didn't realize it or know that my exact beliefs had a name. I happen to share every belief in the SH Declaration wholeheartedly and with great passion. Is anyone else here secular humanist? I have decided to join the Council for Secular Humanism and go to the group that meets in near me. If you don't know what secular humanism is, then look at these very unbiased and accurate descriptions from the CSH website:

http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=what
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=affirmations
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=declaration


I posted this thread because I have never seen anyone mentioning secular humanism and I thought it would be nice to suggest it to people as well as seeing if anyone else shares my beliefs.

I would say that Atheism in this case is a subcategory of Secular Humanism, since the disbelief in God is hardly profound.

I applaud your assertion of a set of principles in addition to simply denying something, even if I do not happen to share them all.

[Shady]

Interesting. I've actually read into it before and it's pretty interesting. I'd agree with the previous posters that Atheism is just a part of it rather then it being a part of atheism though.

[Sataere]

I know what you mean, but I said it that way not for the whole populaion, but just for my personal views. If anyone were to ask me what religion I was, I would say 'Atheist, more specifically secular humanist'. I do agree though that Atheism is only a part (although not always because it's not true in every case; not all secular humanists are Atheist) of secular humanism. So I mispoke when I tried to describe what I meant too fast.

[Eternal]

Sataere wrote: I have been atheist for a good period of time, and recently I have been looking at atheistic 'subcategories' of beliefs that I think match my ideals the best. I just discovered secular humanism yesterday, and I could not be more happy. I have actually been secular humanist for a long time; I just didn't realize it or know that my exact beliefs had a name. I happen to share every belief in the SH Declaration wholeheartedly and with great passion. Is anyone else here secular humanist? I have decided to join the Council for Secular Humanism and go to the group that meets in near me. If you don't know what secular humanism is, then look at these very unbiased and accurate descriptions from the CSH website:

http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=what
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=affirmations
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=declaration


I posted this thread because I have never seen anyone mentioning secular humanism and I thought it would be nice to suggest it to people as well as seeing if anyone else shares my beliefs.

:hi:


Cheers, Eternal

[snow]

So secular humanism is a religion?

[Eternal]

snow wrote: So secular humanism is a religion?

Technically no, although there was some court case some time ago in the US where a person was denied the right to work in some county office in the US because he was an atheist/secular humanist and the employment rules of this county office was that workers needed to prescribe to some sort of religious values.

They person went to court and requested the court declare secular humanism a religion so he could work, and that's exactly what they did. There's more to it than that which I'll post later.

Also, humanism itself is a belief that transcends all belief systems. Indeed humanist principles have been identified with by not just atheists but also Christian's, Jews etc etc.


Cheers, Eternal

[Duchifas]

Secular Humanism wrote: * 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.
* 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.
* A primary concern with fulfillment, growth, and creativity for both the individual and humankind in general.
* A constant search for objective truth, with the understanding that new knowledge and experience constantly alter our imperfect perception of it.
* 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.
* 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.
* A conviction that with reason, an open marketplace of ideas, good will, and tolerance, progress can be made in building a better world for ourselves and our children.

These are so toothless that even I could subscribe to them. :)

Although the second one is not very honest in that it disses faith without acknowledging that a lot of "scientific" knowledge is pretty much accepted on faith.

[cap'n queasy]

snow wrote: So secular humanism is a religion?

Yes.

[Sataere]

cap'n queasy wrote: snow wrote: So secular humanism is a religion?

Yes.

Incorrect. Secular humanism is not a religion. The view that secular humanism is not a religion is not only held by the secular humanists themselves (Who would generally know more about the subject because it is in regard to their own personal views) but it has also been demonstrated in many court rulings not to be a religion.

[snow]

Sataere wrote:
Incorrect. Secular humanism is not a religion. The view that secular humanism is not a religion is not only held by the secular humanists themselves (Who would generally know more about the subject because it is in regard to their own personal views) but it has also been demonstrated in many court rulings not to be a religion.

Then why are you posting it in here?

[feederband]

snow wrote: Sataere wrote:
Incorrect. Secular humanism is not a religion. The view that secular humanism is not a religion is not only held by the secular humanists themselves (Who would generally know more about the subject because it is in regard to their own personal views) but it has also been demonstrated in many court rulings not to be a religion.

Then why are you posting it in here?

Because this is probably the right area where people may respond to it...

[Sataere]

snow wrote: Sataere wrote:
Incorrect. Secular humanism is not a religion. The view that secular humanism is not a religion is not only held by the secular humanists themselves (Who would generally know more about the subject because it is in regard to their own personal views) but it has also been demonstrated in many court rulings not to be a religion.

Then why are you posting it in here?

Because I didn't want to put it in the 'abortion' forum. :-D There's nowhere better to put it and it has opposing views to some religions, so if there is going to be talk about it, it will be best suited here.

[Eternal]

Found the case details:

TORCASO v. WATKINS, CLERK.
APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND.
No. 373.
Argued April 24, 1961.
Decided June 19, 1961.

Case details can be found here:

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=367&invol=488

An overview of the case can be found here:

http://atheism.about.com/od/abouthumanism/a/secularreligion.htm

An important point to remember is that this was a ruling from a US court and only applies to the US. More importantly though is that despite this particular case Secular Humanism is generally not regarded as a religion, except by Christian Fundamentalists. My personal point of view would describe humanism and secular humanism as philosphies.


Cheers, Eternal

[DarkMerlin]

Eh, secular humanism is boring. You want something with a little more kick, check out transhumanism.

[cap'n queasy]

Eternal wrote: Found the case details:

TORCASO v. WATKINS, CLERK.
APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND.
No. 373.
Argued April 24, 1961.
Decided June 19, 1961.

Case details can be found here:

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=367&invol=488

An overview of the case can be found here:

http://atheism.about.com/od/abouthumanism/a/secularreligion.htm

An important point to remember is that this was a ruling from a US court and only applies to the US. More importantly though is that despite this particular case Secular Humanism is generally not regarded as a religion, except by Christian Fundamentalists. My personal point of view would describe humanism and secular humanism as philosphies.


Cheers, Eternal

Notice that it was secular humanists who wanted secular humanism to be declared a religion so they could use this to avoid military service under their interpretation of the 1st and 14th amendments. It was the state who shot this down.

Using this case as proof that secular humanists do not consider their beliefs a religion is spurious, unless you are willing to admit that they are dishonest and it is ok to lie to avoid military service.

C'mon.

[Eternal]

cap'n queasy wrote: Eternal wrote: Found the case details:

TORCASO v. WATKINS, CLERK.
APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND.
No. 373.
Argued April 24, 1961.
Decided June 19, 1961.

Case details can be found here:

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=367&invol=488

An overview of the case can be found here:

http://atheism.about.com/od/abouthumanism/a/secularreligion.htm

An important point to remember is that this was a ruling from a US court and only applies to the US. More importantly though is that despite this particular case Secular Humanism is generally not regarded as a religion, except by Christian Fundamentalists. My personal point of view would describe humanism and secular humanism as philosphies.


Cheers, Eternal

Notice that it was secular humanists who wanted secular humanism to be declared a religion so they could use this to avoid military service under their interpretation of the 1st and 14th amendments. It was the state who shot this down.

Using this case as proof that secular humanists do not consider their beliefs a religion is spurious, unless you are willing to admit that they are dishonest and it is ok to lie to avoid military service.

C'mon.

Where abouts was that mentioned in the case I linked to?


Cheers, Eternal