Humanists, Where Are You?

[The Sexorcist]

I KNOW there has to be a few fellow secular humanists here. Where are you?! Make me feel at home!

[Jack]

That's a rather ill-defined term. As an atheist, I'm often in sympathy with humanist groups and their philosophies. But I've seen a few that went beyond the point where I could agree with them.
Lay out a few of your core beliefs, or reference a site that does, and then I'll know better what you consider a humanist.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Secular humanism sounds like a nice thing, but all the ones I know that call themselves that are kooks. Maybe you can disprove my theory that that's what you all are.

[Epistemologist]

My old philosophy of religion teacher is a naturalist/humanist. He was pretty hip and was unbiased teaching the course. In fact, he refused to tell us his religious affiliation until the last day of class.

[luke virtual kh]

I'm a secular humanist. S
Sexorcist, welcome to Volconvo.
Well done for being secular, I hpope you stay that way.

[Occam]

Hi, Sexorcist. Yeah, I check this forum out and post occasionally, but the real Secular Humanist forum is on Center for Inquiry :: Index.

Occam

[Cadre]

humanist

adjective
1. of or pertaining to Renaissance humanism; "the humanistic revival of learning" [syn: humanistic]
2. of or pertaining to a philosophy asserting human dignity and man's capacity for fulfillment through reason and scientific method and often rejecting religion; "the humanist belief in continuous emergent evolution"- Wendell Thomas
3. pertaining to or concerned with the humanities; "humanistic studies"; "a humane education"
4. marked by humanistic values and devotion to human welfare; "a humane physician"; "released the prisoner for humanitarian reasons"; "respect and humanistic regard for all members of our species"

Is the best definition I can find.

secular humanism
–noun
any set of beliefs that promotes human values without specific allusion to religious doctrines.

Sound's like more of an activist group than a philisophical crowd! I can dig it though, a philosophy based around advancing human value and progress through established moral values and devlopment of personal and social programs to assist our well being (all the while often rejecting religion ).

Interesting, all though I'd need to hear ALOT more about it.

[Occam]

Just as there is a difference between Democrats and democrats, there is a difference between secular humanists (those with a particular set of ideas), and Secular Humanists (members of or adherants to the organization of Secular Humanists)

Occam

[Zhavric]

Secular Humanism has always been a dead end for me. I'm a strong atheist and I've attended SH meetings and read up on them. As best as I can tell, their group meetings were social gatherings that are loosely based on the social networking / activities of churches. Every meeting I've been to has been incredibly dull.

That being said, I'm willing to give it another shot: give me your best argument.

Why should I be a secular humanist rather than a strong atheist?

Why should I involve myself in secular humanist activities?

I already know I'm a moral person and I already contribute to society by doing volunteer work and giving to charities. Sell me secular humanism. I may just buy into it.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Ya, if I was an atheist i'd be so cynical I wouldn't be able to go near one of those meetings

[Autolykos]

I consider myself to be a secular humanist. :)

- Rob

[Zhavric]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Ya, if I was an atheist i'd be so cynical I wouldn't be able to go near one of those meetings

It saddens me to think that so many theists would go to pieces without the propaganda of religion. Which is the more model student: the one who doesn't start fights at all or the one who doesn't start fights for fear of getting caught by an ever-watchful lunch lady?

[Gods_Mercenary]

Not quite sure what saddens you , but if my faith didn't tell me that humans are essentialy good, I'd take my observations and form a theory that humans are essentially bad.

As it is, I'm already a cynic.

[Zhavric]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Not quite sure what saddens you , but if my faith didn't tell me that humans are essentialy good, I'd take my observations and form a theory that humans are essentially bad. As it is, I'm already a cynic.

So, you're asserting that you're essentially a bad person and (if god weren't watching you every moment) you'd do all sorts of bad things?

What a horrible basis for a system of morality?

[Gods_Mercenary]

No, I'm saying that I would come to the conclusion that people were bad if I didn't believe in God, it has nothing to do with prevention, it has to do with outlook.

[Athena]

Quote by: Occam Hi, Sexorcist. Yeah, I check this forum out and post occasionally, but the real Secular Humanist forum is on Center for Inquiry :: Index. Occam

Well, I rushed to the other forum with great expectations, and the first thing I read was as lacking of awareness, and just as constipated thinking, as in these forums.

I think the problem is, people are rushing to these debates without bothering to do the studying required for having a broader view than one's own personal and limited judgements and opinions.

Humanism requires the study of Greek and Roman classics, and who is doing that before presenting oneself as an authority on the subject?

[Athena]

Quote by: Cadre humanist adjective 1. of or pertaining to Renaissance humanism; "the humanistic revival of learning" [syn: humanistic] 2. of or pertaining to a philosophy asserting human dignity and man's capacity for fulfillment through reason and scientific method and often rejecting religion; "the humanist belief in continuous emergent evolution"- Wendell Thomas 3. pertaining to or concerned with the humanities; "humanistic studies"; "a humane education" 4. marked by humanistic values and devotion to human welfare; "a humane physician"; "released the prisoner for humanitarian reasons"; "respect and humanistic regard for all members of our species" Is the best definition I can find. secular humanism –noun any set of beliefs that promotes human values without specific allusion to religious doctrines. Sound's like more of an activist group than a philisophical crowd! I can dig it though, a philosophy based around advancing human value and progress through established moral values and devlopment of personal and social programs to assist our well being (all the while often rejecting religion ). Interesting, all though I'd need to hear ALOT more about it.

Your definitions sound more like an actist crowd than philosophy, because your source omitted the most important fact. Humanism, is the study of Greek and Roman classics, and then the contemplation of questions regarding our human condition. If we rush in, before educating ourselves, of course there is a lack of philosophy behind our thinking.

Our technological society is far, far from the wise society our democracy was intended to be, and this is because we have lost the understanding of the importance of education to democracy. We have allowed military and industrial powers to take control of our public education, and turn us all into products to serve the military/industrial complex, and made a mess out of humanities best chance to reach our best human potential. We are now technological smart but lack the wisdom use this technology well, and this is the greatest danger to humanity.

As Zeus feared, since a god gave us the technology of fire, against Zeus's will, we have discovered all other technologies and now think we can rival the gods. We mistake our power to destroy all of life on earth, with the equivalent to create life and a universe that can sustain that life. We study God and technology, and have neglected the study of ourselves.

[Occam]

First, I want to point out, as Isherwood did in another thread, that atheism is quite simple - a lack of belief or a disbelief in a god. It has nothing to do with morals. Humanism is a set of ethical beliefs that unites humanists. Secular Humanists happen to both be atheists or agnostics and to have humanistic beliefs.

Second, I agree with Z. that it must be distressing to think that people are intrinsically bad except for the intervention of god. I'm an atheist, and I believe that everyone is good unless they've been damaged by some early evironmental events.

Third, Athena, I agree that I haven't found any forums where people put much time, effort, and thought into the discussion. It's just the ratio of crazy posters vs the merely opinionated or off-the-top-of-their-heads posters that differentiates them. the S.H. forum tends to have a few less crazies. Of course, verbosity and pomposity are often as bad as craziness. :)

Occam

[Gods_Mercenary]

I do not believe that, but I would believe that people are bad if it wasn't for my faith. Its not about me believeing God prevents us from being bad, It's my beliefs keeping me from thinking people are bad, because my faith says people are essentially good.

[Jack]

Humanism requires the study of Greek and Roman classics

It can but it doesn't have to. That would be in accordance with definition #1. Definitions 2-4 rely more on a human-centric world view. That could come from any inspiration.