williamlobdell.com

5 responses so far ↓

• 1 Amanda // Aug 26, 2009 at 7:21 pm

  I can only tell you how I use those terms.

  I am an Atheist - I don’t believe in god/s.

  I use the term Secular Humanist (non-religious person who tries to do good things for the human race) to classify myself to the judgy religious folks. I live in Virginia, bible thumpers galore, most would think I was a Satan worshiper if I said Atheist so I say Secular Humanist and they nod and go on about their business not having any idea what I’m talking about, but at least I didn’t use the A word.

• 2 janaremy // Aug 27, 2009 at 12:12 am

  Bill:
  There’s an interesting discussion about the meaning(s) of atheism here, if you’re interested.

  As I say in the comments, I call myself a non-theist rather than an atheist.

• 3 Paulie // Aug 27, 2009 at 2:20 am

  A humanist is a person who subscribes to an ethical philosophy that things are to be judged based on human standards, human interests and human capabilities, particularly human thought, i.e. rationality. Secular humanism is just a variety of humanism in which there is no place for religion, (as opposed to Christian humanists, who tended to incorporate religion into a rational philosophical scheme). I don’t think that there is an accepted definition of atheist. Usually it just means someone who doesn’t have a belief that there is a god. Others however believe that an atheist is more than that and is someone who opposes god or opposes belief. Most secular humanists would be atheists (although they might prefer another term for the same thing such as non-theist, or agnostic) but not all atheists would be secular humanists because that involves more than a disbelief in god but involves an affirmative belief in a rational ethical philosophy.

• 4 elizamay // Aug 29, 2009 at 2:12 am

  When I hear those words, I understand them to mean…

  “athiest” - actively disbelieves in God or the supernatural; materialist (as in, belief in only material things)

  “humanist” - humankind and human beings are of central value and importance in the universe; it’s the primary goal of a humanist to maximize the life, liberty and happiness of all humanity.

  “secular humanist” - a humanist who excludes all religion from their worldview

  I’d consider the US mainly a humanist country (we do have a bill of rights and public education) although it is decidely not athiest, while France is the epitome of the secular humanist country (i.e.banning burqinis and headscarves because they symbolize religiosity).

  For fundamentalist Christians, the chief end of man is to glorify and enjoy God forever (as opposed to glorifying and enjoying humankind). In my opinion, the way that modern Christians conform this into a “humanist” philosophy is to say that God is most glorified when humankind, as his most glorious creation, takes care of and protects each other. So, the result is the same, but the Christian worldview says the point is God while the humanist worldview says the point is humankind.

• 5 aprilsteele // Aug 29, 2009 at 8:27 am

  I dunno… I do like the above definitions of secular humanists… For me atheist is simply someone who does not believe in God/Higher Power…

  I grew up Episcopal… and really wanted to believe… but I find it all too hard to swallow now that I am older and have started to think more for myself than what was spoonfed to me throughout my childhood. I call myself agnostic…I’d like to believe in something… I do believe there is a God… but I believe that such a God is beyond my understanding or knowing.

  I heard an interview yesterday that you gave to OnPoint at NPR and found it fascinating. I am going to bookmark your trusty blog here, and get a hold of your book.

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