Defining humanistic principles involves understanding the types of humanism. For simplicities sake it is convenient to categorize humanists into two types, theistic and non-theistic. There are sub-delineations of humanism--some of which I find valid--which are better left to a discussion of a different scope.
Theistic and non-theistic
I am a non-religious humanist or a thinking agnostic. Theistic humanism focuses on human needs, powers and morals, the same as the non-religious variety. I do not have the need for traditions that worship a non-evidenced based, theoretical belief system. Holding religious convictions is not entirely incompatible with the humanistic goal of understanding homo sapiens --the lone surviving species of the family Hominidae. However, humanists without a religious twist, bring a less biased worldview to this goal of understanding.
Humanism is logic
Whether someone considers himself a theistic or nontheistic humanist, this statement on Wikipedia's humanism page sums up the need for humanists to separate themselves from faith based doctrines that hinder the pursuit of truth.
During the Renaissance period in Western Europe, humanist movements attempted to demonstrate the benefit of gaining learning from classical, pre-Christian sources in and of themselves, or for secular ends such as political science and rhetoric.
Perhaps there really is something to all that hype about the Renaissance. It is natural for humans to look beyond what they are told to find the truth about our own species and the universe in general. This is especially so when illogical stories and agenda based rhetoric is presented to us as the truth. I only hope that the natural curiosity of humans will prevail over the need to take shortcuts to explain our place and meaning within the universe. Shortcuts will lead to our destruction before we are even close to the truth.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
Bible Courses in Texas Public Schools Teaching Fanaticism and Intolerance
Non-theists everywhere are threatened by Texas public schools bible courses. Legislation such as the 2007 Texas House Bill 1287 that promotes specific curriculum for elective bible courses in public schools violates the first amendment.Five other states: Tennessee, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina and Arizona followed suit with their own versions of the bill. Arkansas is currently considering similar legislation. This is simply outrageous on many different levels.
What is more disconcerting are findings from a Southern Methodist University study; "Reading,Writing & Religion II Texas Public School Bible Courses in 2011 – 12". This study examines course curriculum's and test questions given to Texas students.
Among the test questions are fictitious quotes such as, “The Bible is the source of liberty” attributed to Thomas Jefferson. The study goes on to point out a real Thomas Jefferson quote: “The Bible is such a book of lies and contradictions there is no knowing which part to believe or whether any.”
A Huffington Post article summarizes a few other distasteful study findings concerning teachings offered to Texas students:
Teachings even include that we may be living in the time of the "end of days" and that scientific evidence points to the Earth being 6,000 years old.
Keep in mind that the author of this study is an award winning, distinguished professor at a Methodist University! This man, Mark Chancey, supports religious electives and realizes the folly of these teachings. His folly is that he is devoting time to making recommendations on how to teach Christianity in a better way. The better way, seems to be his way.
Christian double standard
Any specific religious teachings in public schools are clear violations of the first amendment. My guess is that most of the people supporting this violation are also screaming the loudest about how banning an assault rifle is a violation of the second amendment.
I thought we sent our soldiers to foreign lands like Afghanistan to fight similar teachings of hate by Muslims. We place embargoes and all sorts of financial restraints on Iran for such hate speech. Yet we allow it in Texas. Is it all right to be a fanatic as long as your brand of fanaticism is the right brand?
The federal government must put a stop to "elective" bible courses in public schools before it gets worse. Maybe some Americans want to raise ignorant, intolerant children with a closet full of AR-15's but I do not think most of us do. And I know we should not have to be the ones to deal with these hate-filled children when they grow up! This is another example of how Americans do not need more religion we need more empathy
What is more disconcerting are findings from a Southern Methodist University study; "Reading,Writing & Religion II Texas Public School Bible Courses in 2011 – 12". This study examines course curriculum's and test questions given to Texas students.
Among the test questions are fictitious quotes such as, “The Bible is the source of liberty” attributed to Thomas Jefferson. The study goes on to point out a real Thomas Jefferson quote: “The Bible is such a book of lies and contradictions there is no knowing which part to believe or whether any.”
A Huffington Post article summarizes a few other distasteful study findings concerning teachings offered to Texas students:
"Christ's resurrection was an event that occurred in time and space -- that it was, in reality, historical and not mythological (cf. 2 Pet. 1:16)."
"Survival of the Jewish nations [sic] is one of the miracles of history and her greatest agony is yet to come."
Teachings even include that we may be living in the time of the "end of days" and that scientific evidence points to the Earth being 6,000 years old.
Keep in mind that the author of this study is an award winning, distinguished professor at a Methodist University! This man, Mark Chancey, supports religious electives and realizes the folly of these teachings. His folly is that he is devoting time to making recommendations on how to teach Christianity in a better way. The better way, seems to be his way.
Christian double standard
Any specific religious teachings in public schools are clear violations of the first amendment. My guess is that most of the people supporting this violation are also screaming the loudest about how banning an assault rifle is a violation of the second amendment.
I thought we sent our soldiers to foreign lands like Afghanistan to fight similar teachings of hate by Muslims. We place embargoes and all sorts of financial restraints on Iran for such hate speech. Yet we allow it in Texas. Is it all right to be a fanatic as long as your brand of fanaticism is the right brand?
The federal government must put a stop to "elective" bible courses in public schools before it gets worse. Maybe some Americans want to raise ignorant, intolerant children with a closet full of AR-15's but I do not think most of us do. And I know we should not have to be the ones to deal with these hate-filled children when they grow up! This is another example of how Americans do not need more religion we need more empathy
Friday, January 11, 2013
Not Believing in God but Still Going to Church
There is evidence that some Americans go to church and do not believe in God. A quote from Edwina Rogers, leader of the Secular Coalition for America, states:
This comes from, of all places, CBN news.
Why would anyone do this?
There are several reasons why a person would go to church as a non-believer. I speculate that most of us can make a list of reasons that looks something like this.
• Wanting to appear to be a "good" person
• Feeling obligated to take children to church
• Thinking they need to in order to get a better job, promotion, more sales, etc.
• Fear of being ostracized by friends or family
Most humans have a need to feel like they are a part of something. Expanding the appeal of organizations such as the Secular Coalition of America can assist in providing alternatives for churchgoers with questionable motivations.
Perhaps one day we will have organizations like the University of Kansas' Society of Open Minded Atheists and Agnostics having meetings and donation centers throughout our cities. Perhaps we could have legitimate inquiries and debates concerning real issues such as gun violence and evolution without interjecting religion. Humans are problem solvers, and humanists are able to solve problems from a less biased perspective.
"Of people who participate in religion and go every week, among the Protestants, you have about 30 percent who actually go and don't believe in God."
This comes from, of all places, CBN news.
Why would anyone do this?
There are several reasons why a person would go to church as a non-believer. I speculate that most of us can make a list of reasons that looks something like this.
• Wanting to appear to be a "good" person
• Feeling obligated to take children to church
• Thinking they need to in order to get a better job, promotion, more sales, etc.
• Fear of being ostracized by friends or family
Most humans have a need to feel like they are a part of something. Expanding the appeal of organizations such as the Secular Coalition of America can assist in providing alternatives for churchgoers with questionable motivations.
Perhaps one day we will have organizations like the University of Kansas' Society of Open Minded Atheists and Agnostics having meetings and donation centers throughout our cities. Perhaps we could have legitimate inquiries and debates concerning real issues such as gun violence and evolution without interjecting religion. Humans are problem solvers, and humanists are able to solve problems from a less biased perspective.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Newport Tragedy Not Because of Lack of God
I have seen several stories and Mike Huckabee taking advantage of the tragedy at Sandy Hook to promote a bring God back to our public institutions agenda. While I believe that, for the most part, these people shave good intentions, I think they are misguided and displaying bad taste by infusing a political agenda into the aftermath of a tragedy. These things do not happen because of a lack of God. The only political talk should focus on specifically protecting our children and our public areas in general without adding more gross human rights violations to our daily routine.
Most non-theists, such as humanists, understand that people have control over their own behavior. The vast majority of us have a moral code built in as part of our collective unconscious, or at least an understanding that if we violate major human moral codes there will be consequences ranging from a lack of friends to a death sentence.
I do not have the answers, but bickering over religion is certainly not going to save any lives. I do have some opinions on the causes of what I see as a lack of passion for our fellow humans in the United States. They have more to do with how we have allowed others to provide for us and tell us how we need to take make more money at any cost, even if it means moving across the country from our families. We can only find these answers within ourselves and until we, as a society become less accepting of simple greed and rudeness, unfortunately these tragedies will not recede.
Then again, we are all human, and there will always be those of us who do things that defy logic and reason.
Most non-theists, such as humanists, understand that people have control over their own behavior. The vast majority of us have a moral code built in as part of our collective unconscious, or at least an understanding that if we violate major human moral codes there will be consequences ranging from a lack of friends to a death sentence.
I do not have the answers, but bickering over religion is certainly not going to save any lives. I do have some opinions on the causes of what I see as a lack of passion for our fellow humans in the United States. They have more to do with how we have allowed others to provide for us and tell us how we need to take make more money at any cost, even if it means moving across the country from our families. We can only find these answers within ourselves and until we, as a society become less accepting of simple greed and rudeness, unfortunately these tragedies will not recede.
Then again, we are all human, and there will always be those of us who do things that defy logic and reason.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Humanists Help With Hurricane Sandy Recovery
Humans have intrinsic "goodness" that is overlooked or even overshadowed by irrational belief in mythologies. Highlighting this is the recent efforts for humanist related organizations to come together to help those suffering from the aftermath of hurricane Sandy.
The Secular Coalition for America is an excellent organization for those of us wanting to support issues, people and causes that promote separation of church and state as well as other freedoms. They put out a list of ways we can help with the aftermath of Sandy . Included is the the New York City Atheists blood drive and other non religious based foundations and drives that we can donate our services and money to.
Humanists, agnostics and atheists should not be scared away from community service or simply helping one another because many organizations that help or purport to help are religious based. In my opinion, non-theist organizations will attract more well meaning and productive people to provide real help, than their theist counterparts will. Humanists, with their internal motivation, do not have to do just enough to save their souls or look good for their congregation.
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Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Humanists Care About Humans
While I'm the first to say that I don't care about other people as much as I do my family, I do care about the human race. I have compassion, morals, values and no religion. Most non-profits that give "out of the goodness of their heart" are religious based. At least those that get the notoriety.
That's why I was inspired after stumbling across some of the efforts of the Center for Inquiry Secular organizations can show real human morals come from within, not a book or a magical god in the sky.
I'm inspired and vow to do my part as a human. Which right now primarily involves helping myself and my family. But that does not mean I can't help others help themselves.
That's why I was inspired after stumbling across some of the efforts of the Center for Inquiry Secular organizations can show real human morals come from within, not a book or a magical god in the sky.
I'm inspired and vow to do my part as a human. Which right now primarily involves helping myself and my family. But that does not mean I can't help others help themselves.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Humanist Carnivore
As a humanist, I am inclined to think that evolution is how humans became the creatures that we are. Coming at environmentalism from this perspective I have a difficult time thinking that what is best for both humans and the environment is for us all to be vegans when there is meat to be had.
This also naturally leads me to agreeing with many animal rights activists who say that the conditions in which we raise many of the animals we raise for meat are unacceptable. However, when I think of what we know about modern farming practices in general, I question the wisdom of plowing up the planet in favor of environmentally devastating tofu products over raising meat.
In addition to all the direct environmental impacts of many styles of modern farming, we also have the issue of habitat displacement. How many wild animals, living natural lives are lost due to the direct effects of farming? Eliminate the raising and eating of meat as we all become vegans and we may create a bigger environmental and animal rights issue than we had to begin with.
Perhaps there's some research on this...
This also naturally leads me to agreeing with many animal rights activists who say that the conditions in which we raise many of the animals we raise for meat are unacceptable. However, when I think of what we know about modern farming practices in general, I question the wisdom of plowing up the planet in favor of environmentally devastating tofu products over raising meat.
In addition to all the direct environmental impacts of many styles of modern farming, we also have the issue of habitat displacement. How many wild animals, living natural lives are lost due to the direct effects of farming? Eliminate the raising and eating of meat as we all become vegans and we may create a bigger environmental and animal rights issue than we had to begin with.
Perhaps there's some research on this...
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