Religion Poll and Secular Humanism (and an apology, sort of)

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Tom Head, Apr 28, 2002.

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  1. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    Well, I've figured out the problem with my poll: It's not "secular humanism"; it's "religion." Not only do some consider the term inapplicable to secular humanism, but many others also consider it inapplicable to Buddhism. It's also inappropriate to talk about "Paganism and Neo-Paganism" as if it were a single religion or religious tradition, when earth-centered Wicca has nothing in common with Egyptian deity worship. It's inappropriate to talk about Hinduism as a single religion when in fact it refers to literally thousands of religious traditions indigenous to the world's second-most-populous country. Many Quakers do consider themselves Protestant Christians. And so forth.

    This thread brought back some memories for me; I was trying to figure out why Rich saw my use of "secular humanism" as offensive and/or pejorative. I couldn't imagine. I remembered The Humanist Manifesto, the American Humanist Association, humanistic Judaism, and so forth and so on. And then it hit me.

    When I was 8 or 9 years old, as a homeschooler, I was privileged, if you could call it that, to watch a videotaped sermon giving a pretty interesting evangelical Christian justification for homeschooling. The argument, of course, was that public schools were dominated by a secular humanist "agenda"--that secular humanism was an organized "religion" bent on "evangelism," with designs on converting naive youths to satanic ideas such as evolutionary theory, comparative religion, the metric system, etc.

    It's been so long since I've seen secular humanism described in that context that I'd honestly forgotten about it, but going from that, I can see why Rich might raise an eyebrow at my classification of "secular humanism" as a religion. Mea culpa.

    I would still call it a movement and a religion in the sense of religio, but not an organized one; and certainly not an "agenda" (I never used the word, but I can see why some might have read it between the lines). There are about as many conservative secular humanists as liberal ones, more agnostic secular humanists than atheistic ones, and a number of secular humanists who don't support the metric system. I would be very careful about throwing all secular humanists in together as if they were a single organized tradition, just as I'd be careful about throwing all Christians together as if they were a single organized tradition. (Or Christian secular humanists, for that matter; see Thomas Altizer.)

    My original poll question was not "My religion is:" but "Hey, baby, what's your sign?"; I decided this was too flippant for the subject matter and scrapped it. In retrospect, a little more flippancy across the board would have probably been better for everybody.

    I still think my little question was taken entirely too seriously, but I picked up the ball and took it too seriously myself, so I don't have a high horse to sit on.

    Apologies for the clumsy question and the clumsy way I handled it--but certainly no apologies for bringing up the subject of religion (or lack thereof), which always bears discussion, particularly when everyone here has shown the capability to discuss the subject in a gentle and tolerant way.


    Cheers,
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 28, 2002
  2. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    I glad some one finally mentioned it. I thought perhaps it had gone unnoticed, slipping in under the radar so to speak. I mean when forces start messing with your perceptions there is an evil plan in the works in deed. First it is inches to centimeters and then who knows what is next?! Now though we are alert and vigilant. Just let the cretins try to foist their evil plan upon our culture and we WILL be ready!

    P.S. Sagittarius

    :D
     
  3. cdhale

    cdhale Member

    Hey Tom,
    I appreciated the opportunity to talk about this stuff (and am continuing to do so, as the thread is still going strong as of now).
    I agree that folks take things pretty seriously, on occasion. But then again, this is a subject that is going to hit close to home for most folks, no matter what side of the fence they are on. So some strained and even heated exchanges are to be expected...

    Still, people need to understand that if you start naming every religious group that is possible, it gets to be a little ridiculous. If folks didn't find their particular religious group represented in the poll, all they had to do was choose "none of the above" (or equivalent to that) and then post what their particular religion was.
    I didn't have a problem with the discussion about the merits of whether secular humanism was or wasn't a relgion. It was interesting to hear the different views. I have tended to think it was, but then again, I haven't given that exact question alot of thought.
    So all in all, it was a worthwhile thread and I look forward to seeimg what else gets brought up there.

    clint
     
  4. Kane

    Kane New Member

    Tom

    Oh goodness I have met "Christians" who upon finding out my "pagan" beliefs will view me as someone to be exorcised.

    I received an email from a certain "Christian" I know, he said the following "Satanist, Jesus died for your sins." Of course, I already know this...Who, living in the western world, does not know the basic premise of the Christian faith? I answered "That was very kind of him, I have to get back to my Satanism now." BTW I am not a Satanist *S*

    I never let it bother me. If a person chooses to believe something about me based on their perception, I say let them. As long as I am not libeled or slandered, I have no problem with it.

    So I have no idea why someone would get bent out of shape over someone elses perception of something. I know what I am and I am happy with it. Others should follow my lead.
     

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