I Bet You Won’t Even Read This..

| Tue 21 Aug 2012 | 7 Comments | 1323 Views

Author Bridget Gaudette

I'm an ex-Jehovah's Witness with a focus on Black atheism, humanism, and sex-positive dialogue. | @BridgetGaudette

.. because it is a positive, non-confrontational, anti-dramatic post about Humanism and why we in the secular community need to promote it more in the blogosphere, with billboards and with donations.

Other than my own organization, Secular Woman, my all time favorite secular organization is the Foundation Beyond Belief. Why? Because it’s a wonderful blend of Humanism and charity. The mission:

To demonstrate humanism at its best by supporting efforts to improve this world and this life, and to challenge humanists to embody the highest principles of humanism, including mutual care and responsibility.

How beautiful is that? First, let’s define Humanism. According to Wikipedia, “When the first letter is capitalized, “Humanism” describes the secular ideology that espouses reason, ethics, and justice, while specifically rejecting supernatural and religious ideas as a basis of morality and decision-making.

If you talk to a lot of Atheists, they will tell you that ‘Atheist’ shouldn’t even be in our vocabulary because it’s  describing something we don’t believe in. If you ask them to tell you what they do believe in, you’ll often hear reason, logic and ethics. Second, let’s promote that vision of who we are, ethical, reasonable, logical human beings. But how?


Join organizations whose missions are Humanistic in nature.

Support/sponsor bloggers who focus on Humanism.

Donate to billboard campaigns that advertise Humanism.

PRACTICE Humanism.

In the comment section please list Humanist organizations, bloggers, campaigns, initiatives etc. I would like to occasionally highlight them.

…

Your generous contributions will go towards my travel expenses to secular conventions and help to keep me blogging. Thanks in advance!  -Bridget

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  • Helix

    Atheism is a theological stance; humanism is a way to live. Both are useful in the right context, but humanism is definitely the way to advance our point of view and create the kind of world we hope to live in!

  • Kevin Longmore

    I live in the UK and am a member of the British Humanist Society and The Rationalist Society. I am an atheist and fully support the Humanist cause.

  • John

    “If you talk to a lot of Atheists, they will tell you that ‘Atheist’ shouldn’t even be in our vocabulary…”

    In my 52 years, have never heard any Atheist that I know, ever make this statement.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=639378446 Bridget Gaudette

      I hear it all the time. What other words do we use to describe something we DON’T believe in?

    • http://emilyhasbooks.com/ Emily Dietle

      I’ve heard this, though disagree with it- and feel that however we feel about it, doesn’t negate the fact that we should be working together….and, if we choose, practicing humanism, too.

  • Dave

    I’m from the UK and consider myself a by-proxy atheist. I have always been reluctant to use the term ‘atheist’ because It’s a term that has always appeared to benefit theists more than myself. If people are interested enough to ask my view on god; I tell them I’m a naturalistic pantheist, which I then explain is only an abstract sentimental affirmation of the awe I feel towards the Universe. It’s only if someone asks my view of religion that I use the atheist label. I agree that humanism is the bigger picture and definitely the way to go. Though I have to acknowledge the case of my humanist cousins in the US who seem to be continually provoked into declaring atheism as a response to the medieval. They have my continued support, but I hope humanism can become the main topic soon.

  • Mark Crowther

    “If you talk to a lot of Atheists, they will tell you that ‘Atheist’
    shouldn’t even be in our vocabulary because it’s describing something
    we don’t believe in.”

    Bridget, thanks for that, I just finally realised what the “shouldn’t even be in our vocabulary” argument/stance means!

    Came here via a @GreydonSquare tweet btw ;)

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Category: Activism, Atheism & Religion