As an atheist, do you not sometimes feel that it makes no sense to describe your self in terms of what you don't believe in? I am an atheist and I also dont believe in fairies but I don't describe myself as an A-Fairest.

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• Yes perhaps, but I am sick of the connotations and prejudices dealt out to atheists. I recently discovered secular humanism which fits me well, but this idea of labelling yourself by what you don't believe gives more power to those who do believe. I think that religion has transformed atheist almost into god-denier which implies there is something to believe in in the first place.

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  by MRABSOLUTE on November 5th, 2009

• Thats true. I think secular humanist would fit many atheists well.

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  by Gingerminx on November 5th, 2009

• Yes, but unfortunately not many people have heard of it. At least I didn't for at least 2 years of being an atheist. Have a nice day.

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  by MRABSOLUTE on November 6th, 2009

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• No of course not, but there are more atheists in America than there are black people, does that mean black people should not be described by who they are but by the skin colour they are. No of course not. That's absurd. Just because they are a minority does not make any sense of the description handed to them. I don't think it is other people giving them this title atheists just adopt it without question, in my experience as soon as I ask someone not to refer to me as an atheist but as a secular humanist they oblige, it is atheists themselves who I am addressing this to, being a minority bares no effect on ones title.

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  by MRABSOLUTE on November 11th, 2009

• The problem with the title "secular humanist" is that it has too many syllables. Like saying senior citizen instead of old. Why say citizen when we're not refering to their citizenship status? When a person asks your religion they're not interested in knowing if you are a humanist, they just want to know about your belief or non-belief in God. For that, Atheist will do just fine. If they have incorrect stereotypes, just fill them in.

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  by Anonymous on November 11th, 2009

• It has to many syllables? Lol it isn't a super hero name I don't care how it sounds lol. Humanism can be a branch of religion therefore secular is necessary to fully explain my position.
  
  Are you arrogant enough to assume you know exactly what everyone wants to know? Lol. If someone asks me what my beliefs are I dont say what they are not. Christianity is the minority in the world compared to all other religions and non religions. Does that mean christians should define themselves by what they dont believe. No its the same with secular humanism.

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  by MRABSOLUTE on November 11th, 2009

• Have either of you heard the late George Carlins take on the morphing of descriptive names in the PC society?
  If not goole him, or search on youtube you'll like it.
  He describes how the word cripple (for EX.) has changed to handicapable and that they are the exact same thing.
  Changing the name of sometihing doesn't always change what it is.
  My take on it, call me whatever the f**k you want, only I and I alone will determine who/what I am.
  F**K lables and PC'ness
  http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=george+carlin&search_type=&aq=f

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  by qwerty on November 12th, 2009

• If you don't want to define yourself by what you don't believe then just say you are a humanist. Leave secular out of it. But my guess is you want it both ways. You want people to know you are an Atheist without being defined by it. All the benefits, none of the responsibility.

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  by Anonymous on November 12th, 2009

• who said I was an athiest
  just pointing out that the late George was a fan of language and the ways it is abused.
  Call me whatever you want, I still determine who/what I am
  Check out Carlos Mencia also
  http://www.youtube.com/?utm_source=googletb
  he tells the truth, doesn't care who's feelings get hurt.
  to give an example
  I'm old, bald, fat, and happy
  if someone called me a jolly, youth challenged, folically challenged, plump guy. I would have to fight the urge to smack a ho.
  lables and PC'ness can get a bit corny

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  by qwerty on November 12th, 2009

• Oh, I was referring to MRABSOLUTE. Oops.

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  by Anonymous on November 12th, 2009

• Humanism is the devotion to humanities well being, one can be religious while also being a humanist. Hence the necessity of the secular part before it. All that stuff you mentioned about responsibility is stupid and hilarious. What benefits and or responsibilities would I hold as an atheist lol none. Secular is necissary to fully explain my position if you don't like it then don't pay attention. Even if it was not necissary I am entitled to hold myself under any label I so choose. You cannot dictate that part of my life. Just like I can't dictate religious peoples titles otherwise I would call them myth-lovers. Joking of course I wouldn't but you see my point.

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  by MRABSOLUTE on November 12th, 2009

• It's kind of a compromise what our labels are. We want to describe ourselves as fabulous, but others usually won't let us get away with that. Richard Dawkins thinks Atheists should refer to themselves as Brights, but no one else is buying.
  Benefits of being an Atheist; you don't have to follow rules or customs you think are stupid.
  Responsibilities of being an Atheist; being held liable for the results that happen when you don't follow rules or customs that you think are stupid.

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  by Anonymous on November 12th, 2009

• Once again you are talking opinionated statements. In terms of the responsibilities and benefits those benefits are given to ANYONE in the world and are not exclusive to the atheistic standpoint. Responsibilities: you have been vague in saying what these rules or customs are and by the way not all atheists agree on which rules and customs are and aren't stupid. Everyone is liable for the results of their actions? Again none of those are exclusive to atheism. And by the way none of this has anything to do with secular humanism which by the way is recognized by many as a valid philosophy and your criticisms of it so far have been vague incoherent and weak. Your point has become blurred, clarify on what you are saying and why you are saying it. By the way not all of us want to describe ourselves as fabulous especially in terms of religious/philosophical standpoints speak for yourself in that part.

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  by MRABSOLUTE on November 12th, 2009

• Everyone is an individual. There is nothing exclusive to Christianity either. I wasn't critcizing Secular Humanism as a philosophy, just the name. I'm saying that if you are one and somebody asks what your religion is, say that you are secular or an Atheist. If you have no religion, and somebody asks about your religion, you're stuck being defined by what you are not. If you think Humanism is a religion, then just say you are a Humanist. But using the term Secular Humanist seems to imply that you are not beholden to any morality because you are secular, but should be given credit for being moral because you are a humanist. Either you are religious or you are not.

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  by Anonymous on November 12th, 2009

• Incorrect. You clearly don't understand the concept of secular humanism. Secular humanism is not a religion, but a philosophy yes some do define it as a religion but that seems ignorant to me. Also the fact that you say if you are secular you cannot have morality is an ignorant and offensive claim. In secular humanism we believe that morality is inspired by a human sense of empathy. Secular morality makes way more sense than religious morality but your lack of understanding on what secular humanism really is limits you to ignorant and naive views. Humanism is the belief that one should do good for humanity(although that is a complete over simplification it will do, as explaining the deeper concepts will take alot of time). Humanism can be coupled with a belief in a deity, or deist humanism. Hence why secular is necessary (you seem to overlook this point over and over again.

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  by MRABSOLUTE on November 12th, 2009

• I did not say or imply that someone secular cannot have a morality. However, secularism by itself does not provide one. There is no more a secular morality than there is an Atheist god. There can be a humanist morality, though. If your humanism provides you with a morality then you are religious. It is not necessary to believe in a god(s) to be so.

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  by Anonymous on November 13th, 2009

• No again incorrect. Just because something provides me with morality does not make it a religion I don't know where you got that definition from.
  
  
  Definitions of religion:
  
  noun: a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
  noun: institution to express belief in a divine power
  Example: "He was raised in the Baptist religion"
  http://rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi?Word=religion&typeofrhyme=def&org1=syl&org2=l
  
  Your definition of religion is poor.
  
  
  Definitions of philosophy:
  
  noun: any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation
  Example: "Self-indulgence was his only philosophy"
  noun: the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics
  noun: a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
  http://rhymezone.com/r/d?u=philosophy&loc=dmisp
  
  Clearly you can see that secular humanism falls under the definition of a philosophy and not a religion.

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  by MRABSOLUTE on November 13th, 2009

• Many religions do not believe in a supernatural power. Variants of Unitarianism, Buddhism, Confucianism, etc. But let us suppose your definition is correct. Then you are not religious. So if someone asks about your religion tell them you are secular. There is no point in telling someone about your philosophy when they asked about your religion.

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  by Anonymous on November 13th, 2009

• I never said I would tell them about my philosophy if they asked about my religion, but if someone asks about my religion I would answer by saying I do not belong to an organised religion but my beliefs or philosophical views are defined under secular humanism. I was talking in reference to defining my beliefs not my religious stand point. The question doesn't say religion at any point but it does say beliefs.

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  by MRABSOLUTE on November 13th, 2009

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