This thread was inspired by one of our newest members, PhilosophicalZebra. I wonder how philosophical he is concerning lions.

I was moved by his reference to Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot. That says it all for me. Atheism is not a worldview in itself but Sagan's Pale Blue Dot speaks volumes for many of us, including most Secular Humanists like myself. Atheism is just a component in anyone's worldview but whether they are Secular Humanists or not, that image of our homeworld being but a speck in a cosmic vastness is so powerful. It makes our differences seem so petty, so insignificant. But not necessarily for all of us.

There are many brands of atheists including Satanists and Objectivists (Ayn Rand atheists). I feel more kinship with liberal Christians than I do with those. That seems to be the majority opinion among us. If find it interesting that while there are so many generic atheism websites like this one and Secular Humanist websites, there are few dedicated to minority atheists like the Rand followers and Satanists.

I wonder what label or description (if any) the typical atheist/agnostic/freethinker here would use to describe himself/herself. I didn't make this a poll because those are almost always too limiting. There will always be someone for whom the labels don't fit. Their own words would be better.

I use the Secular Humanist label to describe myself. Secular Humanists have a science-based outlook regarding reality and a common-sense, common-good outlook regarding morality. Compassion for others is a core component. There is also the belief that we human beings have everything we need to improve ourselves, to transcend our limitations. No cosmic babysitter is required. We can achieve greatness on our own. My first inclination that I was a member of this ethos was through watching the original Star Trek TV series. Later, I found that the creator of the series (Gene Roddenberry) was a Secular Humanist and that the characters he created reflected that.

Anyway, that's me. What are you?

Pretty much the same here. See my sig?

I believe that we are one outcome, but most certainly not the aim, of a staggeringly vast chain of events that has led to our species evolving, and being able to develop to the brain capacity to unravel that chain of events and realise exactly that process. The factors that have led to our existence are many, and the fact that that they all hard to work in perfect harmony together is an incredibly rare thing, to be sure. But I also know that of all the planets in the universe, those factors aligned in such a way on at least one that it gave rise to a species that could muse upon them. They are natural and random, with no intelligence driving them and no aim in mind.

Many theists think this is a soulless way of looking at the world. I heartily disagree. I think the fact we are here essentially by accident is more humbling than the most awesome god, more inspiring than the grandest claims of salvation and eternal life, and more satisfying than the deepest prayer. Belief in an intelligence guiding the workings of the universe makes no sense, because there is always the question of where such intelligence came from, which is something no theist has ever come close to answering. Beyond that, the idea of a creator cheapens the entire miracle of life. That it came about by an incredibly long and perfect circumstances is an infinitely more sensible and satisfying concept.

On humanity itself...we have so much potential. We have experienced a greater shift in our paradigm in the last century than at any point in our existence. We have tentatively begun our first steps towards exploring the solar system and perhaps the universe beyond, and created machines capable of answering questions unasked and unanswered since the beginning of the universe. We have saved ourselves again and again, from stepping away from the brink of nuclear annihilation to leading countless efforts to simply make the world a better place.

We have, and still do, committed despicable acts of evil. The acrid smoke that hung over the concentration camps of the Nazi Empire. The slave trade and its modern equivalent. Greed, corruption, murder, chaos. But there are always those who stand up to those things, because most people have an intrinsic sense of morality that is hardwired into us from our origins as social animals.

Overall, I think we're making the world a better place, though the process has always been slow, and with many stops and starts. We are not the most important generation to have lived, but we are one of the most dynamic. It may be foolish to be grateful to nature, as it has no intelligence and cannot be receptive of such emotion, but I am honoured to be living in a time when we are becoming more and more aware of our place, atop this Pale Blue Dot.

Medium.

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I avoid the humanist label because I think it may foster a cult of shoulding with out thinking.

I think I am the kind of atheist that doesn't find any direction at all from religion or (in my case) its absence. I don't need a substitute for religion because I'd be resistant to living my life 'in the third person', always looking to do or avoid doing the right things. Not looking for any sort of rote response to life. I intend to go on making it up afresh as I go right up to the end.

To borrow a bit from Jerry DeWitt (with some personal modification):

Skepticism is my nature.
Critical thinking is my method.
Agnosticism is my conclusion.
Atheism is my belief state.
Secular humanism is my worldview and motivation.

Aw, thank you for the mention, AFTT47! I'm glad it moved you in the same way it moved me. (I'm actually a female )

My answer is summed up perfectly by Iroscato and so there is no point in me repeating it again. It's a fascinating thread topic and I look forward to reading others' responses

Oops, sorry about the gender bender, Zebrette.

I like long walks on the beach...

(April 21, 2015 at 8:05 pm)whateverist Wrote: Medium.

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I avoid the humanist label because I think it may foster a cult of shoulding with out thinking.

I think I am the kind of atheist that doesn't find any direction at all from religion or (in my case) its absence. I don't need a substitute for religion because I'd be resistant to living my life 'in the third person', always looking to do or avoid doing the right things. Not looking for any sort of rote response to life. I intend to go on making it up afresh as I go right up to the end.

Just gonna plagiarize this. Yoink!

100% atheist. My only doubts deal with our perception of reality. I believe it to be very far removed from from what we think we know.

(April 21, 2015 at 8:15 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: To borrow a bit from Jerry DeWitt (with some personal modification):

Skepticism is my nature.
Critical thinking is my method.
Agnosticism is my conclusion.
Atheism is my belief state.
Secular humanism is my worldview and motivation.

Can I borrow this too? This is pretty much me.

My concerns are for all life on the planet, not just humans, as far as possible. Also for the preservation of our environment and of (non human) nature.