Atheist vs Secular Humanist

[mralstoner]

So does that mean "secular humanist" is just a phrase to describe any atheist who isn't a sociopath? If so, then why do we need this additional label?

Yes, in practice, atheist and humanist are much the same.
But humanism is such a vague word, it all depends what definition you use.

Most modern people think humanism means human-centered i.e. we think with our own brains and feel with our own hearts, rather than defer to religion. In this sense, most atheists are humanists.

However, more specific definitions of humanism might include: rationality, and concern for fellow human beings. In this sense, plenty of atheists are not humanists because they believe in irrational things, or don't care for their fellow human beings.

All in all, I think the word "humanist" is useful, and I use it to describe myself, rather than "atheist" because it usually describes someone who is non-religious but without all the negative baggage that "atheist" now carries i.e. someone who hates and attacks religion. And the term is also a positive one, that begins to describe how one lives without religion, rather than "atheist" which is completely silent on that subject.

Similarly, scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson said recently he uses the label "agnostic" because "atheist" now has a bad reputation.