Introduction

[Secularone]

I'm Secularone. Atheist, humanist, activist.
This is what I Believe…
• I believe all people have an equal claim to inalienable rights, among them life, freedom, equality, equity and tolerance.
• I believe no law, government, majority, religion, institution or person can act ethically without a deliberate and conscious commitment to preserving the inalienable rights of all.
• I believe in the universal application of love, without regard for divisive ideologies that capitalize on differences in race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation.
• I believe empathy is the most noble of all virtues. It is only by way of empathy with those suffering, disenfranchised or repressed that we can achieve equity in our treatment of others.
• I believe there is no higher authority than reason and critical thinking. To question is the answer. Spiritual growth cannot occur unless we continue the search for better answers from a variety of sources. Institutions claiming to know and offer absolute truth only nurture intellectual arrogance, impeding spiritual growth.
• I believe demagogic and simplistic answers do not do adequately or equitably address complex problems. Sophistry is never ethical. It is used solely for the unscrupulous purpose of robbing people of their ability to make sound judgments.
• Freedom of religion cannot exist without freedom from religion. Those willing to impose their religious beliefs upon others, using the force of law, are champions of religious fascism.
• I believe in moral relativism. Absolute dogmas and inflexible rules fail to serve the interests of social justice.
• I believe there are only human solutions to human problems. If we cannot do it, it will not get done. Any reliance upon supernaturalism impedes human progress.
• I believe that a single well-substantiated fact, irreconcilable with a belief, is sufficient to prove that belief false. Intransigent loyalty to false dogma is not a virtue.
• I believe these values should mandate the ethical character of our faith and resist compromise. Any faith, religion, scripture, church or institution whose teachings conflict with these values should be abandoned.
What do you believe?

[Minimalist]

You're going to fit right in, friend. Welcome aboard.

And, about your avatar...



He wasn't here the first time, either.

[Kyuuketsuki]

I'm Secularone. Atheist, humanist, activist.

Good start ...

What do you believe?

... but since I don't believe in rights at all (let alone inalienable ones) I can't agree with the first two and I have difficulty accepting a "love solves all" philosophy (seems airy fairy to me) and empathy whilst important probably isn't the most noble virtue.

Apart from that yeah sure and welcome to the forum.

Kyu

[fr0d0]

Welcome Secularone!

Thanks for asking:

1. I believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
2. I believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
3. I believe that there are three persons in the Godhead-the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
4. I believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
5. I believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
6. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
7. I believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.
8. I believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
9. I believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
10. I believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
11. I believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

[theVOID]

Lmao...

Welcome newcomer. I'd agree with you on most of that, but saying everyone has the right to Equity.... Nah - that's something you have to work for.

---

Welcome Secularone!

Thanks for asking:

1. I believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
2. I believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
3. I believe that there are three persons in the Godhead-the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
4. I believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
5. I believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
6. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
7. I believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.
8. I believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
9. I believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
10. I believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
11. I believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

Woah Fr0d0, i didn't realize you were one of the complete nutjob bodily resurrection, original sin, adam & eve Christians.

[Violet]

There is... some other kind of Christian?

Anyway... Welcome to the forums Secularone.

[leo-rcc]

Hi Secularone,

I've looked into secular humanism, and as much as I like the idea, I never could bring myself to label me as one. Particularly because of the same reasons Kyu outlines.

---

1. I believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
2. I believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
3. I believe that there are three persons in the Godhead-the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
4. I believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
5. I believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
6. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
7. I believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.
8. I believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
9. I believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
10. I believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
11. I believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

---

And I don't believe any of that. :)

[Secularone]

I'm Secularone. Atheist, humanist, activist.

Good start ...

What do you believe?

... but since I don't believe in rights at all (let alone inalienable ones) I can't agree with the first two and I have difficulty accepting a "love solves all" philosophy (seems airy fairy to me) and empathy whilst important probably isn't the most noble virtue.

Apart from that yeah sure and welcome to the forum.

Kyu

You don't believe in rights? How about for yourself?
Am I to understand that you are of the opinion that you do not and should not have the right to freedom, free speech or equality or even life itself? I need some further explanation to understand where you are coming from. Please explain.
Secularone

[Retorth]

Hello Secularone

I must say your introduction is by far the most in-depth I've seen lol Welcome to the forums!

[Darwinian]

Welcome Secularone!

Thanks for asking:

1. I believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
2. I believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
3. I believe that there are three persons in the Godhead-the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
4. I believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
5. I believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
6. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
7. I believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.
8. I believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
9. I believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
10. I believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
11. I believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

I'm strangely disappointed