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RE: Do you feel (new) Atheist culture?
July 31, 2015 at 12:14 pm
(This post was last modified: July 31, 2015 at 12:15 pm by el_presidente357.)
Personally, I have a general impression that there's more community and culture among self-described humanists. Humanism (whether you view it as a philosophy or religion) strikes me as more geared toward belief/values in practice versus atheism, which is simply the belief that there is no God. I prefer to describe myself as a humanist.
Humanistic Judaism 101: Humanistic Judaism embraces a human-centered philosophy that combines rational thinking with a celebration of Jewish culture and identity. Humanistic Jews value their Jewish identity and the aspects of Jewish culture that offer a genuine expression of their contemporary way of life. Humanistic Jewish communities celebrate Jewish holidays and life cycle events (such as weddings and bar and bat mitzvah) with inspirational ceremonies that draw upon but go beyond traditional literature.
"God is one of the many different poetic expressions of the highest value in humanism, not a reality in itself." -Erich Fromm
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RE: Do you feel (new) Atheist culture?
July 31, 2015 at 1:20 pm
(July 31, 2015 at 12:14 pm)el_presidente357 Wrote: Personally, I have a general impression that there's more community and culture among self-described humanists. Humanism (whether you view it as a philosophy or religion) strikes me as more geared toward belief/values in practice versus atheism, which is simply the belief that there is no God. I prefer to describe myself as a humanist.
Somehow that reminds me of the complaints I have read at this site (you can search for threads if you want, but I don't particularly recommend it) about Atheism+ (aka Atheism Plus), because they are not just atheists, but add more stuff to that idea. One would think that the "+" would be enough to tell people that something is being added, but several people have wanted atheism to be without anything added.
Anyway, I agree with you, that humanism is about more than mere atheism, and need not even include atheism, depending on the type of humanism under discussion.
Also, just to help you avoid silly complaints, around here, usually, people use the term "atheism" in the sense of weak atheism rather than strong atheism. The links are more thorough, but basically most people here use the term "atheism" as the lack of belief in any god, rather than the positive belief that there is no god. In English, of course, both meanings are common and correct, but it is good to distinguish between those two separate concepts.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
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RE: Do you feel (new) Atheist culture?
July 31, 2015 at 1:48 pm
(July 30, 2015 at 12:29 pm)drfuzzy Wrote: It would be nice if there was more Atheist comedy in print - anyone know of a good FUNNY book to suggest?
"Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy." It's not an atheist book per se, but it is a sci-fi story about how humanity learns how insignificant it is to the rest of the galaxy, all written by the God-like atheist Douglas Adams.
You'll laugh your ass off.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
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RE: Do you feel (new) Atheist culture?
July 31, 2015 at 2:00 pm
So far my impression of humanists hasn't been so great, because every time I knowingly encounter one, they pontificate how they are better than atheism and were there long before new atheism and get off my lawn.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: Do you feel (new) Atheist culture?
July 31, 2015 at 2:15 pm
(July 31, 2015 at 2:00 pm)Alex K Wrote: So far my impression of humanists hasn't been so great, because every time I knowingly encounter one, they pontificate how they are better than atheism and were there long before new atheism and get off my lawn.
It depends on which ones you meet. I have met some who are good. And I have met some who fit in with exactly what you are saying.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
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RE: Do you feel (new) Atheist culture?
July 31, 2015 at 3:55 pm
I don't know if I buy the premise of the OP.
Rather, I think there are stupid fucks who prefer to believe in ridiculous fairy tales and smarter people who do not.
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RE: Do you feel (new) Atheist culture?
July 31, 2015 at 6:08 pm
(July 31, 2015 at 3:55 pm)Minimalist Wrote: I don't know if I buy the premise of the OP.
Rather, I think there are stupid fucks who prefer to believe in ridiculous fairy tales and smarter people who do not.
Really. So much subtely!
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: Do you feel (new) Atheist culture?
July 31, 2015 at 7:01 pm
(July 31, 2015 at 6:08 pm)Alex K Wrote: (July 31, 2015 at 3:55 pm)Minimalist Wrote: I don't know if I buy the premise of the OP.
Rather, I think there are stupid fucks who prefer to believe in ridiculous fairy tales and smarter people who do not.
Really. So much subtely!
Minimalist is the king of minimal subtlety. But someone has to say: blow Jesus out your ass. It simply must be said.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
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RE: Do you feel (new) Atheist culture?
July 31, 2015 at 7:39 pm
(July 31, 2015 at 6:08 pm)Alex K Wrote: (July 31, 2015 at 3:55 pm)Minimalist Wrote: I don't know if I buy the premise of the OP.
Rather, I think there are stupid fucks who prefer to believe in ridiculous fairy tales and smarter people who do not.
Really. So much subtely!
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