|
|
|
|
marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
 Posted - 09/20/2007 : 11:22:55
|
Thanks to the efforts of one very bright, articulate, and pro-active Humanist Chaplain at Harvard, communities of capital "H" Humanists are finally getting some real attention in the media. Not as much (yet) as the "New Atheists", but hopefully gaining!
I just listened to Greg Epstein, leader of the Humanist Chaplaincy of Harvard, interviewed on NPR's Here and Now. He was excellent and the interview is short, so I highly recommend listening to it if you have a few minutes: http://www.here-now.org/shows/2007/09/20070920_2.asp
Something slightly irritated me about how this story was covered. They seem to be trying to make the story more sensational than it is. Trying to paint a picture of this as some radical new thing (when organized Humanism and Humanist clergy have been around for decades) and painting it as if there are other atheists opposing what Greg Epstein is trying to do. "New Atheists" such as Richard Dawkins support Humanist community-building like this, and are often themselves involved in it! Robin Young (the interviewer) mentioned lots of criticism from other atheists directed at Greg Epstein's efforts, but nobody was quoted, and I have yet to hear any real criticism of what Greg and similar Humanist organizers are doing. I hear people say stuff like "That's a little too much like religion for me." or "I'm not a joiner." but I have yet to hear anybody say that it is wrong for Humanists to get together in a community on the basis of a shared philosophical outlook, or to have secular weddings, memorials, and baby namings that often include a Humanist celebrant or chaplain.
Anyway, Greg Epstein was featured in a very popular cover story for the Boston Globe on September 16th. He also organized a very successful conference "The New Humanism" in April of this year which included Salmon Rushdie as one of the speakers.
Ambitious, energetic, smart, compassionate, big thinkers - that is what this movement needs more of! Then maybe the Washington Post will bother mentioning that the American Humanist Association alone has local organized Humanist Communities in 40 American states (15 in just CA) instead of totally neglecting us in articles such as this: http://tinyurl.com/2323jy
Fixed URL so that the page isn't messed up.
Kil
|
"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
|
|
|
HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2007 : 17:11:18 [Permalink]
|
I'm delighted that Humanists are starting to get some attention. They've certainly been around a long time, though perhaps a little too invisibly. Maybe they have begun following the lead of the upstart New Atheists in going public.
In a time of theocratic excesses, I think it would be a disaster if any portion of the secular community didn't stand up to be counted. I don't think there is any serious war going on between "moderate" Humanists and New Atheists, merely a spirited debate over goals, strategy, and tactics.
Clearly the New Atheists have recently been the leading edge in getting secularist ideas to the public, by going directly after (what we see as) the obvious source of so many world problems: theism. But one doesn't need to be, or even agree with, Richard Dawkins & Co. to reach the public.
Welcome to the Front, Humanists!
|
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
 |
|
|
Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2007 : 17:20:41 [Permalink]
|
| I'm a little annoyed that I began receiving the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard newsletter without subscribing. I've got no clue who signed me up, either. Otherwise, good on 'em. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Humanist Communities Get Media Attention Thru Greg
