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Comment by Joan Denoo on January 14, 2013 at 9:22pm

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Atheist or Agnostic?

To the author of this video, I urge you to email or Twitter Tyson with this information. I agree with you that Tyson should explain the definitions of theist, atheist, agnostic more accurately.

When I have a question that comes up on his videos, I send him an email expressing my question and why I need more information and he responds, usually within a day or two.

Big Think: Neil deGrasse Tyson: Atheist or Agnostic?

He is a gentle and compassionate man. 

 

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 13, 2013 at 10:50pm

James, the symbolism you describe does not put me into a positive frame of mind and I doubt it does anyone else. If I meditated in this environment or used these scenes as a contemplation focus I would not respond positively. 

For me, I need to put myself in an environment to focus on healthy, positive thoughts and couple them with proactive behaviors. First, I want to be discerning, able to separate the wheat from chaff; second, I want to take positive, thoughtful action that causes no harm; third, I want to behave in such a way that I belong to family or community or nation that focuses on compassion and participation, not on punishment or sacrifice; and fourth, I want to think so clearly that I can express myself to others and hopefully build coalitions of like-minded people who want to empower individuals and families and nations to flourish.  

Comment by James M. Martin on January 13, 2013 at 8:38pm

You can see how the O.T. (and parts of the New, as well) could reinforce the beliefs of White Supremacists, neo-Nazi's, some militia types, &c. and even the KKK: "If it was good enough for Moses, it's good enough for me."  The O.T. is full of references to God's approval of slave ownership, and Jesus didn't condemn it.  The cross symbolism in old style Kluxer uniforms was quite blatant.

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 13, 2013 at 7:01pm

How can a moral person own slaves? or subordinate women? or physically and emotionally abuse children, or see people who differ from them as inferior, or inadequate, or bad, or evil? How can moral people exploit and manipulate others for their own benefit? How can a moral person tell a woman she does not have the right to control her own body and make decisions that fit her circumstances, or that she is required to give free access to her body against her own best interests?  I am not talking only of Muslims, I am speaking of Christians and any of the cults and sects that emerge over time! 

Morality Playlist by Joan Denoo

 

Comment by Brian Magee on January 10, 2013 at 3:34pm

THH Web Special: Cecil Bothwell

In the latest Humanist Hour podcast, Todd and Jes speak with Cecil Bothwell about his experience as an atheist politician in Asheville, North Carolina.

You can also catch the program on our Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UFDjmKrBCY) or Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/57081134) channels.

Comment by Brian Magee on January 8, 2013 at 10:44am

Rebecca Hale Elected as American Humanist Association President

(Washington, DC, January 7, 2013)—The American Humanist Association (AHA) is pleased to announce the recent election of Rebecca Hale, co-owner of EvolveFISH.com in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as president. In addition to Hale's new role, she will also serve as a member on the AHA board of directors.

Hale is the 20^th president, and the 4^th woman, to serve in the organization’s history. She will preside over the current AHA board of directors, which is comprised of six women and six men. The last female president of the AHA was Suzanne Paul of Farmington, Michigan, whose term completed in 1992.

Hale has been an advocate for secularism and humanism for many years as co-owner of EvolveFISH.com, the largest online store of freethought merchandise. She is also the co-founder of the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs, a local affiliate of the American Humanist Association, and serves on its board of directors. She is a Humanist Celebrant certified by the Humanist Society of the American Humanist Association.

“I am proud to continue the American Humanist Association’s long tradition of representing humanists, atheists and the non-religious in the United States,” said Hale.

As AHA president, Hale hopes to help raise public awareness and acceptance of humanism, advancing the AHA's agenda of supporting public policy based on reason and science.

To read the complete announcement, click here.

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 7, 2013 at 6:57pm

Greg LeGore, doesn't it feel good to see those who scam the public, delude and lie to them, go down! They won't believe it until they have a reduction of income, and I am proud to think I might have had a part in making that happen. So have you Greg.
Now, I want to explore ways of celebrating secularism. If atheism is lack of evidence of god/s, then the reality is we are alive, have consciousness, are here for a very short time, life can be tough, and we are equal to the tasks of being. Oh! that feels so god.

Comment by Greg LeGore on January 7, 2013 at 6:43pm

Joan, hate-filled men and women have for too long held sway over public opinion and discourse.  It seems, as Dobson, one of the leading hatemongers, is not so happy with the reduction in his income ... or did I mean relevance?  Good riddance to them and their beliefs!!

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 7, 2013 at 6:05pm

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/07/1177030/-A-demoralized-Jam...
"It wasn't any of the factions he cited in his newsletter that brought about his defeat. It was the electorate, who, among other things, has grown weary of the distortions and ugly tactics employed by social conservatism."
"A demoralized James Dobson admits his defeat."
~ Steveningen

IMHO the man is foolish, delusional, domineering, aggressive, disaster for families caught in cycles of violence, and out of touch with what it means to be healthy, either as an individual or as a family ... ultimately for what he wanted for our nation. His time has passed. We need wiser and smarter men than he to pick up the torch and get our nation out of the mess his ilk created.

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 5, 2013 at 8:41pm

Affirm secular values such as reason, compassion, humanity and hope.

They provide far richer and more meaningful values than: 

 

*scripture, claimed to be inspired by god/s, uses Bronze Age morals and ethics as the foundation for modern values, denying human personal and interpersonal relationship development and the ability to think and act morally from internal wisdom.

 

*virgin births and other magical thinking as a basis for thinking and acting which provide no intelligent evidence of such events or reason to use them as a moral compass. 

 

*atonement through someone else’s sacrifice; that borders on barbaric.

 

*delusion of resurrections or horses to the heavens that reflects immature and dys-logical thinking.

 

*miracles claimed to be proof of anything; they just do not stand up to scrutiny

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