[girlN]

Hey I was just wondering if there are any other socialists or secular humanists out there? I so far am the only one I know of on here.

[LMo]

There are a few people here (including me) who identify with secular humanism, although I personally don't like categorizing myself with an "ist" or "ism"

[Cassidy72]

I am

[Timgt5]

Socialism has a lot of definitions, how do define it?

I probably am. But depends what you mean, yeah.

[pachyderm]

There are people here who do not consider themselves to be very "standard" in many ways. Lots of them, I hope!

[splitimage]

I have a lot of socialist leanings, although I don't call myself one.

--splitimage

[nowheretorun]

hi girlN .. i was doing research for another thread and ran across this:

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Secular Humanism

Secular Humanism starts with the concept of materialism. It showed up in the renaissance, with followers calling themselves Christian Humanists. They loved the Bible, especially New Testament. They wanted to help their neighbor, the poor, etc. But they didn’t like the church structure. They said "We’ll go out and help people because Christ said to do that."

The secular aspect came in when people later said, "We really like this humanism thing. We want to help people, but we don’t think you do it because of God. We don’t think there is a God. We do it because we feel like we’ve evolved to a higher level as humans. The motivation is to be a better person, not because God said so."

The philosophers of this movement were Spencer, Darwin, Dewey, and Kinsey.

Philosophy: Naturalism. Everything is natural. There is one level, the material world (no spiritual aspect). All ideas, feelings, visions, and inspiration come from the physical workings of the brain. Everything in the world can be understood by understandable physical laws.

Theology: Atheism, i.e. there is no God

Ethics: Ethical relativism. Right and wrong is relative to the situation, to what’s happening. There is no absolute right and wrong.

Psychology: monistic self-actualization. You will become whatever you decide to become. You have to be in touch with what’s right for you at the given moment.

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link: http://www.commonsensegovernment.com...-03-05-05.html

if you go to the link it describe 5 major world views.... for me, i have a little of several.. i think its common to share a few views from each sub-category.. few are 100% anything in other words, in my opinion...

[(JD)]

Obviously, not me. This is what I ran across, and go by when someone says secular humanism (just so you know where I am coming from.)

Accurate definitions are difficult to come by. When one hears the word "humanism," several different ideas may come to mind. For example, Mr. Webster would define humanism something like this:

"any system or mode of thought or action in which human interests, values, or dignity predominate."[1]

Others may think of a liberal arts education. Both of these are well and good, but what we are seeking is a definition of the worldview known as Secular Humanism.

First, Secular Humanism is a worldview. That is, it is a set of beliefs through which one interprets all of reality—something like a pair of glasses. Second, Secular Humanism is a religious worldview.[2] Do not let the word "secular" mislead you. The Humanists themselves would agree that they adhere to a religious worldview. According to the Humanist Manifestos I & II: Humanism is "a philosophical, religious, and moral point of view."[3]

Not all humanists, though, want to be identified as "religious," because they understand that religion is (supposedly) not allowed in American public education. To identify Secular Humanism as a religion would eliminate the Humanists' main vehicle for the propagation of their faith. And it is a faith, by their own admission. The Humanist Manifestos declare:

"These affirmations [in the Manifestos] are not a final credo or dogma but an expression of a living and growing faith."[4]

What are the basic beliefs of Secular Humanism? What do Secular Humanists believe?
Theologically, Secular Humanists are atheists. Humanist Paul Kurtz, publisher of Prometheus Books and editor of Free Inquiry magazine, says that "Humanism cannot in any fair sense of the word apply to one who still believes in God as the source and creator of the universe."[5] Corliss Lamont agrees, saying that "Humanism contends that instead of the gods creating the cosmos, the cosmos, in the individualized form of human beings giving rein to their imagination, created the gods."[6]

Philosophically, Secular Humanists are naturalists. That is, they believe that nature is all that exists - the material world is all that exists. There is no God, no spiritual dimension, no afterlife. Carl Sagan said it best in the introduction to his Cosmos series: "The universe is all that is or ever was or ever will be."[7] Roy Wood Sellars concurs. "Humanism is naturalistic," he says, "and rejects the supernaturalistic stance with its postulated Creator-God and cosmic Ruler."[8]

Secular Humanist beliefs in the area of biology are closely tied to both their atheistic theology and their naturalist philosophy. If there is no supernatural, then life, including human life, must be the result of a purely natural phenomenon. Hence, Secular Humanists must believe in evolution. Julian Huxley, for example, insists that "man ... his body, his mind and his soul were not supernaturally created but are all products of evolution."[9] Sagan, Lamont, Sellars, Kurtz—all Secular Humanists are in agreement on this.

Atheism leads most Secular Humanists to adopt ethical relativism - the belief that no absolute moral code exists, and therefore man must adjust his ethical standards in each situation according to his own judgment.[10] If God does not exist, then He cannot establish an absolute moral code. Humanist Max Hocutt says that human beings "may, and do, make up their own rules... Morality is not discovered; it is made."[11]

Secular Humanism, then, can be defined as a religious worldview based on atheism, naturalism, evolution, and ethical relativism. But this definition is merely the tip of the iceberg. A more complete discussion of the Secular Humanist worldview can be found in David Noebel's Understanding the Times, which discusses (in detail) humanism's approach to each of ten disciplines: theology, philosophy, ethics, biology, psychology, sociology, law, politics, economics and history.

[girlN]

I believe there is no god no heaven and no hell. I am a BIG supporter of the evolution theory and I think it is up to each individual to find there own truth and for me personally there is no supernatural and I have little regard for authoritative or oppressive people/ belief systems. My personal code of ethics entails treating people the way I want to be treated and helping out when I can if it isn't going to throw things askew for me. I dug the link you popped out nowheretorun. thanks.

[wisewoman]

should this be in spiritual support?

[girlN]

it wasn't meant to turn into a philosophical debate. I just had wondered if I was the only socialist or humanist.

[sabby]

Please lets keep this thread as the OP had intended. A simple question asking if other socialist or humanists were on this site.

Thanks for your understanding!


sabby

[nowheretorun]

you are welcome girln

[LMo]

This is the aspect of secular humanism that I relate to -- not sure I agree with the other stuff posted here.

---------------------
From Portland Humanists:
"Humanists believe in a scientific, rather than a supernatural or divine, explanation for how we all (plants, animals, planets, stars, galaxies) got to where we are.
Humanists believe that people are capable of both good and evil all on their own, and we work hard for the good.
Humanists believe it is our purpose to become our very best selves, take care of each other, and to take good care of the planet where we live. We act this way not to earn some eternal reward, or to avoid some eternal punishment, but because it's ethical."

[youOme]

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wisewoman said:
should this be in spiritual support?

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I think this is more of a worldly humanistic situation here and not a spiritual one.

[haybee]

I can identify with you GirlN, but I thinkI'm a bit like Lmo. I don't really feel religious about anything...I mean I'm a nothing and I'm not anything...if that makes sense.

[DaveyJones]

I'm pretty much a socialist--I think that society is better when citizens work as a team rather than a bunch of selfish individuals. I think that it is shameful that the richest society in the history of the universe cannot find its way to take care of it's citizens. (This is the biggest issue for me).

I'm tempted to launch into a diatribe, but I'll stop now.

Peace,
DJ

[allthegirls6]

im a socialst. I beleive in self determination and therefore have no "god" beleifs. I think socialism is all about accepting that there are flaws in humans and as such these flaws can be lessened by some sort of state control. Im thinking about greed here.

anyway, Marx beleived that socialism was only a stage in the move to communism.

But then their is dialectical materialism, we cant forget about that!

So yes, Im a socialist and impleased to see there are others of a similar leaning out there.

[Perna]

I'm a nineteenth century Liberal, recognizing "change happens" and working to deal with it.

[teejai]

According to political compass

Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: -6.62
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.54

Which places me in the 'left libertarian' quadrant.

[pachyderm]

> I just had wondered if I was the only socialist or humanist.

Are they the same? I would have thought that socialism had to do with economics, how the "means of production" should be owned and the output managed and distributed. Humanism seems to me to be something else almost entirely.

[nowheretorun]

just in cast there's other cosmic humanists out there... i think its neat how 'snips' of other world views can attach easily to this one....

I am not sure what I am...
I believe in god
but does not have to happen in church
as Jesus preached out in the open
and beleved imho that was a good thing
I believe all ppl should be helped
I believe us as ppl should help one another
there is no reason imho for ppl to be with out health care or food or heat or clothes or anything they need to get by

I truely believe if we do not take care of the earth we will be in trouble
JUst my thoughts
Do not mean to upset anyone
muffy

[Zorah]

ok, we are a socialist, a Fabian.

we think Jesus said some good stuff, but that idiot Paul/Saul messed it all up