We often hear that humanists and atheists are left-leaning, yet I know of many who are rather more conservative. Do you think politics have a role in the “movement”? When should campus humanists and skeptics get involved in politics?
We often hear that humanists and atheists are left-leaning, yet I know of many who are rather more conservative. Do you think politics have a role in the “movement”? When should campus humanists and skeptics get involved in politics?
When the president says things like this then absolutey:
When George Bush was campaigning for the presidency, as incumbent vice-president, one of his stops was in Chicago, Illinois, on August 27, 1987. At O’Hare Airport he held a formal outdoor news conference. There Robert I. Sherman, a reporter for the American Atheist news journal, fully accredited by the state of Illinois and by invitation a participating member of the press corps covering the national candidates, had the following exchange with then-Vice-President Bush.
Sherman: What will you do to win the votes of the Americans who are atheists?
Bush: I guess I’m pretty weak in the atheist community. Faith in God is important to me.
Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?
Bush: No, I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.
Sherman (somewhat taken aback): Do you support as a sound constitutional principle the separation of state and church?
Bush: Yes, I support the separation of church and state. I’m just not very high on atheists.
Personally, I try to stay as moderate as possible. Perhaps I can better state my position as taking a conservative approach to being socially liberal. I am vary wary of taking a radical position. Nor am I big on inclusivism. I strongly support civil rights; however, as an example: I do not support an atheists attempt to join the boy scouts. This asserts that such an organization is worth the legal battle to gain acceptance. I much rather see the boy scout dissolve then see excluded member try to force themselves in.
That being said, the CFA as I understand it has taken stances on church state separation and basic 1st amendment infringments, and education issues.
This should most likely be the main span of involvement.
I do remember a time when there was reference to reproductive freedom and universal human rights (civil, gay/lesbian, womens) but they do not seem to be on the CFA’s About page.
This can be explained easily enough.
1st) though many are, not all atheists agnostics etc are pro-choice. Nat Hentoff is such an example. He has a biological objection to abortion.
2nd) The issue of civil, gay/lesbian ,and womens rights do have specific groups (usually) . Our scope is to support the non-theist and similar non-dogmatists. If we become too over broad, we lose sight of our main goals.
This is not to say specific groups cannot take the aforementioned positions. My old TN group explicitly took those positions, but that was our inclination to do so. It is also often the case that CFA groups member’s belong to various clubs, and various clubs do and should work together. To refer back to my old group—we supported the Gay and Lesbian allaince in gay pride week by bringing speakers and providing monetary support. When a local Christian Group held seminars for women specifically aimed at teaching them to be good housewives (break out sessions including etiquette, controlling your emotions and the joys of cooking), We bought a speaker to lecture on the importance of feminism. These are great causes but they should not be implicitly stated as ends we seek, we have a lot on our plate—I promise that there are others to pick up the slack. Scope should be maintained
As for me, I hate the fundamentalists, but I know liberals who are just as fundy in a different way as the right wingers. I hate those atheists who hate america. If you don’t like it here, where there is more liberty than anywhere else, then leave. Not that I am an ngry person I think its oky to have ctritiques but when all people do is throw the baby out with the bath water and try to say since Bush is in office its automatically a theocracy and we should all just jump ship i think is rediculous. I am neither a conservative nor a liberal. i want the government out of my life both fiscally and in terms of my private life. Liberals want no govt involvement in private life but tons in regards to taxes and big government. Conservatives want govt out of your wallet but super involved with your private life. I dont want the government involved in either. -Randy
[quote author=“dj_grothe”]We often hear that humanists and atheists are left-leaning, yet I know of many who are rather more conservative. Do you think politics have a role in the “movement”? When should campus humanists and skeptics get involved in politics?
-DJG
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Hi all!
What a great question! It just so happens I am editing a book at this time about this issue. To put it short (for now), I think there are indeed several political stripes whch best fit into the humanist philosophical paradigm. All humanists have a bit of Libertariansm in them because of our individualism, our unpopular stance in American society which seems to want to impose their will on us, and our belief that we can achive our goals without a personal superbeing. I also think we are part Socialists looking to form a united people under the ideas of planetary humanism as in Dr. Kurtz’s Humanist Manifesto 2000.
But I do think that the majority of us are Left-leaning Progressives.. not because this political bend is the best think for humanims to follow—surely there are problems with Leftism such as its PostModernist streak—but the philosophy of Humanism, when taken from its major affirmations and ideals, is often if not always contrary to the Right-Wing Neo-Con or even Moderate Conservatism.
What’s CSH stamd for? And most freethinkers I know are more liberal, not conservative, which makes sense for the reasons Barry posted. We care about the happiness of everyone, not just the rich, and we believe in taking care of those who have historically lacked opportunity. Thats makes us all more liberal than conservative, imho.
That’s not what he’s saying. He is just saying that the majority of us are. However, what needs to be remain clear is that our common ground is atheism (or agnositicism, huminism, etc) and not politics.
[quote author=“RiktorsAshen”]In general, I don’t feel comfortorable voting for any politician. I only vote against.
I’m confused. So, basiclly your saying you vote for stuff like the recall? Because that’s “against” a politician and stuff like that or you only bring out the bad in politician. Please explain.
yes i am one too, but also a socialist since i think it is only reasonable that we should redistribute wealth for fairness for all. how a freethinker sec hum person couldnt agree is beyong me. i know some of Kurt’z crowd seem to me conservative, idk.
[quote author=“Darwinian Selection”]I am a hardline civil libertarian(you step on my rights or those of anyone else, and taste my verbal steel ), and a bit of a socialist….
It has been my experience that most libertarians are objectivists. Actually, I believe Ayn Rand, herself, was a libertarian. I don’t think Objectivism is suitable as a choice for a political poll, because it may apply to any political philosophy that doesn’t harbor collectivism.
