Norm Allen, of the CFI, has told some very positive news about
Africa’s great enthusiasm and growing interest in Humanism,
and African Americans small but sincere interest. From a 11-24-06.mp3 interview that he gave for Point of Inquiry:
- (14:52) Norm Allen says: there are African American Humanists (a
catch-all term), and they feel very isolated.
- (24:30) Explosive growth in for Humanism in Africa: Nigeria,
Uganda, Senegal
- (30:54) Most of the Humanist organizers in Africa are young
people.
That fills me with hope about Africa. I don’t know the latest news.
oh..? And I skipped that episode.. guess I’ll have to go back to it..
but in Nigeria??? I lived there for 17 years… not one person I knew was even skeptical..
oh..? And I skipped that episode.. guess I’ll have to go back to it..
but in Nigeria??? I lived there for 17 years… not one person I knew was even skeptical..
But thanks
Then your mission, should you choose to accept it, is…..
When I’m done with school I’ll make it a priority to establish a free-thought community for people like me.
But I might go hungry for a few days once I tell my parents that I’m a non-believer..!!
Then again, sacrifices must be made
In a book of speculative fiction I am writing Humanism becomes a worldwide phenomenon that brings the UN to power, if that is the word, and all orthodox religions of today fall into shadow.
But, in the last chapter, the hero (a Humanist philosopher) receives a message that a Catholic Cardinal wants to meet with him, to propose that the Church be repositioned as a Humanist federation, while keeping most of the rituals, buildings and traditions intact - and the Humanist seems to agree (that will be the next book).
Why? Because people want that influence of a Church in their lives, the sense of belonging and community and the pooling of collective faith, this time in our species instead of “The Trinity”. Let’s sing “We can be together” instead of “O Holy Night” some day.
So, I think you can take the same path and everyone will benefit - just swap out the books in your parents’ church when nobody is looking .
- just swap out the books in your parents’ church when nobody is looking .
Oh.. they will!! ———————————-
True, most people just want to belong to a community, a like-minded-social union at that.
Both paths will lead, to a positive outcome, only.. for different sides, and all I want is rationality really
...really?! Thank g..dog… Africans have the stereotypical view of African Americans. (Overly religious, gangsta and sagging)..
but definitely not non-believers..
Chastised by family? Eh…not really. They seem to regard it as some sort of ‘phase’ that I’m going through moreso than something serious. I am not the only non-believer in my generation, though I am the only one open about it.
As far as friends…they are either Atheists themselves, or liberal Theists. Admittedly, there are some devout Christians that are a break away from the typical fundies at the college I attended. They are open to me, and address my stance with curiousity moreso than hostility (almost dated one even…go figure). They invited me to their meetings often enough (as a student rep, I made it a point to stop by every club, including theirs, on a regular basis), and I even saw myself defending what they were doing on an occasion.
So I can honestly say that not all christians are that bad….just most of the ones I’ve met, heh.
Understood.. If its one thing i hate, its stereotypes. I know not all religious people are bad.. ‘have to remember most of our parents are
religious, even if liberally.
Many of my friends are..not.. religious (i can’t say where they fall into) but sadly, ALL of my non-religious friends are white.. none of
my African-American or Mexican friends are!
And, really, when i think about Africa.. I don’t even begin to see us making headway into these freethinking or humanist times..
But I’m happy at what seems like progress.
Understood.. If its one thing i hate, its stereotypes. I know not all religious people are bad.. ‘have to remember most of our parents are
religious, even if liberally.
Many of my friends are..not.. religious (i can’t say where they fall into) but sadly, ALL of my non-religious friends are white.. none of
my African-American or Mexican friends are!
And, really, when i think about Africa.. I don’t even begin to see us making headway into these freethinking or humanist times..
But I’m happy at what seems like progress.
So you are saying that Africa is saturated by Christian theism? If so, then I can see where we need to dust off the term “secular Humanism” and send them back out to work as our infantry. Go get them fundies!
Those are tough battles, in any religious country.
I think there will be a sea change shortly via the Internet that will move Humanism into better focus and theism off center stage, and following that an adoption by Humanists of ritual and structure, and Humanistic attributes like your college Christians exhibit will emerge in their approach as well, until finally it will merge into religious Humanism a generation from now.
And it will survive a long time - 1000 summers at least.
...really?! Thank g..dog… Africans have the stereotypical view of African Americans. (Overly religious, gangsta and sagging)..
but definitely not non-believers..
Are you chastised by your family or friends?
Wait a minute…what am I? Chicken soup?? I am a second generation African American atheist, that has passed down my atheism down to my children! And this after sending them to catholic school!!!
Wait a minute…what am I? Chicken soup?? I am a second generation African American atheist, that has passed down my atheism down to my children! And this after sending them to catholic school!!!
Oh..? More power to you then..
This is what I mean to avoid with stereotypes and generalizations..
I know that NOT ALL black folk are religious, not all white southerners are redneck
religious types and not all Hispanic people believe that Obama is the antichrist.
Unfortunately, the fact still remains there are people like that.
....Because they had the best overall education available around here
....because they had an excellent sex education program that needed just a little infill from me (STD protection, birth controls, other-sexualities)
....because they did the best job of teaching evolution
....because they actually had a course on skeptical thinking
my son routinely slept through religion classes, but the teacher left him alone because he usually knew the dogma when called on. Once when a teacher woke him, he told the teacher that the catholic church was history’s biggest mass murderers. Surprisingly, the teacher agreed!
I don’t know the
..yeh, I get it!!
