Comments on: Some Critical Blogs and Some of My Responses. http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/ Blog by the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard, Greg M. Epstein Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:35:40 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 By: tracieh http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/comment-page-1/#comment-373 tracieh Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:53:20 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-r#comment-373 >Isn’t humanism atheism? No. There are religious humanists as well. Atheism is only a lack of belief in god and promotes nothing. Humanism is basically a worldview about how people should be treated and take care of things that affect posterity. >Isn’t humanism atheism?

No. There are religious humanists as well. Atheism is only a lack of belief in god and promotes nothing. Humanism is basically a worldview about how people should be treated and take care of things that affect posterity.

]]> By: bill http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/comment-page-1/#comment-328 bill Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:43:48 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-r#comment-328 appeaser...nothing less... appeaser…nothing less…

]]> By: Innovator http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Innovator Sun, 15 Apr 2007 03:32:02 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-r#comment-62 Oh. I admire your blog, intentions, and overall philosophy. Oh. I admire your blog, intentions, and overall philosophy.

]]> By: Innovator http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Innovator Sun, 15 Apr 2007 01:16:08 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-r#comment-61 Dawkins raises a valid point concerning the fear of burning in Hell forever capable of being more uncomfortable than sexual abuse. There are plenty of sexually abused people who move on, especially the less severe cases. If a person dwells on eternally frying on heaping coals and never snaps out of it, which millions do, I bet they probably have it worse than the average (in context of severity) case of sexual abuse. Dawkins raises a valid point concerning the fear of burning in Hell forever capable of being more uncomfortable than sexual abuse. There are plenty of sexually abused people who move on, especially the less severe cases. If a person dwells on eternally frying on heaping coals and never snaps out of it, which millions do, I bet they probably have it worse than the average (in context of severity) case of sexual abuse.

]]> By: Daylight Atheism > On Atheist Fundamentalism http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Daylight Atheism > On Atheist Fundamentalism Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:17:46 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-r#comment-57 [...] These comments have drawn a sharp response from those who feel that Epstein is lending support to the slurs religious zealots frequently hurl against atheists who dare to speak out. Austin Cline and Brian Flemming take the lead in raking him over the coals, while Friendly Atheist has an insider's perspective on the feud, along with a link to Greg Epstein's own response. [...] [...] These comments have drawn a sharp response from those who feel that Epstein is lending support to the slurs religious zealots frequently hurl against atheists who dare to speak out. Austin Cline and Brian Flemming take the lead in raking him over the coals, while Friendly Atheist has an insider’s perspective on the feud, along with a link to Greg Epstein’s own response. [...]

]]> By: Ironwolf » Blog Archive » Epstein’s F-Bomb, Part 2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Ironwolf » Blog Archive » Epstein’s F-Bomb, Part 2 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:34:23 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-r#comment-56 [...] So here, dogmatism and intolerance seems to be the gist. And when he “clarified” his position in his blog, he appeared to be using the term in much the same way: Richard [Dawkins] wrote to me in response to my clarification about the use of the word “Fundamentalism,” (in short, I used it, but in scare quotes, and no I absolutely do not think Dawkins, Harris, etc. are actual fundamentalists) [...] [...] So here, dogmatism and intolerance seems to be the gist. And when he “clarified” his position in his blog, he appeared to be using the term in much the same way: Richard [Dawkins] wrote to me in response to my clarification about the use of the word “Fundamentalism,” (in short, I used it, but in scare quotes, and no I absolutely do not think Dawkins, Harris, etc. are actual fundamentalists) [...]

]]> By: AgnosticAtheist http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/comment-page-1/#comment-55 AgnosticAtheist Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:52:40 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-r#comment-55 Greg, Thanks for championing this cause. I blogged about the article in a <a href="http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/2007/03/31/are-you-a-fundamentalist-atheist-and-what-is-your-view-of-religion/" rel="nofollow">recent post</a> on my blog. aA Greg,
Thanks for championing this cause. I blogged about the article in a recent post on my blog.
aA

]]> By: Sage http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Sage Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:51:51 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-r#comment-54 Isn't humanism atheism? I personally do not like to see this split as internal strife has never done any good overall. I can see merit to both arguments: one, that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar (and we're not about catching flies anyway), and two, that no change is likely to occur with out extremity (as it seems that in today's society only extreme actions seem to get anyone's attention, unfortunate as it is). I don't see the New Atheist movement as lacking the power to bring positive change, though I admit that the gentler nature of the Humanist movement is better suited for so-called optomistic atheism. I just don't like how emphatically you are trying to distinguish yourself from the New Atheist movement, and on top of that trying to explain how your movement is significantly better. I also dislike (on a semi-personal note) the emphasis you put on the fact that this is HUMANISM, and not atheism, because humanism is a form of atheism, with a philosophy added to the simple lack of faith. I would most likely describe myself as an atheist humanist, but I'm very concerned with removing the stigma around the term "atheist", and in your discussion of atheism, you try to distance yourself from this word, which I believe contributes to this stigma. I, of course, see the necessity of working with religious people to solve the most pressing problems, but I also strongly sense the merit in speaking out against religious wrongs, and how others' religious beliefs can negatively affect individual's lives (through things like a ban on stem cell research, created primarily because of religious objection). I understand how things like the environment can be more pressing than this, but I think it is worth noting, and I think continued protest against things like this may eventually bring change. I really do respect your position, and I understand the importance of adding positivity to a concept that can be so focused on negativity, however I think by emphasizing the distinction between you and others, you are almost stating that you would be more willing to work with religious people than those of somewhat of your own beliefs. That is my concern. Isn’t humanism atheism? I personally do not like to see this split as internal strife has never done any good overall. I can see merit to both arguments: one, that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar (and we’re not about catching flies anyway), and two, that no change is likely to occur with out extremity (as it seems that in today’s society only extreme actions seem to get anyone’s attention, unfortunate as it is). I don’t see the New Atheist movement as lacking the power to bring positive change, though I admit that the gentler nature of the Humanist movement is better suited for so-called optomistic atheism. I just don’t like how emphatically you are trying to distinguish yourself from the New Atheist movement, and on top of that trying to explain how your movement is significantly better. I also dislike (on a semi-personal note) the emphasis you put on the fact that this is HUMANISM, and not atheism, because humanism is a form of atheism, with a philosophy added to the simple lack of faith. I would most likely describe myself as an atheist humanist, but I’m very concerned with removing the stigma around the term “atheist”, and in your discussion of atheism, you try to distance yourself from this word, which I believe contributes to this stigma. I, of course, see the necessity of working with religious people to solve the most pressing problems, but I also strongly sense the merit in speaking out against religious wrongs, and how others’ religious beliefs can negatively affect individual’s lives (through things like a ban on stem cell research, created primarily because of religious objection). I understand how things like the environment can be more pressing than this, but I think it is worth noting, and I think continued protest against things like this may eventually bring change. I really do respect your position, and I understand the importance of adding positivity to a concept that can be so focused on negativity, however I think by emphasizing the distinction between you and others, you are almost stating that you would be more willing to work with religious people than those of somewhat of your own beliefs. That is my concern.

]]> By: Friendly Atheist » Atheists Argue About AP Article http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-responses/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Friendly Atheist » Atheists Argue About AP Article Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:57:42 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/humanism/2007/04/02/some-critical-blogs-and-some-of-my-r#comment-49 [...] Greg finally responded to all this earlier this morning by making a post on his own blog. In this case, he writes a letter specifically to Austin Cline (Brian Flemming’s blog doesn’t take comments). The letter is worth reading in its entirety but here is one part of it: … I believe we have to do our best to be the change we want to see in the world. One of the changes I want to see is, I don’t expect religious people to change overnight and become like me, but I’d like to see them reach out to me in friendship and respect and work with me on that which we have in common, such as the desire not to see the environment go down the sewer. We atheists and Humanists can’t solve that problem alone. In fact, no one single group of human beings can solve any problem alone in the world we live in today. We have to find ways to work with one another, and to see the good in one another. I feel the general spirit of the “New Atheism”… has simply not done nearly enough to offer the kind of respect it would like to see. [...] [...] Greg finally responded to all this earlier this morning by making a post on his own blog. In this case, he writes a letter specifically to Austin Cline (Brian Flemming’s blog doesn’t take comments). The letter is worth reading in its entirety but here is one part of it: … I believe we have to do our best to be the change we want to see in the world. One of the changes I want to see is, I don’t expect religious people to change overnight and become like me, but I’d like to see them reach out to me in friendship and respect and work with me on that which we have in common, such as the desire not to see the environment go down the sewer. We atheists and Humanists can’t solve that problem alone. In fact, no one single group of human beings can solve any problem alone in the world we live in today. We have to find ways to work with one another, and to see the good in one another. I feel the general spirit of the “New Atheism”… has simply not done nearly enough to offer the kind of respect it would like to see. [...]

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