Humanist Thought of the Week

The Right Way to Disagree

Why politeness during disagreements matters.

If you are going to call someone out for being racist - it's probably best if you don't launch into a sexist tirade as a way to express yourself. 

Fighting stupid bigotry with stupid bigotry is pretty stupid.

It is sufficient to say – I’m upset at the racism and bigotry this person is showing. 

Describing the person you disagree with in sexist and derogatory terms makes you just as bad as the person you disagree with.

Racist statements denigrate the victim so that we can dismiss them as not worthy of our time and attention.

Sexist statements do the same thing on the basis of the denigration is sex, not skin color.

A Humanist doesn’t dismiss people because of either, or because of disability or any other arbitrary reason.

We might not agree with you. We might think you are a jerk.

But we will base that on your actions, not on an accident of birth. 

When I’m Gone

The Humanist lyrics of Phil Ochs

One of my favorite songs is “When I’m Gone by Phil Ochs.

If you haven’t acquainted yourself with his music and you are a Humanist, I urge you to seek his music out.

When I’m Gone is from his “There But for Fortune” album.

The song is about accepting mortality and deciding to make a difference while you’re still alive.

I can’t live proud enough to die when I’m gone, so I guess I’ll have to do it while I’m here.

This single sentiment is at the heart of my Humanism and at the heart of other Humanists I know.

Accepting death does not have to lead to depression.

It can be empowering if you let it.

The Real Truth

What is real really matters.

Humanists are concerned with reality. 

Ours is a secular philosophy.

We don’t spend time worrying about the supernatural.

We understand our problems have natural causes and we therefore must seek natural solutions to them.

In order to be successful we need to know what is objectively real vs. what is imagined to be real.

What is the difference?

Objective reality can be verified by others.

It is only by subjecting our beliefs to the scrutiny of others that we can find out what is really true and avoid making costly mistakes.

Moral Character

Your moral character is dependent on your morals. Spend some time thinking about them. 

The old saying goes “you can tell a person’s character by how they act when they think no one is looking.”

Having character is all about not just having morals, but living by your morals.

To do that, you have to have morals.

How do you get morals?

By thinking about what it is you value and why.

Take the time to think about what sort of person you want to be and then set about being that person.

Take the time to think through your actions before you act to make sure your actions are consistent with your professed morals.

Not because you want people to think well of you, but because YOU want to think well of you.

Zombie Apocalypse

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

What is or should be the Humanist response to a Zombie Apocalypse? 

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