Secular humanism

2012-11-05T19:01:02Z

Strident:

'''Secular humanism''' is [[humanism]] that is [[Atheism|atheistic]] in nature. It is a philosophy where human beings are the most important figures and God is not involved. People who are secular humanists focus on ways to better themselves and human beings as a whole. They try to be 'good without god'. They are often viewed as self-centered.

== Infighting within the secular humanism faction of atheism ==

''See also:'' [[Atheist factions]]

[[Paul Kurtz]] is an [[atheism|atheist]] [[philosophy|philosopher]] who formerly taught at the State University of NY at Buffalo. Dr. Paul Kurtz founded the modern secular humanism movement which is a form of philosophical skepticism. In addition, he also founded the organization the Center for Inquiry which focuses on promoting secular humanism. In 2009, Dr. Kurtz experienced the humiliation of being stripped of his leadership position at the Center for Inquiry.<ref name="godless">[http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/04/18/1023513/redirecting-a-long-life-of-godlessness.html Redirecting a Long Life of Godlessness]</ref>

Currently, there is an ideological struggle within the modern secular humanism [[atheist factions|faction of atheism]] concerning how militant the movement should be which primarily arose post [[New Atheism]] movement which is a more militant form of atheism. (see also: [[Militant atheism]]). [[Paul Kurtz]] is against the secular humanism movement becoming more militant but some newer followers of secular humanism disagree with Kurtz.<ref name="godless">[http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/04/18/1023513/redirecting-a-long-life-of-godlessness.html Redirecting a Long Life of Godlessness]</ref>
=== Kurtz's ouster from the Center of Inquiry leadership position ===

On October 10, 2010, a contentious exchange between members of the [[Secular Humanism]] faction of atheism founded by [[Paul Kurtz]] and the atheist Ron Lindsay was caught on tape.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hniP6Ivr5g Video - Part one][http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22xTou2Wgc Video - Part 2] During the exchange Ron Lindsay said that infighting has been occurring within the Secular Humanism faction of atheism for years.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22xTou2WgcPaul Kurtz and Ron Lindsay Argument Audio Part Two]</ref> A Paul Kurtz supporter said that Kurtz was censored by Ron Lindsay and his supporters and Kurtz was driven out of the organization that he founded (Center for Inquiry).<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22xTou2Wgc Kurtz and Ron Lindsay Argument Audio Part Two]</ref> Lindsay claimed, however, that Kurtz voluntarily resigned from the organization he founded and Kurtz was never censored. Furthermore, Lindsay said that Kurtz's idea of a "planetary federation" was impractical. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22xTou2Wgc Kurtz and Ron Lindsay Argument Audio Part Two]</ref> Kurtz countered that he was never allowed to publish why he resigned from the organization and that he was censored by the organization that he founded.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22xTou2Wgc Kurtz and Ron Lindsay Argument Audio Part Two]</ref>

Dr. Kurtz described the events surrounding the loss of his leadership position as a "shattering blow".<ref name="godless"></ref>

== Paul Kurt's lack of a legacy ==

An advocate of the [[Question evolution! campaign]] pointed out that according to Compete.com Paul Kurtz's website had 600 unique visitors as of March of 2012.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/09/paul-kurtz-another-atheist-failure.html Paul Kurtz is another atheist failure without a legacy]</ref> In addition, it was pointed out that the organization that he founded and resigned from, the Center for Inquiry, has had a precipitous decline in their organization's website traffic in 2012.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/09/paul-kurtz-another-atheist-failure.html Paul Kurtz is another atheist failure without a legacy]</ref>

== Notes ==
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[[Category:Atheism]]

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Secular humanism