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'''Secular humanism''' is [[humanism]] that is [[Atheism|atheistic]] in nature. It is a philosophy which holds that human beings are the most important figures, and that social problems are best solved without the involvement of religious doctrine. People who are secular humanists purport to focus on ways to better themselves and human beings as a whole.  The American Humanist Association's motto on the main page of their website is "good without a God".<ref>[http://americanhumanist.org/ American Humanist Association website]</ref> Secular humanists, like atheists as a whole, are often viewed as self-centered (see: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Atheist population and immorality]] and [[Views on Atheists|Views on atheists]]).  

'''Secular humanism''' is [[humanism]] that is [[Atheism|atheistic]] in nature. It is a philosophy which holds that human beings are the most important figures, and that social problems are best solved without the involvement of religious doctrine. People who are secular humanists purport to focus on ways to better themselves and human beings as a whole.  The American Humanist Association's motto on the main page of their website is "good without a God".<ref>[http://americanhumanist.org/ American Humanist Association website]</ref> Secular humanists, like atheists as a whole, are often viewed as self-centered (see: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Atheist population and immorality]] and [[Views on Atheists|Views on atheists]]).  

One of the goals of secular humanism was to make atheism more humane, but the atheist population, including its secular humanist faction which has engaged in bitter infighting for years, has fallen significantly short of this standard of behavior (see: [[Atheism and social justice]]).<ref name="youtube.com">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22xTou2WgcPaul Kurtz and Ron Lindsay Argument Audio Part Two]</ref>  

One of the goals of secular humanism was to make atheism more humane, but the atheist population, including its secular humanist faction which has engaged in bitter infighting for years, has fallen significantly short of this standard of behavior (see: [[Atheism and social justice]]).<ref name="youtube.com">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22xTou2WgcPaul Kurtz and Ron Lindsay Argument Audio Part Two]</ref>  

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

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

=== Kurtz's ouster from the Center of Inquiry leadership position ===

=== 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] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22xTou2Wgc Video - Part 2]   

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.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hniP6Ivr5g Video - Part one] and [https://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 name="youtube.com"/> 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 name="ReferenceA">[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 name="ReferenceA"/>  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 name="ReferenceA"/>  

During the exchange Ron Lindsay said that infighting has been occurring within the Secular Humanism faction of atheism for years.<ref name="youtube.com"/> 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 name="ReferenceA">[https://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 name="ReferenceA"/>  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 name="ReferenceA"/>  

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

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

=== Schism within the Sunday Assembly atheist church movement ===

=== Schism within the Sunday Assembly atheist church movement ===

The Sunday Assembly "atheist church" movement was founded in 2013 by the secular humanists and comedians Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/atheist-church-split_n_4550456.html Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm'], Huffington Post, 2014</ref>  In 2014, it was reported that there was a schism in the movement as far as whether or not they should use the word "atheist" in their movement and/or whether they should just cater to atheists.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/>

The Sunday Assembly "atheist church" movement was founded in 2013 by the secular humanists and comedians Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/atheist-church-split_n_4550456.html Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm'], Huffington Post, 2014</ref>  In 2014, it was reported that there was a schism in the movement as far as whether or not they should use the word "atheist" in their movement and/or whether they should just cater to atheists.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/>

Dr. [[Sam Harris]] is one of the founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement. [[Sam Harris]] is quite aware of the stigma surrounding [[atheism]] and has even advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007).  [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"].  News21.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/>

Dr. [[Sam Harris]] is one of the founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement. [[Sam Harris]] is quite aware of the stigma surrounding [[atheism]] and has even advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007).  [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"].  News21.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/>

[[File:PzMyers2.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[PZ Myers]] declared, "...I don’t object to bestiality in a very limited set of specific conditions..."<ref name="achilles">[http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheist-achilles-heels-objective.html Atheist Achilles Heels: Objective Morality and Sacred Life]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/05/22/the-objective-morality-gotcha/ The “objective morality” gotcha]</ref>

[[File:PzMyers2.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[PZ Myers]] declared, "...I don’t object to bestiality in a very limited set of specific conditions..."<ref name="achilles">[http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheist-achilles-heels-objective.html Atheist Achilles Heels: Objective Morality and Sacred Life]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/05/22/the-objective-morality-gotcha/ The “objective morality” gotcha]</ref>

<small>(photo obtained from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/ Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en  license agreement])</small> ]]

<small>(photo obtained from [https://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/ Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en  license agreement])</small> ]]

[[Bestiality]] is the act of engaging in sexual relations with an animal.

[[Bestiality]] is the act of engaging in sexual relations with an animal.