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GEORGE A. WELLS: Benedict XVI’s Intransigent Legacy CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY June/July 2013 Vol. 33 No.4 DOES RELIGION REALLY MAKE US BETTER PEOPLE? And What If It Doesn’t ? BARRY A. KOSMIN | RYAN T. CRAGUN | LUKE W. GALEN | JEREMY BEAHAN SHADIA B. DRURY Exposing Christian Propaganda 80% 1.5 BWR PD TOM FLYNN Is Religion Dying? J/J 08 07 OPHELIA BENSON | TIBOR R. MACHAN | JAMES A. HAUGHT DARREL W. RAY | HECTOR SIERRA EDD DOERR | ROBERT M. PRICE Published by the Council 7725274 74957 for Secular Humanism FI June July cut_FI 5/2/12 4:36 PM Page 2 For many, mere atheism (the absence of belief in gods and the supernatural) or agnosticism (the view that such questions cannot be answered) aren’t enough. It’s liberating to recognize that supernatural beings are human creations … that there’s no such thing as “spirit” … that people are undesigned, unintended, and responsible for themselves. But what’s next? Atheism and agnosticism are silent on larger questions of values and meaning. If Meaning in life is not ordained from on high, what small-m meanings can we work out among ourselves? If eternal life is an illusion, how can we make the most of our only lives? As social beings sharing a godless world, how should we coexist? For the questions that remain unanswered after we’ve cleared our minds of gods and souls and spirits, many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and freethinkers turn to secular humanism. Secular. “Pertaining to the world or things not spiritual or sacred.” Humanism. “Any system of thought or action concerned with the interests or ideals of people … the intellectual and cultural movement … characterized by an emphasis on human interests rather than … religion.” — Webster’s Dictionary Secular humanism is a comprehensive, nonreligious life stance incorporating: A naturalistic philosophy A cosmic outlook rooted in science, and A consequentialist ethical system in which acts are judged not by their conformance to preselected norms but by their consequences for men and women in the world. The Council for Secular Humanism is North America’s leading organization for nonreligious people who seek to live value-rich lives. FREE INQUIRY is its magazine. Welcome! To learn more, visit http://www.secularhumanism.org FI June July cut_FI 5/2/12 4:36 PM Page 2 June/July 2013 Vol. 33 No. 4 CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY For many, mere atheism (the absence of belief in gods and the supernatural) or agnosticism (the view that such questions cannot be answered) aren’t enough. It’s liberating to recognize Research Report: Does Religion Really that supernatural beings are human creations … that there’s no such thing as “spirit” Make Us Better People? … that people are undesigned, unintended, and responsible for themselves. But what’s next? 14 A Skeptical Review of Religious 31 The Secular Therapist Project Prosociality Research Darrel W. Ray Atheism and agnosticism are silent on larger questions of values and meaning. Luke W. Galen and Jeremy Beahan If Meaning in life is not ordained from on high, what small-m meanings can we work out 33 Beware of Mental Traps among ourselves? If eternal life is an illusion, how can we make the most of our only lives? Why We Need to Overcome Them to Survive the As social beings sharing a godless world, how should we coexist? 24 Cheating or Leveling the Playing Field? Twenty-First Century Rethinking How We Ask Questions Hector F. Sierra For the questions that remain unanswered after we’ve cleared our minds of gods and souls About Religion in the United States and spirits, many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and freethinkers turn to secular humanism. Ryan T. Cragun and Barry A. Kosmin 39 Dear Lottie Fritz Williams Secular. “Pertaining to the world or things not spiritual or sacred.” Humanism. “Any system of thought or action concerned with the interests or ideals of people … the intellectual and cultural movement … characterized by an emphasis on human interests rather than … religion.” EDITORIAL DEPARTMENTS 55 The Enlightenment Vision: Science, — Webster’s Dictionary 4 Is Religion Dying? 46 Church-State Update Reason, and the Promise of a Better Tom Flynn Trouble Down Under Future Edd Doerr by Stuart Jordan Secular humanism is a comprehensive, nonreligious life stance incorporating: OP-EDS Reviewed by Edd Doerr 7 Atheist Birthday Cake 47 Humanistically Speaking 56 What to Expect When No A naturalistic philosophy Ophelia Benson Of Persons, Human Beings, Things Human, Roses, One’s Expecting: America’s Coming Demographic Disaster 8 Government in America–What’s It For? and Toxic Waste Dumps A cosmic outlook rooted in science, and by Jonathan V. Last Tibor R. Machan Andrew S. Ryan Jr. Reviewed by Tom Flynn A consequentialist ethical system in which acts are judged not by their conformance 9 Exposing Christian Propaganda 52 Humanism at Large to preselected norms but by their consequences for men and women in the world. Shadia B. Drury Does God Send People to Hell? Richard Schoenig 58 “It’s Not About the Sex,” My Ass: Confessions of an 11 Secular Humanists Ex-Mormon Ex-Polygamist Ex-Wife Are Winning, Winning REVIEWS by Joanne Hanks as told to Steve Cuno The Council for Secular Humanism is North America’s leading organization for nonreligious James A. Haught 51 God or Godless: One Atheist. Reviewed by Tom Flynn people who seek to live value-rich lives. FREE INQUIRY is its magazine. One Christian. Twenty Controversial 12 The Legacy of Joseph Ratzinger, Questions Pope Benedict XVI Welcome! by John W. Loftus and Randal Rauser POEMS George A. Wells Reviewed by Robert M. Price To learn more, visit http://www.secularhumanism.org 8 Untitled by Marybeth Rua-Larsen LETTERS 53 The Righteous Mind: Why Good 66 Vison by Charlotte Innes 13 People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt Reviewed by Wayne L. Trotta Editorial Staff Tom Flynn Editor Thomas W. Flynn Editorial Associate Editors John R. Shook, Lauren Becker Managing Editor Andrea Szalanski Columnists Ophelia Benson, Russell Blackford, Arthur Caplan, Greta Christina, Edd Doerr, Shadia B. Drury, Nat Hentoff, Tibor R. Machan Senior Editors Bill Cooke, Richard Dawkins, Edd Doerr, James A. Haught, Jim Herrick, Gerald A. Larue, Ronald A. Lindsay, Taslima Nasrin Contributing Editors Roy P. Fairfield, Charles Is Religion Dying? Faulkner, Levi Fragell, Adolf Grünbaum, Marvin Kohl, Lee Nisbet, Literary Editor Austin MacRae Assistant Editors Julia Lavarnway Sean Lachut Permissions Editor Julia Lavarnway Art Director Christopher S. Fix Production Paul E. Loynes Sr. n case you missed it, Roman Catholics when Pope Francis greeted the faithful in have a new pope. Pope Benedict XVI St. Peter’s Square? Council for Secular Humanism resigned, which no pope has done The people who run most of the in almost six hundred years, and the world’s news organizations seemed to Chair Edward Tabash I Board of Directors R. Elisabeth Cornwell College of Cardinals met in conclave and think not, and in that there’s a lesson Kendrick Frazier elected Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario for us secular folk. Much as we may Barry A. Kosmin Bergoglio, who chose the name Pope have moved past religion in our personal Edward Tabash Jonathan Tobert Francis. lives—outgrown it, if you prefer your lan- Leonard Tramiel But of course, you didn’t miss it. No guage loaded—faith remains important Judith Walker one with a functioning central nervous to vast numbers of our fellow humans. Lawrence Krauss (Honorary) Chief Executive Officer Ronald A. Lindsay system could have overlooked the papal Even though (from our point of view) Executive Director Thomas W. Flynn succession extravaganza, a story that no religion is true—even though most of ruled the world’s news media for thir- the world’s actually existing creeds are in Associate Director Lauren Becker ty-one days straight. varying measures ahistorical, reactionary, Director, Campus and Community Programs (CFI) Debbie Goddard Viewed one way, this is astonishing. authoritarian, misogynistic, and repres- Director, Secular Organizations For the span of one long month, the sive—nonetheless, religion and religious for Sobriety Jim Christopher world’s biggest news story was that an institutions are hugely influential, in cul- Director, African Americans for Humanism Debbie Goddard institution that styles itself as the repre- ture and (unfortunately) politics as much Director of sentative on Earth of a deity who does as they are in the domain of faith. Development (CFI) Alan Kinniburgh Director of Libraries (CFI) Timothy Binga not exist would name a new leader. The Whether we like it or not, news orga- Communications Director Paul Fidalgo method of his selection was by a secre- nizations that put religion stories front Legal Director (CFI) Steven Fox tive cluster of elderly males, many best and center know what they’re doing. Database Manager (CFI) Jacalyn Mohr known for facilitating subordinate priests That’s another way of saying that religion Webmaster Matthew Licata in evading punishment for sexual abuse, still matters. Religion merits our efforts Staff Pat Beauchamp, Ed Beck, who would elevate one of their own. to understand it, to criticize it, and per- Melissa Braun, Shirley Brown, Cheryl Catania, When chosen, the new pope became haps most of all to resist it when it seeks Eric Chinchón, Matt head of state of an, ahem, sovereign improper influence over society and cul- Cravatta, Roe Giambrone, Jason Gross, Adam Isaak, nation with a land area of 110 acres and ture. Lisa Nolan, Paul Paulin, a population of around eight hundred. But some don’t see it that way. Anthony Santa Lucia, Diane Tobin, Vance Vigrass Was there really nothing more Memes newly afoot in our movement— Executive Director Emerita Jean Millholland important going on in the world between some concerning younger nonbeliev- Febru ary 11, when Pope Benedict an- ers, others circulating principally among nounced his resignation, and March 13, them—suggest that traditional free- 4 FREE INQUIRY JUNE/JULY 2013 secularhumanism.org thinker attitudes of vigilance toward reli- boomers may be the last generation FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is published bimonthly by the Council for Secular Humanism, a nonprofit educational gion may be losing relevance.
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