SHADIA B. DRURY: Is Religion Like Sex? CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY December 2010/January 2011 Vol. 31 No.1 Science and Religion: The End of a Beautiful Relationship? RONALD N. GIERE MATT FLAMM JOHN SHOOK RONALD A. LINDSAY on secular humanism’s scope and limits 80% 1.5 BWR PD Tom Flynn D/J 09 Katrina Voss Introductory Price $4.95 U.S. / $4.95 Can. 01 Edd Doerr Priscilla Sakezles Stephen Uhl Published by the Council 7725274 74957 for Secular Humanism We are committed to the application of reason and sci- We believe in the cultivation of moral excellence. ence to the understanding of the universe and to the solving We respect the right to privacy. Mature adults should be of human problems. allowed to fulfill their aspirations, to express their sexual We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, preferences, to exercise reproductive freedom, to have to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, access to comprehensive and informed health care, and to look outside nature for salvation. and to die with dignity. We believe that scientific discovery and technology We believe in the common moral decencies: altruism, can contribute to the betterment of human life. integrity, honesty, truthfulness, responsibility. Humanist ethics is amenable to critical, rational guidance. There are We believe in an open and pluralistic society and that normative standards that we discover together. Moral prin- democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human rights ciples are from authoritarian elites and repressive majorities. tested by their consequences. We are committed to the principle of the We are deeply concerned with the moral education separation of church and state. of our children. We want to nourish reason and compassion. We cultivate the arts of negotiation and compromise We are engaged by the arts no less than by the sciences. as a means of resolving differences and achieving mutual understanding. We are citizens of the universe and are excited by discoveries still to be made in the cosmos. We are concerned with securing justice and fairness in society and with eliminating discrimination We are skeptical of untested claims to knowledge, and intolerance. and we are open to novel ideas and seek new departures in our thinking. We believe in supporting the disadvantaged and the disabled so that they will be able to help themselves. We affirm humanism as a realistic alternative to theologies of despair and ideologies of violence and as a We attempt to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based source of rich per sonal significance and genuine satisfac- on race, religion, gender, nationality, creed, class, sexual tion orientation, or ethnicity and strive to work together for in the service to others. the common good of humanity. We believe in optimism rather than pessimism, hope rather We want to protect and enhance Earth, to preserve than despair, learning in the place of dogma, truth instead it for future generations, and to avoid inflicting needless of ignorance, joy rather than guilt or sin, tolerance in the suffering on other species. place We believe in enjoying life here and now and in of fear, love instead of hatred, compassion over selfishness, developing our creative talents to their fullest. beauty instead of ugliness, and reason rather than blind faith or irrationality. *by Paul Kurtz .95 For a parchment copy of this page, suitable for framing, please send $4 to FREE INQUIRY, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, New York 14226-0664 December 2010/January 2011 Vol. 31 No. 1 18 Science and Religion: The End of a Beautiful Relationship? John R. Shook 20 Can the Brain Decide Whether God Exists? John R. Shook 23 Strong Believers Beware Matthew Caleb Flamm CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY 27 Scientists and Religious Faith Ronald N. Giere 32 The Unmaking of Wisdom: Part 1 How We Compromised Reason’s Capacity to Transform the Human Condition Andy Norman 39 Why I Am Not a Luddite Kristi DeMeester EDITORIAL 14 Atheists Are Generous—They Just 4 Secular Humanism: Don’t Give to Charity Its Scope and Its Limits Tom Rees 55 Humanism at Large Jesus Points Ronald A. Lindsay 15 Media Stereotypes Julia Loreth LEADING QUESTIONS and the Invisible Latino ‘Nones’ 7 Glenn Beck: Icon of Irrationality Juhem Navarro-Rivera 56 Thinking Cosmically A conversation with Alexander Zaitchik Keep Your Eyes on the Stars DEPARTMENTS Lawrence Rifkin LETTERS 47 Church-State Update Education “Reform” REVIEWS 11 Edd Doerr 58 C Street:The Fundamentalist Threat to American Democracy NEWS BEAT 48 Great Minds by Jeff Shar let 16 Dawkins, Harris, Krauss, and Many An Epicurean Alternative to Reviewed by Edmund D. Cohen Others Highlight Council for Secular Religion Humanism Conference Priscilla Sakezles 62 The Armageddon Factor: The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada 50 Living Without Religion by Marci McDonald OP-EDS Why Most People Believe Reviewed by George Williamson 8 Speaking of Inconvenient Truths ... in the Supernatural Tom Flynn Stephen Uhl 64 Christmas—Philosophy for Everyone: Better Than a 9 Revisiting Natural Rights 51 Religion in History Lump of Coal Atheists, Anti-atheists, Edited by Scott C. Lowe Tibor R. Machan and Nazis—Once Again Reviewed by Tom Flynn 12 Is Religion Like Sex? P. W. Sperlich Shadia B. Drury POETRY 53 Faith and Reason 66 Doubt I, II, and III “I’m Not Religious, but I Am 13 Eat Tofu, Do Science by Rick Ferris Spiritual” Katrina Voss Richard Schoenig Ronald A. Lindsay Editorial FI Editorial Staff Editor Thomas W. Flynn Associate Editors D.J. Grothe John R. Shook Managing Editor Andrea Szalanski Columnists Arthur Caplan, Richard Dawkins, Edd Doerr, Shadia B. Drury, Nat Hentoff, Secular Humanism: Christopher Hitchens, Wendy Kaminer, Tibor R. Machan, Tom Rees, Its Scope and Its Limits Katrina Voss Senior Editors Bill Cooke, Richard Dawkins, Edd Doerr, James A. Haught, Jim Herrick, Gerald A. Larue, Ronald A. Lindsay, Taslima Nasrin ecular humanism is a comprehen- humanism does not point in any particular Contributing Editors Jo Ann Boydston, Roy P. sive, nonreligious lifestance. It is com- direction. Instead, it opens up our horizons Fairfield, Charles Faulkner, Levi Fragell, Adolf Sprehensive because it touches every so we can assume responsibility for shaping Grünbaum, Marvin Kohl, aspect of life, including issues of value, our lives through our personal choices. Thelma Lavine, Lee Nisbet, meaning, and identity. J.J.C. Smart, Thomas Szasz The Scope of Secular Humanism Ethics Editor Elliot D. Cohen Presumably, the two foregoing state- Literary Editor David Park Musella ments provide an accurate description of There are values shared by secular human- Assistant Editors Julia Lavarnway secular humanism because they appear ists. Anyone familiar with FREE INQUIRY Gretchen McCormack on the website of the Council for Secular knows what they are, and if you need to Permissions Editor Julia Lavarnway Humanism. But permit me to register a refresh your recollection, the Affirmations Art Director Christopher S. Fix dissent from these statements. Or, perhaps of Humanism are printed on the inside Production Paul E. Loynes Sr. better said, let me explain how I think the cover of this issue. There are a number Council for Secular Humanism “comprehensive” nature of secular human - of different values and principles set forth ism should be interpreted. It should not be in the Affirmations, but I believe the core Chair Richard K. Schroeder interpreted as implying that secular human- values can be summarized as equality, free- Board of Directors Kendrick Frazier, David ism significantly and directly influences all dom, responsibility, and secularism. Henehan, Dan Kelleher, Angie McQuaig, the choices we make throughout our lives. Equality. Secular humanists are com- Edward Tabash, For example, we have no list of required mitted to treating all with dignity and Leonard Tramiel garments or taboo foods. Furthermore, respect and to removing discriminatory Chief Executive Officer Ronald A. Lindsay based on my experience, secular human- barriers to equal opportunity. Democracy Executive Director Thomas W. Flynn is the only form of government morally Director, Campus and ists have widely varying preferences about Community Programs (CFI) Lauren Becker forms of entertainment, style of housing, acceptable to them, in part because it is Director, Secular Organizations and mode of transportation. With respect the only form of government in which all for Sobriety Jim Christopher citizens have equal political standing (at Director, African Americans to many, if not most, questions, secular for Humanism Debbie Goddard least in theory). Vice President of Planning and Development (CFI) Sherry Rook Freedom. Fundamental Director of Libraries (CFI) Timothy Binga “With respect to many, if not most, free doms, such as freedom of Database Manager (CFI) Jacalyn Mohr questions, secular humanism does speech, freedom of inquiry, free- Staff Pat Beauchamp, Cheryl dom of religion, and reproduc- Catania, Eric Chinchón, not point in any particular direction. Roe Giambrone, Leah tive freedom are central to the Gordon, Lisa Nolan, Instead, it opens up our horizons secular humanist outlook. These Paul Paulin, Dan Riley, so we can assume responsibility freedoms are cherished and Anthony Santa Lucia, John Sullivan, for shaping our lives through championed not only for their Christopher Szczygiel, our personal choices.” utilitarian value but also be cause Vance Vigrass they provide individuals with the autonomy to decide the course Executive Director Emeritus Jean Millholland of their own lives. Responsibility. Secular 4 FREE INQUIRY DECEMBER 2010 / JANUARY 2011 secularhumanism.org humanists hold that individuals have the eager to fund religious initiatives with our responsibility to make use of the free- tax dollars. In addition, Republicans have doms they enjoy. In particular, they should allied themselves with religious Right posi- employ critical reasoning in making import- tions on abortion, stem cell research, and FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is published bimonthly by ant decisions. They should not blindly fol- gay rights.