Who else is a secular humanist?

[unsung]

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In writing some of these secondary essays, I've had to do some thinking about how to describe myself. And one of the best ways that I can think of to describe what I believe in is the label "secular humanist." It's just the perfect encapsulation of so many of my interests and beliefs and general worldview. Otoh, I'm not sure how wise it would be to brandish that term around as not everyone has a positive connotation of "secular". Thoughts? Maybe I'll just go with "humanist".

 

[doctorobvious]

I would avoid using that term specifically. It's comes a little too close to religion. It's possible that someone who is religious (or believes in the supernatural) could view your essay negatively just because of that.

 

[p30doc]

what about a human secularist?

 

[StIGMA]

You are trying to get across who you are as a person. Saying you are a secular humanist tells no more about you than me telling people that I am a Christian. I hope you understand that saying you are a secular humanist tells nothing about you, except perhaps that you like to argue/discuss/dispute beliefs, which is not a good thing. Why else would you point that out about yourself in such a limited space? This is the same reason most people will not put down religious beliefs in a confined space - it does not say much and can come across the wrong way.

You are better off describing specific instances of your life/ how your secular humanist ideals have led you a certain way/molded your behavior. Give them a nice picture of you, not a pixel. You can say secular humanist, sure, fine, but say what it is and/or describe more thoroughly who YOU are.

 

[teddybear]

You are trying to get across who you are as a person. Saying you are a secular humanist tells no more about you than me telling people that I am a Christian. I hope you understand that saying you are a secular humanist tells nothing about you, except perhaps that you like to argue/discuss/dispute beliefs, which is not a good thing. Why else would you point that out about yourself in such a limited space? This is the same reason most people will not put down religious beliefs in a confined space - it does not say much and can come across the wrong way.

You are better off describing specific instances of your life/ how your secular humanist ideals have led you a certain way/molded your behavior. Give them a nice picture of you, not a pixel. You can say secular humanist, sure, fine, but say what it is and/or describe more thoroughly who YOU are.

I agree. I think you can tell them who you are without having to even go near religion or spirituality.

 

[Dulcina]

I agree. I think you can tell them who you are without having to even go near religion or spirituality.

thirded. do it by example, not by label.

 

[Lukkie]

hell no

 

[Bradstein]

i don't know what those words mean. I'm a human, tho

 

[Loon]

I would avoid just saying it, unless it's one of the few essays that asks you specifically to describe yourself. Even then, I might dance around it. Giving yourself the label doesn't really tell the school much. As my third grade teacher said "Show, don't tell."

I, too, am a secular humanist and know a whole pantload of others. Among these people are some who are utterly fantastic and to whom I would be totally comfortable trusting my life. There are others who I wouldn't trust to tie their own shoes. The same can be said for people of just about any group, religious or otherwise.

Summary: The label means nothing. Describe yourself some other way.

 

[phospho]

i don't know what those words mean. I'm a human, tho

that's what I was thinking

 

[zolaash]

i feel like you're saying "i don't do religion but i'm still a good person." seems kinda lame. i would leave it out...i don't feel like it belongs in an essay.

 

[pianola]

thirded. do it by example, not by label.

I'll fourth that. I don't know that secular humanist is a particularly descriptive term because either (1) the ADCOMs won't know what you're talking about (2) the ADCOMs may assume things incorrectly about what you're talking about or (3) the term, as I understand it, is somewhat archaic and refers to the position that certain philosophers took several centuries ago. We don't live several centuries ago -- we live here and now.

IMHO, the main reason not to use it is because it sounds a tad pretentious to the untrained ear.

But that's just my $0.02.

 

[Bradstein]

I think the term and the idea is fine but I don't think you need to say it in an essay. I think the underlying philosophy of medicine is probably "humanist," if not secular.