who are these people?
DESCRIPTION
Who are these people?. We’re Humanists!. Humanism = Good without God. +. =. Humanist Community of Central Ohio. Local community for humanists & nontheists Atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, skeptics, etc. Promotes ethical and reasonable secular worldviews - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Who are these
people?
We’re Humanists!
Humanism =Good without God
+
=
Humanist Community of Central Ohio
• Local community for humanists & nontheists– Atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers,
skeptics, etc.• Promotes ethical and reasonable secular
worldviews• Social events, service projects, education,
outreach and activism• www.hcco.org
The Numbers
• 15% of Americans have no religion• Among 18-29 year-olds, 22% have no religion• Numbers are rising: up from 8.2% in 1990• Third Largest population in the world: 16% (after Christianity, 33%, and Islam, 21%)
Nontheist16%
Islam21%
Christian33%
Other
30%
15%
American Population
22%
18-29 Year-Olds
WHY?
We Don’t Believe in God.Why Not?
• There are many reasons; everyone is different• Combination of intellectual and emotional factors• Lack of evidence for supernatural• Inconsistencies within religions and between them• Religion is emotionally unfulfilling or unnecessary• Difficult experiences in life• Religious people do bad stuff, too.• And A Bunch of Other Stuff
• Sometimes these reasons lead people to be more religious. Sometimes they lead people away from religion. • And that’s ok.
What’s it Like to be a Nonbeliever?
• Mostly, it’s still pretty normal. • Feel ignored or invisible• Very common questions and accusations• Subject to misconceptions and snap judgments• (like everyone else)
• Potential alienation from friends/family
…in a Largely Religious Society?
Common Misconceptions
• That we don’t have morals, or can’t be good people• That we just haven’t heard about [religion of choice]• That we hate religion or religious people• That we are unhappy without religion or god• And a lot of ridiculous things• We worship Satan/the Devil• We eat babies• We just want to sin• We’re angry at god• We’re close-minded• We think we’re god (that’s news to me)
• Community Service• Educate ourselves and others• Political Activism• Build Community
What Do We Do?
Local Organizations for Nonbelievers
• Humanist Community of Central Ohio (HCCO)www.hcco.org
• Central Ohioans for Rational Inquiry (CORI)www.ohioskeptic.com
• Humanistic Jewish Chavurah of Columbus (HJCC)www.hjcc.us
• Students for Freethought at Ohio State (SFF@OSU)www.sffosu.org
• Omnipresent Atheistswww.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists
ASK QUESTIONS!