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ProudHumanist 
• 9 months ago
 



An an ex-Mormon, I find this inexplicable. I would have liked to hear more about what parts of their identity they actually keep. Family home evening? Visiting teachers? And they're keeping the priesthood? It really sounds to me like they realize the LDS church isn't "true" but want to keep on playing as if it is.

  
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Sober > ProudHumanist 
• 9 months ago
 



Precisely, some people just arent comfortable with fully exorcising religious dogma or culture.

  
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Bill Richards > ProudHumanist 
• 9 months ago
 



If you think that you missed the point of the article and what Humanistic Mormonism is, it has nothing to do with the LDS Church.

  
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Sarah Hughes - AHA Mod > ProudHumanist 
• 9 months ago
 



Hi, Proud Humanist! The answer to your questions are included in Part Two of the interview. Please check back on March 20th!

  
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photojack53 
• 9 months ago
 



From reading this article and the comments afterward, I think these
people are confused and not ready to fully relinquish their old dogmatic
 beliefs. This new movement SHOULD be called the Ex-Mormon's Society
for Humanism. There is no way to reconcile the CULT of Mormonism, with
its bizarre golden tablets that only Joseph Smith ever saw or could
translate and "magically" disappeared later and many more absolutely
incredulous beliefs, with the realism and rationality of Humanism.
Magic underwear don't coincide with Darwinian evolution, the scientific
method or rational thought. "Taking a knife" to Mormonism wouldn't
leave much at all to have "faith" in!
From my earliest memories
and experiences, I never "bought in" with ANY religious movement. I had
 enough rationality, gained from my typical early interest in dinosaurs,
 to explore science in more depth and to realize how vacuous ALL
religions were. Reading in comparative religions only confirmed that
with more conviction. One look at the thousands of "gods" in the "List
of Deities" on wikipedia should be enough to make people realize that
every one of them were once worshiped, but now are mere remnants of the
ancient literature of lost cultures.RELIGION FAILS, SCIENCE PREVAILS!

  
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Bill Richards > photojack53 
• 9 months ago
 



Ah, that's like saying there is no way to reconcile the CULT of Judaism with humanism, what about Humanistic Judaism or how about Unitarian Universalism? Should we now make the claim that because the Unitarians are historically a Christian religion (the Christian CULT) that they are not true humanists either? Your logic needs some work there.

  
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Rem 
• 9 months ago
 



A Mormon Humanist is a walking oxymoron. It's like starting a group of Atheistic Catholics. Sounds like a 12-step Former Mormon group. I welcome the group as supporters of the humanist manifesto, or at least their cherry-picked selection of humanistic beliefs. But they need to realize that you really can't have it both ways -- they are now neither Mormons nor Humanists, in the fullest sense of the separate groups and their beliefs. So it's a cop out, it seems, and perhaps a necessary and transitional one, but still, it only serves to dilute the essential core beliefs of each group. It is certainly not a religion, and shouldn't be called one since the definition of each group undermines the basic tenants of the other. The fact that its origins are with the cult-like Mormons based in present day Utah, is not a good starting point for a humanistic society. It's like 'macaroni and cheese' -- if you are a gourmet and love the essential qualities of either ingredient, you're going to be disappointed and unhappy with mac&cheese because each is totally altered by the other ingredient (sorry, that's a pretty dumb metaphor, but you get my point). The Unitarian-Universalists are in the middle of a similar identity crisis, and they haven't worked through it yet. The interviewer needs to ask some tougher questions about Mormonism and the group's redefined and conflicting beliefs. But it's a good starting point for disaffected Mormons who value intelligence and compassion, so let's wish them luck.

  
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Garrett A. Hughes 
• 9 months ago
 



Draw a Venn diagram and all the confusion disappears. I can't draw one in this space but I will describe how. 1. Draw a large oval - label it "secular beliefs." 2. Draw a smaller second oval inside the first and label it "humanistic beliefs." 3. Draw a third oval partially outside and partially inside the first, intersecting with the second inside the first - label it "religious beliefs." Note that humanistic beliefs are totally secular (thus it is never necessary to call yourself a "secular humanist," humanism is secular by definition (inclusion). The section of the oval labeled "religious beliefs" that is outside of the first oval contains all the tenets of religion that cannot be construed as secular - i.e., supernatural beings, the existence of heaven and hell, sin, an afterlife, etc. - i.e., those things which cannot be demonstrated by scientific reasoning and/or experiment. Perhaps some of the math and physics courses I took in college should be out there, as well. (just joking) Note that if you followed instructions there is an intersection of humanistic beliefs and religious beliefs inside the first oval. These are the secular values that humanism and religion have in common. For example, both humanists and religious practitioners can value social justice, which I am construing to be a secular belief. It's this common ground in the secular arena that gets confused as being a religious value and at the same time a humanistic value. What we are witnessing with humanistic mormonism is a semantic, not a logical problem. You can term a belief system anything you want, words are slippery and the same words can mean different things to different people. Humanistic mormans - if I interpret the article correctly - are entirely in the secular oval. They have adopted a philosophy based on secular values and have some values/beliefs in common with humanists. That does not make them humanists, just secular. To avoid confusion with mormanism they should call themselves something without the morman reference in the title. They may be ex-mormans, but they are definitely not mormans. One logical problem with humanism is that it is not a dogma with a fixed set of tenets, so its oval can expand and contract: the members of the set [in a logical sense] of beliefs are not fixed. All humanists do not have the same set of secular values [thank God]. Read Corliss Lamont's treatise on the philosophy of humanism for a good description of the member set for humanism.

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Trav Lee > D. Michael Martindale 
• 9 months ago
 



and unhappy. I consider myself to have many of the humanist beliefs but I don't identify with these people who are militant humanists. These dogmatic humanists need to understand that there is a lot of good in religion. For me, as a former Mormon, the good in Mormonism is the sense of community, shared history and being part of something bigger. Hank touches upon this above, but in an extremely skeptical and negative way.

  
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Hank Rodgers 
• 9 months ago
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It seems that there is a strong need on the part of "humans" to belong to SOME "community", "club" or "family" (such as Jim Jones' "family", and other "religious" groups), no matter how disfunctional ... or, as here, nebulous. Discrimination seems a related and essential psychological need, in order to distinguish, discriminate and "differentiate" between "us" and "them others". I love the recent news about the airlines new attempt at passenger screening, based on "passenger differentiation" (to avoid the current horror word "discrimination"). Whatever happened to the favorable concept of a "discriminating" person, i.e. a "person of discrimination"? Too, "family" is not infrequently a very damaging and crippling influence on the individual. Further, as Woody Allen reminded us (apparently of Groucho Marx' rule}, "I would not want to belong to any club that was willing to have me as a member". We are not sexist ("genderist"?), racist, ageist, classists, etc., we are "me-ists"; i.e. the closer others are to our own gender, race, age, economic class and culture, the more we can relate to and understand them. We thinkers are on our own here, understanding it as best we can; and even now, with all our old "gods" dead, no "New Age" groups should provide a convenient substitute.

  
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Bruce Waugh > Hank Rodgers 
• 9 months ago
 



We are genetically programed to fear "the other". We still feel most secure in a group setting. When we are surrounded by those unlike us hormones are released to put us in flight or fight mode. This evolutionary response had survival value in a tribal world. Now that the world is so populated and connected we need to use our rational capabilities to override this instinctive reaction which has become counter-productive.

  
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Bruce Waugh 
• 9 months ago
 



As an ex-Mormon this sounded bizarre at first, but I think this is a transitional stage that some people must take because rationally they object to the racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia of Mormonism but emotionally they are unwilling to leave behind the rituals and sense of community. Raised as a Mormon all of my friends, family and activities centered around the religion. It takes a great deal of courage, intellectual honesty and integrity to make a clean brake.

  
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Arthur Jackson 
• 2 months ago
 



Wow! This was all new to me. Thank you AHA for putting this together. And I hope you will collect all these materials together and make them available in the world. There should be a lot of interest

  
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Craig 
• 7 months ago
 



The first lie is that he serves as First Counselor in the First Presidency and President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This is false

  
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Kerry Hales 
• 9 months ago
 



Those who are in the middle get hit on both sides.

  
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PJAndrea 
• 9 months ago
 



Extremely inconsistent with rational thought let along atheism, quoting the author: "Would Jesus want us to discriminate against LGBT people based on their sexual orientation? Orthodox Mormons and those liberal Mormons that go along with the Church’s doctrine on this need to ask themselves: Would Jesus approve of discrimination? I am fairly certain that if Jesus Christ himself wanted membership in the LDS Church, he likely would be denied."

  
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Paul Sellnow 
• 9 months ago
 



Humanistic Mormonism? I don't know... an organization of Mormons who don't believe in god seems less sustainable to me than Jews who don't believe in g-d, but if they can provide a compassionate community I guess we can give them the benefit of the doubt. (God knows they won't get any support from mainline Mormons...)

  
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Guest 
• 9 months ago
 



As a religious humanist still engaged in Mormonism, I have to say I am a bit embarrassed that these people are carrying the torch for "Humanist Mormonism". I actually think the Mormon *Trans*humanists are more thoughtful and responsible.

  
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Trav Lee > Guest 
• 9 months ago
 



It seems like many posters here think they are much more clever and witty then they really are. I don't think I would want to meet a good majority of the posters herein real life for a beer, because they strike me as insecure and pompous.

  
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Bill Richards > Guest 
• 9 months ago
 



Not so sure the Mormon "Trans"humanists are more rational than "Humanistic Mormons" for they still believe in God "We believe that scientific knowledge and technological power are among the means ordained of GOD" ????http://transfigurism.org/pages... At least these Humanistic Mormons have removed the supernatural unlike these Mormon Transhumanist supernaturalists. Also its telling that you think that you are "still engaged" in Mormonism as if to say that your form of Mormonism is the only form worthy of being called Mormonism. No doubt these Humanistic Mormons still consider themselves very much part of Mormonism and still identity as Mormons.

  
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Guest > Bill Richards 
• 9 months ago
 



I am a bit embarrassed that Mormon transhumanists who are supernaturalists are carrying the touch of Mormon Transhumanism, as it fits better within Humanistic Mormonism.

  
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ProudHumanist 
• 9 months ago
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An an ex-Mormon, I find this inexplicable. I would have liked to hear more about what parts of their identity they actually keep. Family home evening? Visiting teachers? And they're keeping the priesthood? It really sounds to me like they realize the LDS church isn't "true" but want to keep on playing as if it is.

  
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Sober > ProudHumanist 
• 9 months ago
 



Precisely, some people just arent comfortable with fully exorcising religious dogma or culture.

  
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Bill Richards > ProudHumanist 
• 9 months ago
 



If you think that you missed the point of the article and what Humanistic Mormonism is, it has nothing to do with the LDS Church.

  
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Sarah Hughes - AHA Mod > ProudHumanist 
• 9 months ago
 



Hi, Proud Humanist! The answer to your questions are included in Part Two of the interview. Please check back on March 20th!

  
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photojack53 
• 9 months ago
 



From reading this article and the comments afterward, I think these
people are confused and not ready to fully relinquish their old dogmatic
 beliefs. This new movement SHOULD be called the Ex-Mormon's Society
for Humanism. There is no way to reconcile the CULT of Mormonism, with
its bizarre golden tablets that only Joseph Smith ever saw or could
translate and "magically" disappeared later and many more absolutely
incredulous beliefs, with the realism and rationality of Humanism.
Magic underwear don't coincide with Darwinian evolution, the scientific
method or rational thought. "Taking a knife" to Mormonism wouldn't
leave much at all to have "faith" in!
From my earliest memories
and experiences, I never "bought in" with ANY religious movement. I had
 enough rationality, gained from my typical early interest in dinosaurs,
 to explore science in more depth and to realize how vacuous ALL
religions were. Reading in comparative religions only confirmed that
with more conviction. One look at the thousands of "gods" in the "List
of Deities" on wikipedia should be enough to make people realize that
every one of them were once worshiped, but now are mere remnants of the
ancient literature of lost cultures.RELIGION FAILS, SCIENCE PREVAILS!

  
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Bill Richards > photojack53 
• 9 months ago
 



Ah, that's like saying there is no way to reconcile the CULT of Judaism with humanism, what about Humanistic Judaism or how about Unitarian Universalism? Should we now make the claim that because the Unitarians are historically a Christian religion (the Christian CULT) that they are not true humanists either? Your logic needs some work there.

  
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Rem 
• 9 months ago
 



A Mormon Humanist is a walking oxymoron. It's like starting a group of Atheistic Catholics. Sounds like a 12-step Former Mormon group. I welcome the group as supporters of the humanist manifesto, or at least their cherry-picked selection of humanistic beliefs. But they need to realize that you really can't have it both ways -- they are now neither Mormons nor Humanists, in the fullest sense of the separate groups and their beliefs. So it's a cop out, it seems, and perhaps a necessary and transitional one, but still, it only serves to dilute the essential core beliefs of each group. It is certainly not a religion, and shouldn't be called one since the definition of each group undermines the basic tenants of the other. The fact that its origins are with the cult-like Mormons based in present day Utah, is not a good starting point for a humanistic society. It's like 'macaroni and cheese' -- if you are a gourmet and love the essential qualities of either ingredient, you're going to be disappointed and unhappy with mac&cheese because each is totally altered by the other ingredient (sorry, that's a pretty dumb metaphor, but you get my point). The Unitarian-Universalists are in the middle of a similar identity crisis, and they haven't worked through it yet. The interviewer needs to ask some tougher questions about Mormonism and the group's redefined and conflicting beliefs. But it's a good starting point for disaffected Mormons who value intelligence and compassion, so let's wish them luck.

  
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Garrett A. Hughes 
• 9 months ago
 



Draw a Venn diagram and all the confusion disappears. I can't draw one in this space but I will describe how. 1. Draw a large oval - label it "secular beliefs." 2. Draw a smaller second oval inside the first and label it "humanistic beliefs." 3. Draw a third oval partially outside and partially inside the first, intersecting with the second inside the first - label it "religious beliefs." Note that humanistic beliefs are totally secular (thus it is never necessary to call yourself a "secular humanist," humanism is secular by definition (inclusion). The section of the oval labeled "religious beliefs" that is outside of the first oval contains all the tenets of religion that cannot be construed as secular - i.e., supernatural beings, the existence of heaven and hell, sin, an afterlife, etc. - i.e., those things which cannot be demonstrated by scientific reasoning and/or experiment. Perhaps some of the math and physics courses I took in college should be out there, as well. (just joking) Note that if you followed instructions there is an intersection of humanistic beliefs and religious beliefs inside the first oval. These are the secular values that humanism and religion have in common. For example, both humanists and religious practitioners can value social justice, which I am construing to be a secular belief. It's this common ground in the secular arena that gets confused as being a religious value and at the same time a humanistic value. What we are witnessing with humanistic mormonism is a semantic, not a logical problem. You can term a belief system anything you want, words are slippery and the same words can mean different things to different people. Humanistic mormans - if I interpret the article correctly - are entirely in the secular oval. They have adopted a philosophy based on secular values and have some values/beliefs in common with humanists. That does not make them humanists, just secular. To avoid confusion with mormanism they should call themselves something without the morman reference in the title. They may be ex-mormans, but they are definitely not mormans. One logical problem with humanism is that it is not a dogma with a fixed set of tenets, so its oval can expand and contract: the members of the set [in a logical sense] of beliefs are not fixed. All humanists do not have the same set of secular values [thank God]. Read Corliss Lamont's treatise on the philosophy of humanism for a good description of the member set for humanism.

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Trav Lee > D. Michael Martindale 
• 9 months ago
 



and unhappy. I consider myself to have many of the humanist beliefs but I don't identify with these people who are militant humanists. These dogmatic humanists need to understand that there is a lot of good in religion. For me, as a former Mormon, the good in Mormonism is the sense of community, shared history and being part of something bigger. Hank touches upon this above, but in an extremely skeptical and negative way.

  
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Hank Rodgers 
• 9 months ago
 



It seems that there is a strong need on the part of "humans" to belong to SOME "community", "club" or "family" (such as Jim Jones' "family", and other "religious" groups), no matter how disfunctional ... or, as here, nebulous. Discrimination seems a related and essential psychological need, in order to distinguish, discriminate and "differentiate" between "us" and "them others". I love the recent news about the airlines new attempt at passenger screening, based on "passenger differentiation" (to avoid the current horror word "discrimination"). Whatever happened to the favorable concept of a "discriminating" person, i.e. a "person of discrimination"? Too, "family" is not infrequently a very damaging and crippling influence on the individual. Further, as Woody Allen reminded us (apparently of Groucho Marx' rule}, "I would not want to belong to any club that was willing to have me as a member". We are not sexist ("genderist"?), racist, ageist, classists, etc., we are "me-ists"; i.e. the closer others are to our own gender, race, age, economic class and culture, the more we can relate to and understand them. We thinkers are on our own here, understanding it as best we can; and even now, with all our old "gods" dead, no "New Age" groups should provide a convenient substitute.

  
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Bruce Waugh > Hank Rodgers 
• 9 months ago
 



We are genetically programed to fear "the other". We still feel most secure in a group setting. When we are surrounded by those unlike us hormones are released to put us in flight or fight mode. This evolutionary response had survival value in a tribal world. Now that the world is so populated and connected we need to use our rational capabilities to override this instinctive reaction which has become counter-productive.

  
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Bruce Waugh 
• 9 months ago
 



As an ex-Mormon this sounded bizarre at first, but I think this is a transitional stage that some people must take because rationally they object to the racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia of Mormonism but emotionally they are unwilling to leave behind the rituals and sense of community. Raised as a Mormon all of my friends, family and activities centered around the religion. It takes a great deal of courage, intellectual honesty and integrity to make a clean brake.

  
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Arthur Jackson 
• 2 months ago
 



Wow! This was all new to me. Thank you AHA for putting this together. And I hope you will collect all these materials together and make them available in the world. There should be a lot of interest

  
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Craig 
• 7 months ago
 



The first lie is that he serves as First Counselor in the First Presidency and President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This is false

  
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Kerry Hales 
• 9 months ago
 



Those who are in the middle get hit on both sides.

  
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PJAndrea 
• 9 months ago
 



Extremely inconsistent with rational thought let along atheism, quoting the author: "Would Jesus want us to discriminate against LGBT people based on their sexual orientation? Orthodox Mormons and those liberal Mormons that go along with the Church’s doctrine on this need to ask themselves: Would Jesus approve of discrimination? I am fairly certain that if Jesus Christ himself wanted membership in the LDS Church, he likely would be denied."

  
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Paul Sellnow 
• 9 months ago
 



Humanistic Mormonism? I don't know... an organization of Mormons who don't believe in god seems less sustainable to me than Jews who don't believe in g-d, but if they can provide a compassionate community I guess we can give them the benefit of the doubt. (God knows they won't get any support from mainline Mormons...)

  
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Guest 
• 9 months ago
 



As a religious humanist still engaged in Mormonism, I have to say I am a bit embarrassed that these people are carrying the torch for "Humanist Mormonism". I actually think the Mormon *Trans*humanists are more thoughtful and responsible.

  
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Trav Lee > Guest 
• 9 months ago
 



It seems like many posters here think they are much more clever and witty then they really are. I don't think I would want to meet a good majority of the posters herein real life for a beer, because they strike me as insecure and pompous.

  
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Bill Richards > Guest 
• 9 months ago
 



Not so sure the Mormon "Trans"humanists are more rational than "Humanistic Mormons" for they still believe in God "We believe that scientific knowledge and technological power are among the means ordained of GOD" ????http://transfigurism.org/pages... At least these Humanistic Mormons have removed the supernatural unlike these Mormon Transhumanist supernaturalists. Also its telling that you think that you are "still engaged" in Mormonism as if to say that your form of Mormonism is the only form worthy of being called Mormonism. No doubt these Humanistic Mormons still consider themselves very much part of Mormonism and still identity as Mormons.

  
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Guest > Bill Richards 
• 9 months ago
 



I am a bit embarrassed that Mormon transhumanists who are supernaturalists are carrying the touch of Mormon Transhumanism, as it fits better within Humanistic Mormonism.

  
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What's this?
Also on American Humanist Association

 Humanist Voices in Verse: “If You Don’t Watch Out” by Harold Saferstein 
 1 comment •
 a month ago
  Avatar
Hanrod — Love it...and"For Socrates the unexamined life has no clout;But our poetry will get us if we don't watch out."
 

 Humanist Jingle Bells 
 1 comment •
 6 days ago
  Avatar
sk8eycat —  Dan Barker's "Solstice Tribute"  (to the tune of "O, Little Town of You-Know-Where")  O, shining star of …
 

 The Comics Section: Difficult Questions, The Promise, Privilege 
 1 comment •
 6 days ago
  Avatar
mdhome — Of course, racism and sexism is now over, so easy to see that.
 

 The Humanist Carnivore: An Oxymoron? 
 6 comments •
 6 days ago
  Avatar
squeak —  Psychiatrists are MDs, and Dr. Childers has been astute in noticing how nutrition affects her patients. Humans …

 
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Brian Lofgren 
• 9 months ago 
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This sounds like a supportive institutional community for Mormons who wish to retain their cultural identity, while transitioning to a natural world view. Humanists of all "flavors" may wish to support like-minded groups as they evolve away from traditional religion. I'm all for this progressive development.

  
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Jeanette 
• 9 months ago 
 



As a teenager I married into the world of Mormonism and lingered there, fascinated, for a few years. Previously I'd moved with my family from the Dakotas to Montana and from that perspective experienced a Mormon community as a religious practice, a world view and a faith. These are distinct realities, often blended in the mind of both supporters and detractors. Now, as a practicing humanist and writer I recognize the dangers of using conceptual nouns (i.e. 'Mormon') inappropriately, to universalize a personal view in a way to make demands upon someone else. My Mormon may not be your Mormon,dear friends. I personally admire much about Mormon community, its possibilities, its mutual support. And I recognize its dangers, the claustrophobia, for instance. I say, save the best, learn from the rest.

  
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Proud Humanist 
• 9 months ago 
 



The term "Mormon" denotes someone who believes in the truth of the Book of Mormon. Leaving the LDS church but adopting some of the activities of the church that you find appealing does not mean you are a "Mormon." You can call your group anything you want, but you're not Mormons. The LDS church believes that family activities can strengthen families, but I'd never call myself a Mormon simply because I believe that same thing, nor am I a Mormon because I try to keep tabs on neighbors and friends. I admit I don't understand the thinking of this particular group. They seem to be unable to truly let go of the LDS church--perhaps for extended family relationships.

  
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Rob Lauer > Proud Humanist 
• 9 months ago 
 



What about members of the Community of Christ? They believe in "The Book of Mormon," but are distinct from the LDS Church. What about Mormon Fundamentalists (not just the FLDS)? Mormonism is much more than the LDS Church.
I am a Reform Mormon. Reform Mormonism accepts Mormon scriptures as the Word of God, but not necessarily as historical documents. We have Endowment oridnances, Washings and Anointings, Sealings, etc. And many of us accept a more humanistic approach than does the LDS Church--but this is rooted firmly in the teachings of Joseph Smith.

  
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an Ex-Mormon > Rob Lauer 
• 9 months ago 
 



I commend those Reform Mormons who have accepted the evidence that the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham are not historical works. I do wonder what evidence persuades them that the authorship of these books is none-the-less devine.

  
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Bill Richards > Rob Lauer 
• 9 months ago 
 



Proud Humanist manifests an inability to understand all the different branches of Mormonism. There are Reform Mormons, Fundmentalist Mormons and yes now Humanistic Mormons. Education is a humanist value the last time I checked.

  
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Don R 
• 9 months ago 
 



I'm 77 years old and have been a Secular Humanist for many years. I've never considered Humanism to be a religion; a philosophy, yes; a religion, no.

  
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Bill Richards > Don R 
• 9 months ago 
 



http://www.ted.com/talks/alain...

  
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Robert Thornton-Kaye 
• 9 months ago 
 



I'm pleased to hear that groups such as this one exist, as well as being pleased that we hear from them and learn more about them. It must be confusing to many people to hear of a hybrid of humanism and another religion, but ultimately many religions are more than a belief in the supernatural and encompass parts of society such as the law, social attitudes and community-based events such as local gatherings and celebratory rituals. By removing any belief in magic and magical beings as well as any harmful portions of the religion it renders that belief system safe and a positive factor in people's lives. To me that is more important than whether these people are in the same religious/philosophical 'gang' as me.

  
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Paul Sellnow 
• 9 months ago 
 



I am curious to know how many HMs there are, where they are located, and other demographic information that might be available. Do they have a web site?

  
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Al Blazo 
• 9 months ago 
 



I'm sure someone out there could provide a simple and rational explanation for the worthiness of this exchange in an AMA blog. I sure wanna' read it, 'cause I'm plum out of brain energy tryin' to figure it out.
Thanks.

  
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Bill Richards > Al Blazo 
• 9 months ago 
 



I find it odd that one could be in favor of Humanistic Judaism and support atheist Jews, but not atheist Mormons. I since some discrimination in your comment Al.

  
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Brian Lofgren 
• 9 months ago 
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This sounds like a supportive institutional community for Mormons who wish to retain their cultural identity, while transitioning to a natural world view. Humanists of all "flavors" may wish to support like-minded groups as they evolve away from traditional religion. I'm all for this progressive development.

  
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Jeanette 
• 9 months ago 
 



As a teenager I married into the world of Mormonism and lingered there, fascinated, for a few years. Previously I'd moved with my family from the Dakotas to Montana and from that perspective experienced a Mormon community as a religious practice, a world view and a faith. These are distinct realities, often blended in the mind of both supporters and detractors. Now, as a practicing humanist and writer I recognize the dangers of using conceptual nouns (i.e. 'Mormon') inappropriately, to universalize a personal view in a way to make demands upon someone else. My Mormon may not be your Mormon,dear friends. I personally admire much about Mormon community, its possibilities, its mutual support. And I recognize its dangers, the claustrophobia, for instance. I say, save the best, learn from the rest.

  
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Proud Humanist 
• 9 months ago 
 



The term "Mormon" denotes someone who believes in the truth of the Book of Mormon. Leaving the LDS church but adopting some of the activities of the church that you find appealing does not mean you are a "Mormon." You can call your group anything you want, but you're not Mormons. The LDS church believes that family activities can strengthen families, but I'd never call myself a Mormon simply because I believe that same thing, nor am I a Mormon because I try to keep tabs on neighbors and friends. I admit I don't understand the thinking of this particular group. They seem to be unable to truly let go of the LDS church--perhaps for extended family relationships.

  
1 △   ▽  
•
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•
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Rob Lauer > Proud Humanist 
• 9 months ago 
 



What about members of the Community of Christ? They believe in "The Book of Mormon," but are distinct from the LDS Church. What about Mormon Fundamentalists (not just the FLDS)? Mormonism is much more than the LDS Church.
I am a Reform Mormon. Reform Mormonism accepts Mormon scriptures as the Word of God, but not necessarily as historical documents. We have Endowment oridnances, Washings and Anointings, Sealings, etc. And many of us accept a more humanistic approach than does the LDS Church--but this is rooted firmly in the teachings of Joseph Smith.

  
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an Ex-Mormon > Rob Lauer 
• 9 months ago 
 



I commend those Reform Mormons who have accepted the evidence that the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham are not historical works. I do wonder what evidence persuades them that the authorship of these books is none-the-less devine.

  
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•
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Bill Richards > Rob Lauer 
• 9 months ago 
 



Proud Humanist manifests an inability to understand all the different branches of Mormonism. There are Reform Mormons, Fundmentalist Mormons and yes now Humanistic Mormons. Education is a humanist value the last time I checked.

  
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Don R 
• 9 months ago 
 



I'm 77 years old and have been a Secular Humanist for many years. I've never considered Humanism to be a religion; a philosophy, yes; a religion, no.

  
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Bill Richards > Don R 
• 9 months ago 
 



http://www.ted.com/talks/alain...

  
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Robert Thornton-Kaye 
• 9 months ago 
 



I'm pleased to hear that groups such as this one exist, as well as being pleased that we hear from them and learn more about them. It must be confusing to many people to hear of a hybrid of humanism and another religion, but ultimately many religions are more than a belief in the supernatural and encompass parts of society such as the law, social attitudes and community-based events such as local gatherings and celebratory rituals. By removing any belief in magic and magical beings as well as any harmful portions of the religion it renders that belief system safe and a positive factor in people's lives. To me that is more important than whether these people are in the same religious/philosophical 'gang' as me.

  
 △   ▽  
•
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•
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Paul Sellnow 
• 9 months ago 
 



I am curious to know how many HMs there are, where they are located, and other demographic information that might be available. Do they have a web site?

  
 △   ▽  
•
Reply
•
Share ›

 

 


Avatar
Al Blazo 
• 9 months ago 
 



I'm sure someone out there could provide a simple and rational explanation for the worthiness of this exchange in an AMA blog. I sure wanna' read it, 'cause I'm plum out of brain energy tryin' to figure it out.
Thanks.

  
 △   ▽  
•
Reply
•
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Bill Richards > Al Blazo 
• 9 months ago 
 



I find it odd that one could be in favor of Humanistic Judaism and support atheist Jews, but not atheist Mormons. I since some discrimination in your comment Al.

  
 △   ▽  
•
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•
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What's this?
Also on American Humanist Association

 Movie Review: The Hunger Games’ Catching Fire 
 2 comments •
 12 days ago
  Avatar
Chevy —  If I had written this review, I would have left out all the comments about how to tweak the movie any …
 

 The Comics Section: Difficult Questions, The Promise, Privilege 
 1 comment •
 6 days ago
  Avatar
mdhome — Of course, racism and sexism is now over, so easy to see that.
 

 What Does “Spiritual Not Religious” Mean? It’s Complicated. 
 13 comments •
 12 days ago
  Avatar
David —  It is an oxymoron.  I do not believe in God, Odin, The Tooth Fairy, or Spirits.  Religion is believing in …
 

Buildings, Conferences, YouTube, and More: How AHA Chapters Expand …
 1 comment •
 a month ago
  Avatar
greg miller —  Reaching out is exciting for me to watch and I participate in supporting my nephews and niece who are trying …

 
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