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Roy Speckhardt Biography

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“Humanists don't simply disbelieve religious explanations; rather, we find that such explanations don't stand up to reasonable scientific scrutiny. When supernatural claims of transcendence such as assertions of rebirth or divine intervention are confronted with with scientific review, it's not only clear that the evidence doesn't support them, but that including such religiously rooted ideas in our understanding of the world requires living with severe cognitive dissonance or undoing much of what we've learned about how the world actually works.”

Humanism
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“Foundationally, fundamentalists believe that all goodness derives from their god, so the presence of anyone being good without their god is a constant reminder that something is wrong with their belief on the source of goodness. They fumble for other possibilities like the improbable idea that all atheists are bad or the absurd conclusion that atheists don't exist and instead, that atheists have just deluded themselves into thinking they are atheists. That's why fundamentalists react with such remarkable aversion and hate when confronted with the AHA's simple GOOD WITHOUT A GOD stickers, advertisements, and billboards. It's why they so vehemently characterize our positive personal statement as a personal attack on them.”

Humanism
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“As we move into the future, one can predict where traditional spirituality will continue to lose its authority. The prejudice seen commonly among the faithful today, that goodness can only come through godliness - will be less and less accepted. As more and more of the population who are atheists and agnostics come out of the closet to their friends, family, and neighbors, it will be difficult to hold the claim that so many lack the ability to lead productive moral lives. As this claim breaks down, religion and spirituality will begin to lose its connection to goodness in general. No longer will it be a social liability to voice rationalist principles.”

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“While achieving accomplishments through work can be beneficial and satisfying, lasting fulfillment isn't gained from feeling safe and comfortable, or from examining a win/loss record. When we look back on what we've accomplished in our work, at home, with family and friends, and through our charity and activism we find meaning in life in the ways we've changed things for the better.”

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“Even with popular role models, some people are afraid to part with religious belief. Many Americans, even those who have become disillusioned by their religion, are uncomfortable at the thought of a life without religion. Without a traditional religious framework, where would they find meaning or joy? But there's no need to view this freedom with such trepidation. The possibilities for a meaningful and joyful life free from traditional religion are limitless. Knowing how best to solve problems, that you are free from arbitrary constraints of thought, and that you can live a life of real meaning is exhilarating.”

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“When considering which identity to emphasize in our humanist/freethought/nontheist communities, reflect on the fact that you can use more than one, and keep in mind the benefits of humanism. Humanism is a positive identification that speaks about what you do care about, as opposed to only what you don't. I am a non-smoker, a non-physicist, and a non-German speaker, and as much as those aspects may have meaning, they aren't what's important to know about me. In the society we happen to live in, my absence of a belief in a god is a relevant component of my identity, but it doesn't define who I am. Humanism does that better than any other description.”

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“Is it possible to be a person of integrity while maintaining a radical bifurcation between one's outer and inner lives? And if that inner life should value, above all, rationality, free inquiry, and the right of us all to flourish to our fullest, then how can you keep silent as to the conclusions to which your rational free inquiry has brought you? How can you deny for yourself the right to flourish in the company of like-minded people who will not disapprove of you for subjecting your beliefs and actions to the standards of rational accountability? If you believe in the integrity of your conclusions then you must show them to the world, making the case for them not only by the arguments you hash out in the privacy of your own mind but by the life that you publicly lead.”

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“Do you think science matters more than dogma? Do you think this life is all we're going to get, so we need to make the most of it? Do you find that helping other humans in the here and now gives you well-being? Do you think common sense is more important than rules in ancient texts? Do you trust your experience and knowledge over those who claim a personal connection to their god? Then, whether you recognized it before or not, you're probably a humanist!”

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“Humanism is the not so radical idea that you can be good without a god. It's the discovery that you not only don't need outdated texts or god experts to make good choices, but that those are frequently poor resources for decision making. Humanists affirm our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity. We ground that pursuit not in theism or supernatural beliefs, but in the best of modern knowledge determined from trial and error and the scientific process.”

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