30 Days of Love: 15/30

By Ted Resnikoff

This week the 30 Days of Love Campaign has encouraged us to think in terms of interfaith, highlighting the connection we share in the common goal of creating a more just and loving world, inclusive of people of different religious faith and spiritual practice. Today, the campaign points out that, "In all the world's religions, love is upheld as a central tenet", but we should also remember that love as a central organizing principle of society is not uniquely the province of theists. Humanists, non-theists and atheists, with have faith in humankind, also understand and promote the transforming possibilities of love to make the world better for us all. Non-theist voices in interfaith dialog can be very helpful because they often focus on what binds humanity, as when astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson (who describes himself as agnostic and is claimed by atheists) says,"We are all connected to each other biologically, to the earth chemically and to the rest of the universe atomically. That’s kinda cool!" DeGrasse Tyson also observes that, "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that kindness is a virtue", focusing attention on his belief the value of human empathy to build understanding or commit to action from a place of,"ready comprehension of others' states."(¹). Christopher Stedman's ringing humanist voice for the power of faith in people to transform intolerance into loving community is another example of how a non-theist approach to difference can make all the difference. (Read our review of Stedman's memoir "Fathiest"). Being non-theist, atheist or agnostic doesn't mean one doesn't believe in anything – let's remember to welcome those with faith in humankind into the interfaith exchange!

February 02, 2013. Include non-theist voices

Information and Resources on Non-Theism: Wikipedia definition of Nontheism. Atheist Nexus – "The world's largest collection of Non-Theists and Non-Theist communities" What is a non-theist? (Quaker point of view) What do Non-Theists believe? (Set to music) Non Prophet Status
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