Humanists rejoice! BBC will consult them on religion

[Woodbutcher]

It will inform people that atheists are not as bad as some believe. Lot of misconceptions abound.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Yes, there are pros, but there are also cons - as animavore said, it runs the risk of lumping in atheism as "just another faith."

I suppose that if it gets an occasional atheistic POV into somebody's breakfast-time "Thought for the day" that might be a good thing.

It is the publicity of the acceptance of atheism as an "equally valid" world-view that worries me a bit. It is like entering into debates with ID advocates - why bother? You run the risk of legitimising the faith perspective rather than the atheistic one. No matter how many times, and how eloquently, Richard Dawkins shoots ID'ers down in flames, they win because their bollocks is seen as worthy of equal debate with evolution. That is why Dawkins refuses to engage in such debates and why this worries me too.

Having said that, I think the overall effect of this move will be positive - I just have a few misgivings.

[The Red Fox]

I read that religious programming is the least viewed genre in the country, not only that, Christianity is fast becoming (if it isn't already) a minority religion. I think it's inevitable that atheists/humanist/secularists will make up a larger and larger portion of these committees. I think it's a good first step, getting our views about religion on religious programming provides a counter balance to all the bullshit they spew.

Even if it doesn't change minds, watching the religious become uncomfortable with the "invasion of secularism" is worth a few giggles.

[Trolldor]

Fucking nonsense.
I don't like that humanism is the only demonstrated secular view.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Fucking nonsense.
I don't like that humanism is the only demonstrated secular view.

Offer your services as a nihilist consultant then.

[Pappa]

Fucking nonsense.
I don't like that humanism is the only demonstrated secular view.

Offer your services as a nihilist consultant then.

What's the point!?

[MedGen]

Fucking nonsense.
I don't like that humanism is the only demonstrated secular view.

Offer your services as a nihilist consultant then.

What's the point!?

BAA has a point though. The reason its a consultant from the BHA is that they are the most active and vocal, so people are more likely to recognise the name and relevant connotations attached with said organisation. If the British Society of Nihilists and Supermen (if they even existed) were the most vocal with regard to promoting secularism then perhaps they might be the ones seen by the general public as the only atheists view. Humanism has the support it does precisely because it is a positive assertion within an atheistic philosophical framework.

I do agree that it is a little annoying that it is seen as the only secular view, but that's how things are at the moment here in blighty (can't speak for the rest of the world).