Humanists offer an alternative for agnostics

By Chris Mooney

Of the two, Neuhaus was more provocative. He insulted homosexuals and suggested that scientists agree unanimously that abortion is murder. He argued that the United States has been "a Christian nation" from its inception, and expressed concern about the "judicial usurpation of politics" we have seen in the last decades.

Most helpful, however, was Neuhaus's unique redefinition of the word "religion" to include atheists and agnostics. "Devout" non-theists, he explained, simply have not "reflected" enough to realize that they too are "religious" individuals. Oh, one more thing: according to Neuhaus, we are all sinners.

Neuhaus imposed religious morality upon his YPU audience just as he and his counterparts would impose it upon America. In view of the current political and intellectual environment, it seems that they are succeeding.

In an unusual situation, the Left was peppered with members of the Yale College Humanist Society (YCHS). Neuhaus and Carter were unable to convince the Yale Humanists of the virtues of religious morality, particularly because these virtues were assumed rather than debated. Most members of the YCHS were outraged at being called religious and sinners, and departed with an even stronger conviction that their group and beliefs are necessary.

The recently-founded YCHS is the only undergraduate organization on campus for those calling themselves atheists, agnostics, humanists and/or free-thinkers. Its leader, Daniel Farkas, MC '00, said, "Historically, discussing atheism and agnosticism has been taboo, but we are interested in breaking stereotypes and showing that people don't need either God or religion in order to find meaning and answers in their lives. Atheism, agnosticism, and humanism are perfectly viable alternatives to traditional religion. The YCHS is here to show people why and how." And, of course, to oppose the religious right whenever possible.

Nationally, humanists on college campuses are hardly unique. "Groups exist on many other campuses," Farkas said. "Now it's Yale's turn." The YCHS belongs to the Campus Freethought Alliance (CFA), an activist group which currently unites more than 80 college and university humanistic groups worldwide.

The CFA Declaration of Necessity states: "We have witnessed a resurgence of religious fundamentalism, hand-in-hand with a growing belief in mysticism, the paranormal, and the occult. We have witnessed a growing disdain for science and a flight from reason and the principles of the Enlightenment, both in popular media and in the halls of academe. We have witnessed a deplorable onslaught by religious factions upon personal liberties. Organized student opposition is necessary as never before. Though the tide of unreason is rising, we have taken it upon ourselves to stand in union against it."

Neuhaus's remarks certainly show that dangerous, bigoted irrationalism can invade the Yale campus. But dogmatic religion is not the sole perpetrator of "unreason": academic postmodernism also brings down our university. The traditional proponents of reason seem to have joined the forces of unreason in attacking rationality at the college level, and groups like the YCHS provide crucial student opposition to these trends.

The Yale Humanists serve another key purpose as well. Most college campuses have Newman Centers, Hillel, and a Campus Crusade for Christ. But where can atheist and agnostic students go to consort with individuals sympathetic to their beliefs? Beyond defending free intellectual inquiry, humanistic groups offer non-believers a sympathetic community. Indeed, surely non-theists need support more than theists: after all, they are the minority.

We should welcome the YCHS on campus. And if Neuhaus tells you that humanists eat babies or perform bloody sacrifices, ignore him. After all, everyone's favorite Yalie, George Bush, DC '48, once said, "I don't know that atheists should be considered as [U.S.] citizens."

Humanists are feared and slandered on a far too routine basis for the simple reason that they defend a core of beliefs that some find terrifying, because they willingly criticize religion and postmodernism. This quality should not
be condemned.

Chris Mooney is a junior in Silliman.

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