Comments on: Joss Whedon on Humanism http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/ by Hemant Mehta Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: The Guild: Do you wanna date my avatar? | Hurtling Through Space http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-358200 The Guild: Do you wanna date my avatar? | Hurtling Through Space Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:56:46 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-358200 [...] — creator of Buffy, Dr Horrible, Angel, Dollhouse and the brilliant Firefly, and also a well known humanist. If you’re a gamer, particularly if you’re into MMORPGs of any kind and with a group of [...] [...] — creator of Buffy, Dr Horrible, Angel, Dollhouse and the brilliant Firefly, and also a well known humanist. If you’re a gamer, particularly if you’re into MMORPGs of any kind and with a group of [...]

]]> By: Aj http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-298442 Aj Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:21:44 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-298442 Approaching life with optimism does not require faith, and is not the same as being certain about something that is statistically improbable. Although I believe that all the "contrary evidence" is not compelling at all. If there were absolutely no room to believe in human goodness then Humanism with be incoherent and bankrupt by its own ideals. Humanists as not extreme optimists. If you believe something although you acknowledge the evidence pointing in the other direction then that's irrational, like the creationists. That's fundamentally against Humanism on two counts as it advocates against faith informing actions and for evidence based knowledge. Sure Humanism involves beliefs about humanity but not as subversion of reality, it's not a religion, and it completely misses the point of Humanism. It's a misappropriation of statistical analysis to use general statistics on individuals, and self-sabotage even if they lean positively in a favourable direction. Whether its defeatist or complacent, it's a delusion that may go against reality. I considered that Joss might be using two different definitions of "faith" but given the following context of: "contrary to evidence", "true believers", and "believing absolutely" I don't think he left any room to interpret faith to mean trust. Approaching life with optimism does not require faith, and is not the same as being certain about something that is statistically improbable. Although I believe that all the “contrary evidence” is not compelling at all. If there were absolutely no room to believe in human goodness then Humanism with be incoherent and bankrupt by its own ideals. Humanists as not extreme optimists.

If you believe something although you acknowledge the evidence pointing in the other direction then that’s irrational, like the creationists. That’s fundamentally against Humanism on two counts as it advocates against faith informing actions and for evidence based knowledge. Sure Humanism involves beliefs about humanity but not as subversion of reality, it’s not a religion, and it completely misses the point of Humanism.

It’s a misappropriation of statistical analysis to use general statistics on individuals, and self-sabotage even if they lean positively in a favourable direction. Whether its defeatist or complacent, it’s a delusion that may go against reality.

I considered that Joss might be using two different definitions of “faith” but given the following context of: “contrary to evidence”, “true believers”, and “believing absolutely” I don’t think he left any room to interpret faith to mean trust.

]]> By: Beijingrrl http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-298408 Beijingrrl Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:23:37 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-298408 I don't have a problem with him using the word faith. My mom was worried I'd be upset that the minister at our wedding spoke about faith during our ceremony. As a Catholic, faith has a very narrow definition to her. I do have faith in my husband, myself and our marriage, though. Not b/c of some contract I have with the Sky Bully (loved that), but b/c of the history we have together and our desire for our marriage to be lasting. Pure logic would not support that faith, but in this case I'm willing to put aside the statistics and believe that we will be together forever. I have no problem calling that faith. I don’t have a problem with him using the word faith. My mom was worried I’d be upset that the minister at our wedding spoke about faith during our ceremony. As a Catholic, faith has a very narrow definition to her. I do have faith in my husband, myself and our marriage, though. Not b/c of some contract I have with the Sky Bully (loved that), but b/c of the history we have together and our desire for our marriage to be lasting. Pure logic would not support that faith, but in this case I’m willing to put aside the statistics and believe that we will be together forever. I have no problem calling that faith.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-298170 Sarah Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:49:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-298170 *sigh* What he said at the end sound really pretty, but it's wrong. I mean, if faith=trust, and is being used colloquially, I guess it's fine. But I thought that was a little misleading. As nice and happy and uplifting as it sounds! I wouldn't say humanists have faith in humanity, I'd say they have hope for humanity. And I think hope is much more valuable then faith, as it is based on trust. Even with all the evidence to the contrary, it's those little pieces of beauty in humanity that spark our hope. *sigh*

What he said at the end sound really pretty, but it’s wrong. I mean, if faith=trust, and is being used colloquially, I guess it’s fine.

But I thought that was a little misleading. As nice and happy and uplifting as it sounds! I wouldn’t say humanists have faith in humanity, I’d say they have hope for humanity. And I think hope is much more valuable then faith, as it is based on trust. Even with all the evidence to the contrary, it’s those little pieces of beauty in humanity that spark our hope.

]]> By: Devysciple http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-298051 Devysciple Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:27:14 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-298051 <blockquote>Faith in god means believing absolutely in something with no proof whatsoever. Faith in humanity means believing absolutely in something with a huge amount of proof to the contrary. We are the true believers.</blockquote> I am so going to print that out and hang it on the wall! Humanism FTW! Fun aside, I was deeply moved, because Joss turned into words what I've felt for a very long time.

Faith in god means believing absolutely in something with no proof whatsoever. Faith in humanity means believing absolutely in something with a huge amount of proof to the contrary. We are the true believers.

I am so going to print that out and hang it on the wall! Humanism FTW!

Fun aside, I was deeply moved, because Joss turned into words what I’ve felt for a very long time.

]]> By: stogoe http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-297865 stogoe Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:48:23 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-297865 Dollhouse really got good after they meandered away from the <em>Engagement of the Week</em> format. If they get a second season, I can easily see Paul Ballard (Helo) becoming a handler at the Dollhouse so he can ferret out its secrets and bring them down. Maybe even Echo's handler... "The Dollhouse deals in fantasy but that is not their purpose." Dollhouse really got good after they meandered away from the Engagement of the Week format. If they get a second season, I can easily see Paul Ballard (Helo) becoming a handler at the Dollhouse so he can ferret out its secrets and bring them down. Maybe even Echo’s handler…

“The Dollhouse deals in fantasy but that is not their purpose.”

]]> By: Jim http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-297843 Jim Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:04:20 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-297843 jedipunk, you should be able to just reload the page to refresh the link to the video. Joss never disappoints. :) jedipunk, you should be able to just reload the page to refresh the link to the video.

Joss never disappoints. :)

]]> By: Alycia http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-297834 Alycia Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:47:02 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-297834 I transcribed the last bit if anyone is interested. Sorry for any typing/grammatical errors: The enemy of humanism is not faith. The enemy of humanism is hate, is fear, is ignorance, is the darker part of man that is in every humanist, every person in the world. That is what we have to fight. Faith is something we have to embrace. Faith in god means believing absolutely in something with no proof whatsoever. Faith in humanity means believing absolutely in something with a huge amount of proof to the contrary. We are the true believers. I transcribed the last bit if anyone is interested. Sorry for any typing/grammatical errors:

The enemy of humanism is not faith. The enemy of humanism is hate, is fear, is ignorance, is the darker part of man that is in every humanist, every person in the world. That is what we have to fight. Faith is something we have to embrace. Faith in god means believing absolutely in something with no proof whatsoever. Faith in humanity means believing absolutely in something with a huge amount of proof to the contrary. We are the true believers.

]]> By: jedipunk http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-297807 jedipunk Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:01:06 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-297807 "We're sorry, this video is no longer available." Anyone have a transcript or another link? “We’re sorry, this video is no longer available.”

Anyone have a transcript or another link?

]]> By: Matt http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/04/13/joss-whedon-on-humanism/#comment-297800 Matt Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:51:04 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=10505#comment-297800 Whoa. Joss Whedon is now composed of even more win! Great speech! Whoa. Joss Whedon is now composed of even more win! Great speech!

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