MAAF MEETING NOTES

 

1.     PURPOSE.  To bring personnel together to talk about life, ethics, and service as a nontheist.

 

2.    ATTENDEES.  The meeting should be open to all personnel.  However, attendees must understand the nature of the meeting.  (See paragraph 6d. below)

 

3.    LOCATION.  The location should be in a public meeting place, but not a workplace.

 

4.    ADVERTISEMENT.  Coordination through the community recreation or activities organization and even the local Chaplain’s office is a good way to spread information.   Ask about listing the meeting on local bulletin boards as well.  There should be authorization to post this meeting in any place a chaplain’s meeting or religious flyer is posted. 

 

5.     MATERIALS.  Provide handouts and information to generate visibility and understanding.  Provide any of the resources at www.maaf.info as well as the references in Appendix A.  Materials should include handouts for the meetings, information about future meetings, local contacts, and MAAF-related items.  Contact MAAF for options to receive a variety of free materials.

 

6.  ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES.

 

a.       One should, in no case, officially associate a meeting of this sort with the military, MAAF, or any other organization without prior authorization.

b.       Secular Humanism may be the ‘religion’ by which one may identify the activity to the Chaplain.  When questioned, it may be appropriate to just explain that Secular Humanism is just an equivalent name for religious-type atheism, but it is not meant to be restrictive.  The intent is only to speak in a language necessary to explain the intent of the event.

c.        Expect a variety of participants.  The spectrum may range from open hostility to honest interest and inquiry.  To hostility, it will probably be appropriate to ask them to leave and refer them to the Chaplain or EO Representative if necessary.  To honest inquiry, for example Xians/Theists who don’t intend to change but are curious, there should be no problem.  The gray area will be those who are looking for debate about the issue.  Discourage adversarial debate as much as possible, noting that the intent is to support nontheists rather than to change anyone’s mind.  Although atheist/theist debate may be a meeting focus at some point, it would be inappropriate for a general meeting.

d.       Provide a contact roster for those who wish to receive more information, and follow up.  Participants can always contact each other through MAAF and/or the MAAF Network.

e.        In the face of opposition to the nature of the meeting, whether because it is unsanctioned by an official body, or because it is not headed by ‘clergy,’ compare the meeting to general Bible Study groups that meet.  Also refer to the lack of regular support by the local Chaplains of atheists, Secular Humanists, and other non-Judeo Christian religions.  A good plan, well-presented will be highly likely to be allowed by the command.  Contact MAAF for more assistance.

 

Annex A (Reference Materials)

 

Humanist Manifesto I
Drafted 1933 by Raymond Bragg

The following excerpt is precedes HMI, and provides a good introduction for the 3 Manifestos and one declaration that serve as foundational documents for Secular Humanism.  The following documents show snapshots of the evolution of Secular Humanism.

“The importance of the document is that more than thirty men have come to general agreement on matters of final concern and that these men are undoubtedly representative of a large number who are forging a new philosophy out of the materials of the modern world.”   

Secular Humanist Values (1933):

·         Non-created Universe

·         Evolution

·         Mind/body monism

·         Cultural Evolution

·         Rational & Scientific Ethics

·         Obsolescence of Religion

·         Human living is a secular activity

·         Living in the present

·         Human flourishing

·         No supernatural

·         Comfort through understanding

·         Encourage human thought

·         Economic Socialism

Humanist Manifesto II
Drafted 1973 by Paul Kurtz

I.  Religion:  good and bad points, highlights detrimental effects of a focus on afterlife instead of the present.

II.  Ethics:  Morals arise from human experience.  Reason and intelligence are means of discovery of ethics.

III.  Individualism:  preciousness and dignity of all individuals.

A Secular Humanist Declaration
Drafted 1980 by Paul Kurtz

The Declaration is a rewrite of the previous Manifestos.  It recognizes the benefits of Secular Humanism, and notes the good and bad effects of religion.  The Manifesto itself is meant to present an updated list of values of Secular Humanism.   

Secular Humanist Values (1980):

·         Free Inquiry

·         Separation of Church and State

·         The Ideal of Freedom

·         Ethics Based on Critical Intelligence

·         Moral Education

·         Religious Skepticism

·         Reason

·         Science and Technology

·         Evolution

·         Education

 

 

Humanist Manifesto 2000
Drafted 2000 by Paul Kurtz

 

This is the most recent snapshot of Humanist Values.  It begins with a review of the prior documents.

 

History:

·         HMI (1933):  Atheists needed an alternative to religion.  Focused on social and economic planning.

·         HMII (1973):  Focus efforts on a global scale.  Protect minorities.  Reevaluate sex rights.  Support euthanasia.  Focus on an optimistic attitude.  Eliminated economic ideas of socialism in favor of general charity towards others.

Secular Humanist Values (2000):

·         Prospects for the future are bright

·         Presents a worldview of scientific naturalism

·         Identifies benefits of technology

·         Presents SH view of Ethics and Reason

·         Makes a universal commitment to the whole of humanity

·         Presents a new global agenda supported by the following institutions:

·         Proposes new planetary institutions:  World Parliament, Security Organization, Court, Environmental Oversight Committee, Tax Service, Corporation Monitor

·         Optimism about prospects for humanity

 

 

Fighting Back: A Manual for Freethinkers
Edited by Tim Madigan and Tom Flynn

This book presents a very colloquial and informal approach to problems for Secular Humanists and Atheists in today’s society.  It is not meant to serve as a guideline for action.  Rather, it is primarily useful to present topics for discussion.

 

Responding to Religious Culture:

·         "God Bless You"

·         "Did you have a Merry Xmas?"

·         Family Pressures

·         Religious Charities at Work

·         Suggestions to say Grace at your home

·         Suggestions to say Grace at others' homes

·         Religious functions at work

·         Missionaries

·         Prayers at School Events

 

Responding to Religious World View:

·         Freethought History

·         "What Happens When You Die"

·         Personal Revelation

 

Religion in Politics:

 

Secular Humanist Living:

 

The Atheist Debater's Handbook
By B. C. Johnson

This sounds like an adversarial book, but, in fact, it is very fair and informative.  It presents philosophical perspectives on the following topics:

 

God & --

·         Atheism

·         Science

·         Laws of Nature

·         Design

·         The Universe

·         Existence

·         The Mind

·         Miracles

·         Religious Experience

·         Morality

·         Faith

·         The Problem of Evil

·         Christianity

·         Jesus

·         The Meaning of Life