Isn't everyone by default an humanitarian? Unless of course they are a sociopath. What person is not concerned with the welfare of their fellow man? People having concern for their fellow man is universal, it doesn't matter if they believe in God or don't think that there is a God.
To say that you are a humanitarian because you are concerned with the welfare of man, is almost the same as you saying that you are a thinker because you can think.
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Humanitarian:
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/humanitarian;_ylt=AoHVll.jcJVgh.FahrD1db6sgMMF
2007-11-27 09:49:56 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Bad Liberal:
No, wrong again. I am only repeating things that atheists have claimed over and over and over again. Before you scold me why don't you scold the atheist who assume that only they can be humanitarians.
2007-11-27 10:11:36 · update #1
Why are you all adding in religion? I simple am saying that everyone is a humanatarian? If you are a human you are a humanitarian. Some are more so on the smaller scale, but generally they are humanitarian. A gang member cares about the fellow members in his gang, their family, and their friends. So why coin a word that relates to everyone?
2007-11-27 10:15:25 · update #2
No Good: you are an humanitarian. The definition doesn't say how many humans you have to be concerned about to be a humanitarian. It could be your coworkers, your home, or even the people driving next to you.
2007-11-27 10:19:10 · update #3
I use words like humanitarian to describe myself because some people think that because your an Atheist you don't care about anyone but yourself.
2007-11-27 10:24:05 · answer #1 · answered by jetthrustpy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you read your dictionary definition I think it includes the words devoted and promote quite distinctly. This would mark a humanitarian down as being different from a person concerned with the welfare of others, which is virtually universal as you say. So if an atheist is devoted to the promotion of human welfare and the advancement of social reforms, they are a humanitarian. I'm an atheist and not a humanitarian. There we go.
EDIT: With regard to your additional details you are confusing the noun and adjective forms "a humanitarian", e.g. "person x is a humanitarian" means:
NOUN:
One who is devoted to the promotion of human welfare and the advancement of social reforms; a philanthropist.
To call yourself a humanitarian you have to be actively humanitarian. This is not the same as being concerned about the welfare of other people.
2007-11-27 09:57:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would hope that everyone would be concerned with the welfare of their fellow human beings.
How do atheists link themselves to the word humanitarian more than anyone else?
2007-11-27 09:57:54 · answer #3 · answered by Let Me Think 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, everyone can lay claim to the title of humanitarian but in all fairness there are certain groups that believe strongly in turning others into sheep for their god's stable is a worthy humanitarian effort and you are not calling them out for not being true humanitarians. To me doing something for your fellow man should not intail secret strings attached to it.
2007-11-27 10:06:14 · answer #4 · answered by calmlikeatimebomb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some call themselves secular humanists, which is a completely different idea.
"The term "secular humanism" was coined in the 20th century to make a clear distinction from "religious humanism". A related concept is scientific humanism, which the biologist Edward O. Wilson claimed to be "the only worldview compatible with science's growing knowledge of the real world and the laws of nature".
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2007-11-27 09:53:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anna P 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I was about to answer that it would be for the same reason anyone would link themselves to that word. But your use suggests you have sources claiming that atheists think that ONLY atheism can be linked to humanitarianism. But you don't because we don't. You're setting up the usual straw man again.
2007-11-27 09:53:14 · answer #6 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yeah, alright, all those big company tobacco companies that sell death to people are really concerned about the welfare of their fellow men. and i doubt they're ALL sociopaths.
and when did atheists say they were "more" humanitarian than anyone else? what?
2007-11-27 09:53:40 · answer #7 · answered by LostKeys30 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're kidding, right? Would you classify Hitler or Stalin as humanitarian? By your definition they would be! No, a humanitarian has an altruistic view towards others.
2007-11-27 09:53:46 · answer #8 · answered by Rance D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe because a lot of Christians seem to think you need religion to be a moral and good human being when that is simply not the case.
2007-11-27 09:52:29 · answer #9 · answered by Pitchy 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
I think your definition is wrong. It's more than just caring about your fellow man, it's working actively to make his life better.
2007-11-27 09:53:06 · answer #10 · answered by Meat Bot 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋