Carl Coon
November 18, 2007
Carl Coon is the Vice-President of the American Humanist Association and former US Ambassador to Nepal. He is also the author of the book One Planet, One People: Beyond "Us versus Them," published by Prometheus Books in 2004.
Coon discussed "Understanding Religion From the Outside and Implications for Secular Humanism." Topics included the future of Humanism and questions such as, "How do we promote Humanism?" and "Is Humanism a religion?"
Coon's perspective was that we need to understand religion as a group phenomenon, an evolved cultural and social dynamic, with synergistic benfits and rationale for its adherents. Taking an 'angry atheist' or argumentative stance only ignites a fundamentalist's stubborn human pride and traditionalism.
He believes we need to establish a Humanist Identity that outlines our positive precepts and ethical codes rather than only defining ourselves by what we don't believe in.
Coon said that Humanism isn't a religion, but it's the next logical evolution from the old religions into a future that is increasingly global. Humanists should put themselves into the forefront of international interactions, leading the way forward in the ethical behavior of nation-states toward each other.
