Sad to see. My favorite part is when one of the Harvard humanists talks about Brad Pitt “coming out” as an atheist. Yeah. There’s a good reason to be an atheist. And these people call themselves “brights?”
I love how he says it’s “sort of to be determined what the role of religion will be.”Uhm. I think that question’s been decided.
I mean really. What did Harvard need with a chaplain who’s an atheist? They already had hundreds of them. They’re called Professors.
January 15, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Honestly, this is the stupidest thing I think I have seen in recent weeks. Even stupider than Pat Robertson's idiotic statement about Haiti.
Why does one have to "declare" what you don't believe? I don't "believe" there are UFOs floating above car washes in Van Nuys, California. Does this mean I need to join a group who don't believe in UFOs over car washes in Van Nuys?
January 15, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Oh, that last line was perfect…
January 15, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a chaplain by definition a member of the clergy?
January 15, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Jonathan,
You'd think so. But isn't marriage by definition between a man and a woman?
January 15, 2010 at 9:31 pm
These are stupid fools engaging in hate speech.
http://heyitsjustablogman.blogspot.com/2010/01/stupid-fools.html
January 15, 2010 at 9:39 pm
This stuff was funny in the movie, "Auntie Mame" as a kind of then bohemian nuttiness. Today, it's as stale as Eisenhower's hot cross buns. And this Jewish-Zen-Humanist-Atheist-Narcissist really needs to get over to Family Dollar and buy some cheap razors and a can of shaving cream.or go put up a soapbox in Harvard Square. Next year, he'll add the Rubik cube to his act.
January 16, 2010 at 12:34 am
Just as perplexing as a humanist chaplain. Maybe this is the sort that Harvard has? I sincerely don't know why people would bother to get an atheist or humanist chaplain. One would think a counselor would be enough..
January 16, 2010 at 2:11 am
He's not even an honest atheist; an honest atheist would resign his position as chaplain and find work.
— Mack
January 16, 2010 at 3:40 am
Personally, I think they are "lite" brights.
January 17, 2010 at 6:35 pm
The Dutch humanists have long ago fought to be awarded their own 'minister' or 'chaplain' compared to other denominations (which was at the time dominantly christian), as they too had their pastoral needs. In The Netherlands they are officially called "humanistisch geestelijk raadsman/raadsvrouw", which roughly translates to "humanist counselor". This is equivalent to the role this "humanist chaplain" Greg Epstein fulfills in his society. Part of the reason why Greg calls it "chaplain" instead of "counselor" is because of this emancipatory process of the humanists in the US asserting themselves. One can of course disagree with the naming, but one shouldn't overlook the reasons why it is named such, would you have less of a problem with it if it was named differently? I personally think it's good that there is a place at the university where non-theists can go to for existental questions.
Also consider:
"The title “Humanist Chaplain” is less important than the essence of the role. The role would involve a person living on or near a campus. This person’s responsibility would be to provide education, leadership and perhaps counseling to the members of that campus from a humanistic perspective. Alternate titles like “Campus Humanist Leader,” “Humanist Counselor,” “Humanist Celebrant,” or even “Humanist Campus Organizer” come to mind. "
http://www.secularstudents.org/node/1439
"Though originally chaplain was a Christian term it is also now applied to people in other religions filling the same role. In recent years many non-ordained persons have received professional training in chaplaincy and are now appointed as chaplains in schools, hospitals, universities, prisons and elsewhere to work alongside or instead of ordained chaplains.[1]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplain
[1] Norman, J. (2004). At The Heart of Education: School Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. Dublin: Veritas.
January 17, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Also see the list of Harvard:
http://chaplains.harvard.edu/chaplains.php
Humanism can be more then an anti-theistic or anti-religious lifestance and imo as such deserves it's own "chaplain", even though one can argue if this is the right term.
January 18, 2010 at 4:39 am
Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae
January 18, 2010 at 2:23 pm
The day has long since passed since anyone would expect harvard or its faculty to have anything meaningful to say regarding Christian faith and practice.
January 19, 2010 at 1:15 am
How about lesbian Rev. Diane Ragsdale, president and dean of The Episcopal Divinity School at Harvard
DianeDidn't the head of Harvard's Episcopalian School of Divinity declaring:
"These are two things I want you, please, to remember – abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done."