Deo S commented: "Humanists should emphasize what they believe in rather than what they do not believe.Humanists should not live like Protestants against beliefs but live like promoters of an alternative life stance."

I completely agree, as do so many other Humanists. Why must we sell out to the atheists just because they are simpler to understand to the uninitiated? Notoriety is as good as fame, I guess, and sells books for Dawkins..

The IHEU has been so careful in the past to define Humanism without adjectives, etc. yet "secular Humanism" remains the default meaning. Positive and inclusive Humanism has no champions. Clearly the IHEU is itself on the atheist bandwagon and really should consider changing its own name to the IAEU.

When Humanists are the ones who truly care about racism and world strife, they should not be associated with those picking religious fights, nor any fights whatsoever. Acrimony convinces nobody to be a Humanist.

Let the IHEU take up world federalism, work to end arms manufacturing, corruption and militarism and leave people's belief's about their place in the Universe as their own private matter - which it surely is.

Otherwise let's create a Humanist Union for those who prefer an inclusive approach to our own species, who wish to rationally represent it, and for whom the condition of the planet trumps religion as our proper study.

Over the past few months we have seen these internal battles between self-proclaimed humanists and atheists, each purporting to define either the movement or the underlying philosophies. On contextual consideration, all these skirmishes involve presumptive notions that are ill-posed.

If you think that Humanism must focus on some particular aspect of its mission, then it is up to you to take up the reins. Criticizing others for their area of interest is illogical.

Many atheists are becoming aware of the philosophical vacuum that atheism in its purest form entails. However, no human being subscribes to such a non-belief alone, unless one is a nihilist. Many atheists are also humanists. In promoting their atheism, they may wish to advance the philosophical structure needed to ensure that society will forge a moral path free of religious and other cultural dogmas. There is no dissonance in these views.

The key word here is pluralism. As long as we agree on the factual and the moral basis for our beliefs, the rest is politics. I believe that a pluralistic approach is not only beneficial, it is ESSENTIAL towards bringing the secular community together and towards eradicating cultural evils. Let us stop pointing fingers at others who subscribe to our worldview simply because we do not agree with their strategy in promoting it. Some of these people may have done more good for humanity (and for the philosophy of humanism) than many of us can ever hope to achieve in our lifetimes.

Part of the problem is that after decades of modern "Humanism" the vast majority of the world has no idea what it is or that it even exists as a philosophy. Atheists (at least in America) are looked upon, to put it in simple terms, as 'bad'. People already know the word atheist, and therefore it is important to associate it with Humanist. Hopefully the link between the good of Humanism can change the perception of the bad of Atheism.

About 6 years ago, when I first started looking for like minded people, I knew I was an Atheist, I knew my lifestance but I didn't know ANYTHING about Humanism or that it even existed. Why is that? Humanist organizations may have been trying to actively promote themselves for years, but it wasn't until the explosion of the "New" Atheism that propelled Humanism into the public's eye.

That doesn't sit well with many "old school" Humanists. I know the group I am associated with has many issues with young and old ideologies clashing when we go about bringing ourselves out to society in order to create a community. The Internet, with it's instantaneous collaboration and always on presence has changed the playing field substantially.

I classify myself an Atheist with regards to religion even though it is not one. I classify myself a Humanist with regards to my philosophy of life. Ask a non Humanist what their philosophy of life is and you'll get blank stares because so few know what the word is that classifies their lifestance. Ultimately I imagine you'll end up getting their religion as a response. There are "Humanists" in every religion. "Secular Humanism" or Atheistic Humanism if you will, must therefore be linked to religion in order for the religious to understand us and where we are coming from. Without that there can be very little understanding or dialogue.

Humanism is indeed a noble philosophy. But unprovoked, it will sit alone forever, reading it's philosophy books, keeping to itself, always asking wouldn't it be better for us to be good to each other for a change... Left alone, it will always be asking and pleading in a muted voice because the religious voice is so much louder. Leaving Humanism to Humanists would most likely keep it in the same impotent state that it has been in for so long.