Nice perspective! I, too, have been bothered that any time I bring up that I am atheist it often leads to confrontation that I don't want and yet feel obliged to engage in. I do feel wonder and awe and deeply spiritual feelings, that I know are deeply rooted in my psyche and are part of being human... a phenomenum that on one hand I know can be explained through biology and evolution, but on the other hand I enjoy this feeling of connectedness to the universe. I don't want to give up either perspective and don't think I have to. Humanism may be a good answer, a good category to classify myself as. Thanks Cadell!
It's true. To combat this the New Atheist movement came up with the term "Bright", but it hasn't caught on. I feel as though Bright is a nice term but could be seen as extremely condescending. I think the term humanism works so well because it is such a positive descriptor AND you can represent core values that all humans should respect and strive for. If someone is actively against the health, wealth, and well-being of all humans... than I really wouldn't want to be associating with them anyway!any time I bring up that I am atheist it often leads to confrontation that I don't want and yet feel obliged to engage in.