Marilyn Westfall
Marilyn Westfall is a former board member of the American Humanist Association and previous director of First Unitarian Universalist Church in Lubbock. Along with Michael Jones, she co-founded The Eloquent Atheist (still archived online @ http://www.eloquentatheist.com/ She has written and published on issues surrounding faith, humanism, and Unitarian Universalism; she also writes poetry and essays.
Aside from Dr. King, which religious and/or humanist leaders have had a major impact on American politics or culture?
Carl Sagan. I can’t think of another scientist who could share a sense of wonder and celebration with the American public as he did, especially with his television series “Cosmos.” As a young person who watched that show and its reruns, I remember being moved to tears at times, given the chance to contemplate the [...]
Do those who have rejected traditional religion need something to replace it?
One answer to this question has been offered by none other than Sam Harris, author of “The End of Faith” who has encouraged more research into and practice of “spirituality.” Near the conclusion of “The End of Faith” Harris writes: “At the core of every religion lies an undeniable claim about the human condition; it [...]
How did your humanism shape — or reshape — you in 2011?
In the past year, humanism helped me navigate difficult personal situations, especially regarding the health and wellbeing of family members. My sister, for instance, needed attention after suffering a post-surgical stroke. Seeing how debilitated she was by that tragic incident at fifty-one years old was a stark reminder of the fragile hold we have on [...]
Why is music central to Christmas — or any religious story?
Music and spiritual expression go hand-in-hand. The Greeks gave us the Muses, and one was Polyhymnia who inspired religious songs. The Native Americans developed intricate rhythm and vocal expressions for their ceremonies. Buddhists use singing bowls or bells to begin and end meditations. As someone who has experience in theater, I find that music underscores [...]
Should sexual immorality disqualify an otherwise capable candidate?
This question feels familiar, given that we’ve recently discussed accusations of sexual impropriety leveled at Herman Cain, which led him to suspend his campaign. What registers to me, given the focus on this kind of subject matter, is that the media and maybe the American public finds it easier (or more entertaining) to debate a [...]
God, Dogmatism, and Morality
“God, at least the God we used to worship, can now be recognized as a device of the human imagination. Morality, it follows, is equally a human invention. Common sense must replace the scriptures and the priesthood as the validator of our moral code. And why not? Part of the modern humanist ethic is the [...]
Raising Cain? Proceed with Caution
The question “Should Herman Cain’s Accusers Step Forward?” is being answered by the actions of women who are, perhaps reluctantly, making their way into the media glare. This is the case with Karen Kraushaar who received a settlement from the National Restaurant Association in the late 1990s, after allegedly being harassed by Cain. Her name [...]
Baylor’s Wave III Religion Survey
Question: How do you interpret [Baylor’s] data about the supremacy of a strong, loving relationship with God? From what I see, the survey data is somewhat confounding. According to the survey, those without a college education and without great economic resources have more than twice the number of reported mental health events than those with good [...]