The chances are you've never met an atheist. However, if you've taken one of Dr. Arthur Dobrin's classes at Hofstra, you already have.
Dr. Dobrin, who has taught at Hofstra University for 20 years, has been an atheist all his life. He says, "An atheist says there is no God. An agnostic says one cannot know if there is a God. A non-theist says he or she brackets the question of God."
The Ethical Humanist Society, lead by Dr. Dobrin for 33 years, caters to both atheists and agnostics because it is a non-theistic religion based on humanism. Humanism is an ethical philosophy based on the ability of people to determine right from wrong without involving the supernatural or authority from religious texts. Therefore, humanism appeals to atheists and agnostics who question the existence of God because it does not take a position on the supernatural. Followers can choose whether they want to believe in a God or not. Dr. Dobrin said, "However, people who want to believe in God have many places to go." He continued, "Believers are welcome but the Society is haven for non-believers." The members of this non-theistic religion are dedicated improving the human condition through individual and collective action. They prove that you do not have to believe in a god to live an ethical life. http://www.ehsli.org/
There is controversy over the term religion. Dr. Dobrin said, ''Society members even disagree on whether their institution should be considered a religion or a philosophy." New York state credits the community as a non-profit organization. The Society is recognized as a religion in Texas and Washington D.C. Dr. Dobrin said, "What difference does it make what we are labeled. It depends on your definition of religion. What matters is the work we do and differences we make for the betterment of society."
The Society works at home and abroad. Locally, their Ethical Friends of Children project provides clothing and furniture to over 600 needy children each year and collect food for financially strapped families. On The Society's bereavement group Dr. Dobrin said, "Our Society emphasizes empathy because without empathy intellect doesn't get very far." They also push for equality and support gay rights. Dr. Dobrin said,"The religion can be broken down to right relationships." Meaning that all relationships between the living and even the environment are based on mutual respect. Suggesting these relationships extend abroad, Dr. Dobrin said, "We all must strive to be a responsible member of the human community." The Society formed a volunteer branch of Amnesty International and established the Kenya Fund.
Even with all the accomplishments of the Society, a phone survey conducted by the University of Minnesota, revealed that atheists are the least trusted minority group. Of the 2,000 participants 39.5 percent claimed that atheists do not share the values of American society.
However, America values itself as a melting pot of various cultures. Likewise, the Society was intended to be a melting pot of religion, to bring unity among various faiths. The Ethical Humanist movement was founded by Felix Adler in 1876. Adler did not set out to establish a new religion. Dr. Dobrin said, "He saw himself synthesizing all religions not founding a new one." Adler noted that most religions converged on the ideas of ethics but were divided by irrationally based beliefs of the supernatural. So by removing the supernatural aspect, Dr. Dobrin continued, "Adler was modernizing the form of religion for an increasingly rational and scientific thinking community."
Dr. Dobrin can be seen 11:00 a.m. each Sunday at the Society's 'platform' or service which is led by an expert of social reform. He said, "Newcomers are welcome." So stop in, they are located at 38 Old Country Road in Garden City.
Dr. Dobrin, who has taught at Hofstra University for 20 years, has been an atheist all his life. He says, "An atheist says there is no God. An agnostic says one cannot know if there is a God. A non-theist says he or she brackets the question of God."
The Ethical Humanist Society, lead by Dr. Dobrin for 33 years, caters to both atheists and agnostics because it is a non-theistic religion based on humanism. Humanism is an ethical philosophy based on the ability of people to determine right from wrong without involving the supernatural or authority from religious texts. Therefore, humanism appeals to atheists and agnostics who question the existence of God because it does not take a position on the supernatural. Followers can choose whether they want to believe in a God or not. Dr. Dobrin said, "However, people who want to believe in God have many places to go." He continued, "Believers are welcome but the Society is haven for non-believers." The members of this non-theistic religion are dedicated improving the human condition through individual and collective action. They prove that you do not have to believe in a god to live an ethical life. http://www.ehsli.org/
There is controversy over the term religion. Dr. Dobrin said, ''Society members even disagree on whether their institution should be considered a religion or a philosophy." New York state credits the community as a non-profit organization. The Society is recognized as a religion in Texas and Washington D.C. Dr. Dobrin said, "What difference does it make what we are labeled. It depends on your definition of religion. What matters is the work we do and differences we make for the betterment of society."
The Society works at home and abroad. Locally, their Ethical Friends of Children project provides clothing and furniture to over 600 needy children each year and collect food for financially strapped families. On The Society's bereavement group Dr. Dobrin said, "Our Society emphasizes empathy because without empathy intellect doesn't get very far." They also push for equality and support gay rights. Dr. Dobrin said,"The religion can be broken down to right relationships." Meaning that all relationships between the living and even the environment are based on mutual respect. Suggesting these relationships extend abroad, Dr. Dobrin said, "We all must strive to be a responsible member of the human community." The Society formed a volunteer branch of Amnesty International and established the Kenya Fund.
Even with all the accomplishments of the Society, a phone survey conducted by the University of Minnesota, revealed that atheists are the least trusted minority group. Of the 2,000 participants 39.5 percent claimed that atheists do not share the values of American society.
However, America values itself as a melting pot of various cultures. Likewise, the Society was intended to be a melting pot of religion, to bring unity among various faiths. The Ethical Humanist movement was founded by Felix Adler in 1876. Adler did not set out to establish a new religion. Dr. Dobrin said, "He saw himself synthesizing all religions not founding a new one." Adler noted that most religions converged on the ideas of ethics but were divided by irrationally based beliefs of the supernatural. So by removing the supernatural aspect, Dr. Dobrin continued, "Adler was modernizing the form of religion for an increasingly rational and scientific thinking community."
Dr. Dobrin can be seen 11:00 a.m. each Sunday at the Society's 'platform' or service which is led by an expert of social reform. He said, "Newcomers are welcome." So stop in, they are located at 38 Old Country Road in Garden City.
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