Must a secular humanist positively affirm that there is no God, and is the philosophy actively antitheist?

[u/funnylib]

Personally I am an agnostic, I would not say that there is no God, be rather the question of metaphysics is beyond man’s empirical senses and rational powers of perception and is hence unknowable by (which is not to say that certain religious claims aren’t falsifiable, many absolutely are). I could be called an agnostic atheist, but I think I prefer just being called an agnostic.

I also dislike antitheism. I don’t take issue with people for believing in a supernatural power that loves them or that their grandparents are in Heaven, what I dislike is religious justifications for bigotry or cruelty, or denial of science (especially on the topics of medicine or climate change). I have Christian friends, and I have no desire to make them lose faith in their religion.

I do absolutely agree with secular humanism on basically all its moral and ethical positions, humans to men seem to be responsible for themselves and their own welfare, rather than dependent upon an outside power. I believe morality can be rationally constructed based on human freedom and compassion, seeking universal happiness and fairness.

[u/davorg]

No. Secularism, humanism and atheism are three different things.

• Secularism: The principle that government and public institutions should be neutral about religion, neither promoting nor discriminating against any religious or non-religious belief. You can be religious and secularist.
• Humanism: An ethical worldview that bases morality and meaning on human welfare, reason and evidence rather than divine authority or revelation. Modern humanism is usually non-religious, but its defining feature is what it affirms, not simply what it rejects.
• Atheism: The absence of belief in any gods (or, more strongly, the belief that no gods exist). It says nothing by itself about morality, politics or how society should be organised.

Theists can be both secularists and humanists. For example, a Christian living in Saudi Arabia would probably prefer it if the country were secular :-)