Introducing Some Other NonProphets

August 20th, 2010 | Posted by: Chris Stedman

Hey folks! I’ve got a few big projects in the works right now (how vague and ambiguous…), so, to keep NonProphet Status fresh amidst my busyness, I’ve recruited a few worthy guest bloggers to populate it with content over the next few weeks. In the past, I’ve been honored to feature some pretty incredible guest posts from the likes of Tim Brauhn, Jessica Kelley, Nick Mattos, Sayira Khokar, Rory Fenton, Nate Mauger, Kate Fridkis, Andrew Fogle, Miranda Hovemeyer, Nat DeLuca, Mary Ellen Giess, Jeff Pollet, Joseph Varisco, Corinne Tobias, Vandana Goel LaClair, Nicholas Lang, and even my own Mom! We’ve also hosted original writing by Eboo Patel, August Brunsman, Hemant Mehta, Erik Roldan, and Emanuel Aguilar.

We’ve featured so many guest posters because NPS was never intended to be “Chris Stedman’s platform.” Rather, I wanted to create a forum for an alternative secular narrative. It’s why I initiated, organized and ran our first Share Your Secular Story contest. Featuring an amazing panel of judges that included the former head of Amnesty International USA and 2000 “Humanist of the Year” William Schulz, the contest inspired an influx of submissions from all across the United States and even across the globe, with entries from Ireland and Kenya and a story from one entrant’s childhood growing up in India.

In hosting the story contest and featuring so many guest bloggers, I’ve hoped to make NPS a place where a multitude of voices help define a new narrative for the secular community: one that respects the religious identities of others while remaining authentic to our own identities (be they secular, religious, or somewhere in-between).

I can’t wait to read along with you as this next diverse batch of guest bloggers continues to show us all a new way forward. I’m on the edge of my secular seat!

Posted by Chris Stedman

Filed in Blog News, Exclusive

27 Comments »

Hitch

Cannot wait for some positive stories myself, stories that don’t have to “otherize” atheists from within but are positive and inclusive. There are “alternative” narratives that do not have to point fingers. Some stories that are sensitive to the plights individual face, especially when they have a position or opinion that is not mainstream, tolerated or welcome. I hope that NPS will become more of that, more humane and indeed allows people to be authentic to their identity and not be shamed or asked to deny it, not only but especially if it is an identity that is socially stigmatized and keeps many in the closet.

Perhaps NPS can show how to participate in blasphemy day in a positive way. Celebrate those who have spoken frankly and paid for it a price. And highlight that even today we still have the same problem that one can not necessarily speak honestly. Positive secularism that is socially responsible, by advocating for the safety of the challenging views, not just the comforting ones. Advocating for peace and non-violence for everybody, not just those who have agreeable positions. Advocate for love for the stranger, even if, perhaps especially when you disagree. Positive secularism with a spine and a heart for the other. Positive secularism that lives empathy, even for those pesky atheists. I cannot wait.
Pingback: A Call to (Open) Arms « NonProphet Status
@Hitch

I cannot wait for Hitch to reveal its identity! Hitch is such a COWARD for posting personal attacks at Stedman EVERY. DAY. and not having the courage to identify itself. Maybe because you’re someone who has a personal axe to grind? Lose the victim narrative and make some positive suggestions to the dialogue, otherwise you sound like my 7 year old when he gets in a fight: “HE HIT ME BACK! WAAAAH!” Still hiding behind the internet? Still? I predict that Hitch will not write rambling diatribes against the guest posters nearly as long as those it churns out for Stedman.
- Hitch
  
  If you don’t want to deal with the content, why not attack the person, eh?
  
  But my personal safety is more important than to speak, so yes, if you want to shut me up, just keep trying to out me. That’s how intimidation and character attacks work.
  
  If Chris wants me to write a guest blog entry I’d be happy to. I really would be very happy to talk about how to do inclusive interfaith work. How to build bridges, and how to foster tolerance. I think there is lots to be said about it.
  
  I have no personal axe to grind, but I do have an issue if people stereotype atheists. I do not attack Chris Stedman, I articulate my disagreements with his views and specifically when these views are stereotypical of atheists. If you have a disagreement with what I say, just articulate that disagreement. That’s quite enough. All this ad hominem that you pave way for is not it.
  
  As for your prediction. I have answered extensively to a number of guest blogs on here if you check, so your second guessing my supposed intentions is just plain wrong already. No I respond to views not people, no matter how much you may try to mischaracterize my intent.
  
  Glad to know you have the safety of anonymity. I think you deserve it, just as much as anybody does. We should be judged for our arguments. How about you try that?
@Hitch

How can a person who won’t reveal their public identity do interfaith bridge building work? You cannot possibly have done as much interfaith work as Stedman if you’re hiding in an atheist foxhole, waiting for the culture wars to stop. That requires doing face to face work in the real world, not offering up opinions in the post section of a blog. One cannot be outed, intimidated, or have your character attacked if YOU’RE JUST WORDS ON A SCREEN. You hypocrite! People like Stedman are ACTUALLY out there, in the flesh, being intimidated and attacked. Maybe you live in Waziristan, but if you live in America you should enact your first amendment rigths. If you don’t feel like you are being protected under The Law, call the ACLU and the police.
- Hitch
  
  I’m glad you are so concerned for my safety, well not really. But I didn’t really expect differently when you started goading me.
  
  And an anonymous person calling another anonymous person a hypocrite is ironic. But It’s not worth dwelling on.
  
  If words are not enough, what is. If you dislike what I say, point it out and engage. But as said, you decided it’s best to go after me, rather than engage with the points I raise. I want no harm for Chris and I have never denied clarifying or backing what I say. I stand by that standard.
  
  Yes Chris is taking a risk calling others akin to white supremacists, but so have the people he labeled. My call has been to stop the negative labeling. If you do not like that message. I am very sorry. But it is I think a very honest and fair message.
Pingback: How Humanism Became a Religion at Stanford « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Knowing Religion, and Why It Matters « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Major Distractions: I Know You Are, But Who Are We? « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Should atheists and Christians build mosques? | blogging is hard
Pingback: I’m a Bad Atheist « NonProphet Status
Pingback: You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Asshole « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Common Ground in the Non-Religious Movement? « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Without a Prayer: My Not Very Religious Family Marks an Important Chapter « NonProphet Status
Pingback: On Godless Heathens « NonProphet Status
Pingback: An Empirical Quest to Discover… Feelings and Emotions « NonProphet Status
Pingback: October Speaking and Travel « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Coming (and Being) “Out” as a Spiritual Path « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Atheism’s Happy Family « NonProphet Status
Pingback: The Assault on Dialogue: Thoughts on Park51 « NonProphet Status
Pingback: A Place at the Table « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Tell Bill Maher About a Mohamed « NonProphet Status
Pingback: The Gay Divide « NonProphet Status
Pingback: LGBTQ Find Unexpected Hope in Interfaith « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Why the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Needs Religion « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Talking the ‘Hereafter’ With Atheists and Believers « NonProphet Status
Pingback: Redefining America’s Religious Tradition « NonProphet Status