SECULAR MSU
THE ONLINE HEADQUARTERS OF MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY'S TWO PREMIER SECULAR ORGANIZATIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about our organizations? Want to know something about who we are and what we do? Curious about the secular lifestyle in general? Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive.
01
What is an atheist?
An atheist is any individual who does not believe in a god or gods. Atheists can vary wildly in political views and personal opinions, and two atheists may have absolutely nothing in common other than their lack of belief in gods. Atheism does not offer any moral code or present any guidelines for living life, so atheists are free to decide for themselves how they want to live their own lives and how to act in a responsible, moral manner.
02
Okay, so what is an agnostic?
An agnostic is any person who claims that the existence of a god or gods is a question that cannot be answered with certainty. Agnosticism is a stance or knowledge claim, whereas atheism is a philosophy that deals with non-belief. Every person in the world is either gnostic or agnostic AND either theistic or atheistic. The vast majority of atheists -- even Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris -- are also agnostics.
03
How are SORS and the MSU Freethinkers different?
SORS and the MSU Freethinkers are sister organizations, and as such they have many similarities (goals, ideas, etc.) and there is much overlap in membership. The primary distinction is that, while SORS deals primarily with issues concerning science and reason (e.g. science education, how science can be presented to the public, and the conflicts of science and religion), MSU Freethinkers is more concerned with philosophical arguments and discussion (e.g. is religion beneficial to society as a whole?).
04
When and where are the meetings?
SORS and Freethinkers both meet from 7:00-9:00 PM in Waterfield Library. The meeting days vary with each semester. As for Spring 2014, SORS meets every other Monday in room 211 and Freethinkers meets every other Wednesday in room 210. Check our schedule page for more details on events and location!
05
I am a religious individual. May I still come to the meetings?
Absolutely! Both SORS and the MSU Freethinkers encourage religious students to come to the meetings and share their ideas with the rest of the group. Be ready for a heated discussion, though. Things get pretty intense once people start disagreeing. But no worries, Officers will not allow things to get out of hand. Both SORS and MSU Freethinkers encourage an open and safe dialouge between individuals of opposing ideas. No personal attacks or ad hominem!