The Constructive Secular Forum (CSF) is
- A virtual Forum, attempting to primarily provide a community, information, analysis and rational discussion opportunities for secularists
- Secular, in the sense that it promotes critical thinking, an openly secular lifestyle, and normalizing secularism, while challenging invalid religious claims and its disproportionate influence
- Constructive, as it values diversity and civil discourse at all times. There is no value in deriding people who disagree with you. Having said that, we will take strong positions against religion when that is required. Taking a strong position and being constructive are not mutually exclusive; it’s all about how the discourse is conducted.
More Specific Objectives of the CSF
- To provide a secular community
- To share relevant news for secularists and provide brief commentary on that
- To publish original content on a variety of relevant topics
- To encourage constructive debate about any of these topics
- To promote critical thinking
- To promote an openly secular lifestyle
- To help normalize secularism and destigmatize terms (like atheist), which have been very effectively stigmatized by religion
- To be available for assistance to people trying to heal from the impact of religion or struggling to escape religion. We don’t evangelize, we just know first hand how hard this road can be with all the social pressure and condemnation
- To help search for new and better solutions for our challenges, with a focus on Morality.
Ground Rules
- Anybody is welcome to participate, as long as they follow the ground rules
- Stay constructive and civil at all times. There is no point in personal insults, name-calling and generally being obnoxious towards anybody
- If you are offended by this Website, you have the choice of engaging us in constructive debate or to move along
- We suggest you approach discussions on this Forum like personal conversations with guests in your living room.
- Nothing and nobody is above rational scrutiny
- There is obviously an overlap between secular, religious and political topics. Consequently, we will cover some topics that are politically related. However, we request people to refrain from all-out party-political discussions and the outrage and name-calling typical in the public discourse. There are many other forums where you can do that to your heart’s content. We will focus on the influence of religion in politics, the separation of Church and State, relevant legislation (or proposed legislation), discrimination against people (like atheists, LGBTQ+, and many others).
- Stay on topic. This is not a space for preaching, promoting your business or a political party
- Constructive feedback, suggested topics for articles and ideas for improvement will always be welcomed and considered
- Although this Forum is primarily aimed at providing a secular community, theists are also welcome to participate, as long as they follow the same ground rules
- An additional reminder for theists, that faith-based arguments (like quoting your specific scriptures) have no rational value and therefore no place here. On the other hand, rational and civil arguments are always welcome.
