"Living the Secular Life", Phil Zuckerman on Atheists Talk #293, December 14, 2014

When we talk about how nonreligious people negotiate ethics and morality, we often speak theoretically--in terms of the sources of morality--or anecdotally--about people we know who provide examples to counter stereotypes of both believers and nonbelievers. Why do we do this? Much of the reason is that we haven't had good data to work with. Until recently, very few people studied nonbelievers.

Phil Zuckerman helped to change this when he founded the country's first Department of Secular Studies at Pitzer College. He has continued to change the discussion around nonbelievers with his recent book, Living the Secular Live: New Answers to Old Questions. From the publisher's description:

Drawing on innovative sociological research, Living the Secular Life illuminates this demographic shift with the moral convictions that govern secular individuals, offering crucial information for religious and nonreligious alike. Living the Secular Life reveals that, despite opinions to the contrary, nonreligious Americans possess a unique moral code that allows them to effectively navigate the complexities of modern life. Spiritual self-reliance, clear-eyed pragmatism, and an abiding faith in the Golden Rule to adjudicate moral decisions, such common principles—among others—are shared across secular society. Living the Secular Life demonstrates these principles in action and points to their usage throughout daily life.

Interview:
http://mnatheists.org/news-and-media/podcast/1021-living-the-secular-life-phil-zuckerman-on-atheists-talk-293-december-14-2014