and I'm not sure they're the key ones. Because even if the strict, literal meanings of "humanism" and "atheism plus" were the same -- which I don't think they are -- the reality is that the words "atheism" and "humanism" have come to imply substantially different things. They have different associations. Different vibes. As my middle school English teacher would say, the connotations have significant differences, even if the denotations are very similar. Like it or not, atheism and humanism are perceived very differently -- both within the broader godless/ secularist/ whatever you want to call it movement, and outside of it. Like it or not, the reality is that "atheism" is generally perceived as being more confrontational. More defiant. More in-your-face. More about visibility. More actively opposed to religion. More actively engaged in trying to persuade religious believers out of it. Humanism, on the other hand, is generally perceived as more diplomatic. More easy-going. Less interested in debating differences, and more interested in finding common ground. More accepting of religion and religious believers, as long as they accept us. More interested in doing interfaith/ alliance work with believers. All of these qualities are important and valuable. But they are not the same qualities. People who are inspired by the goals and methods and styles of atheism are not always going to be inspired by the goals and methods and styles of humanism... and vice versa. Atheism is a slap in the face that wakes people up. Humanism holds people's