Atheist Websites

[deity]

http://atheistalliance.org/aai/members.php

[deity]

PostPosted: 17 Apr 2007 10:20 pm
http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/against-god/2007/04/14/1175971410059.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

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starrlyly commented


I have to disagree with the idea of trying to convert everyone to atheism. I think that would be very dangerous. You, and I, and many others are able to be good, caring, ethical people without the threat of damnation. However, I don't think that's the case for a lot of people. It seems as though the only thing that keeps some people in line is a belief that they will be punished for their sins in the afterlife.
And even if that's not the case, there is the whole fear of death issue. It seems to me there are two main reasons for religion--to give people "morals" in order preserve our society and to lessen the fear of death. Why else would intelligent, even brilliant, people believe in a magical guy in the sky if not for their inability to accept the fact that they will one day cease to exist? Most people can't handle that. And I personally would never try to convince someone that they and everyone they love will some day be gone forever.

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deity replied

I get put in awkward positions almost daily where I"m expected to either tell people "BE ATHEISTS!" or I'm expected to never mention Atheism at all, or risk the barrage of religious zealots banging my every word into submission.

I find it disconcerning that the atheists with the same drive as the religious zealots don't think they're doing the same thing...but in fact, they are. They are force feeding an idiom at someone with as much power and as much "believe it or you're stupid" mentality as these people who I find absolutely offensive at these anti-abortion rallies. As a result, they get the opposite affect/effect. They're pushing people away from Atheism by making people buy into the stereotype that Atheism equals Anger.

When trying to sell Godless Grief, one of my potential publishers actually debated over the idea that the book wasn't manifesto enough. Are they seriously expecting a book on someone's pain should be a demand for a political stance? Probably. But I haven't the anger, nor the inclination.

In my ideal world there are no gods, and absolutely no religions. But I'm not an idiot, and neither are any of the folks on the board here. Neither are those in Australia, whom I love dearly and who have supported this book since day one. But, like me, they do see the point in doing every bit in making at least baby steps to getting to that ideal world.

Will we ever live in a world where people don't crave power, and try to enslave each other by words or deeds? I wish. But not likely. We're a sick little species. Every animal has a stance, territory, and an intrinsic desire to protect that. We are animals, so we do the same. We do it with words, and deeds, and money, but we also do it with gods and religious idioms.

So, I do tell people I'm Atheist, and I do state why, and if they want to be like me, cool, I won't yell at them. And if they don't, I pity the small sad world they're living in. In my world, there's a lot more openness to what is freedom, and what is truth, and what is valued from one human to the next. I don't hide any of that with anger. I hope most most of my co-atheists are the same.

Deity

[deity]

This is their SUBSTANTIAL listing of Humanist organizations. It is multinational, and it is quite fascinating just to read through.

http://www.iheu.org/contacts

[deity]

http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/qframe.htm