All across North America, atheists are stepping out. Billboards. Greeting cards. Community meet-ups and coffee dates. A holiday festival called “HumanLight“. Emboldened by the election of Barack Obama who, although a Christian, seems to espouse something approaching a rationalist worldview, nonbelievers are attempting to put their ‘beliefs’ into the mainstream. It’s all very fun and cozy. It’s also vaguely ridiculous.
I’m an atheist. For me, the non-belief in god/gods/magic is an intellectual choice. Not only do I reject the idea of religion, I also repudiate the functional trappings of organized religious activity. I seek no community of like-minded believers, and I don’t proselytize. Atheism is not the belief in non-belief. It is just non-belief. By definition, it cannot be the foundation of an organization designed to replace conventional religion.
Don’t misunderstand me- I’m all for atheists having the freedom to express their views in public, and have these views treated with the same respect accorded to the pious. But when atheists start imitating the structures and activities of organized religion- community events, festivals, creating a ’movement’- they betray their convictions. Atheism posits a world where morality and community can exist without religious dogma. Trying to pass off atheism as a substitute for religion is at best contradictory and at worst hypocritical.
So believe- or don’t believe- what you will. But don’t act like atheism is the thinking man’s religion. If you do, then you’re no longer an atheist.
In a country where fewer people would vote for an atheist than would vote for just about every ‘vulnerable group’, I can understand why some atheists feel the need to stand together.
I’m more with you than not on this subject.
Am particularly concerned about the creation of humanist or atheist churches which offer ceremonies or rites to celebrate marriage, birth, etc.
That is totally nonsensical to me.
Embarassing.
You’re right of course. Though, now I have to take back your Human Light gift for this year.
I totally agree with you and the idea of evangelical atheists both makes me cringe / laugh hysterically.
However, I kinda get the banding together idea, especially in some places where admitting to atheist views doesn’t exactly result in you getting warm hugs. I think there is something to at least asking “So what if I’m an atheist? Does that make me or my views less important than yours because you’re Christian/Jewish/Muslim/Jehovah’s Witness?”.
No matter how much we want to think otherwise “having religion” is seen as the norm.
If you wish to study a granfalloon, just remove the skin of a toy balloon.