Religion and Ethics Forum
Religion and Ethics Discussion => Theism and Atheism => Topic started by: Walt Zingmatilder on January 12, 2019, 08:47:33 AM
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The acknowledgement by RationalWiki of a "Skeptisphere" and the observation of a group called the New Atheists kinda tells us there are but I know some prefer to think there isn't ........although I wonder whether that isn't the character flaw of not wanting to reveal your identity.
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Well, of course there is (though I hate that weasel-word "community"). As Jesus didn't quite say, "where two or three are gathered together not in my name, there I'm not amongst them."
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Well, of course there is (though I hate that weasel-word "community"). As Jesus didn't quite say, "where two or three are gathered together not in my name, there I'm not amongst them."
What has Jesus got to do with atheist communities? Although now you mention it I wonder whether atheists get a warm feeling when they hear the name Dawkins?
So atheists, how do you feel at the name of Dawkins?
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So atheists, how do you feel at the name of Dawkins?
I feel nothing in particular, since it isn't my name: I respond differently though when I hear 'Gordon'.
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Blimey. I've seen dogs give up on bones more quickly than you do with this topic.
I can't speak for others but I have only ever been to one meeting vaguely connected with the umbrella term you appear to use for anyone who expresses the slightest doubt on the subject of religion. That was for a meeting organised by Skeptics in the pub or some such title.
It was full of what appeared to be generally well-meaning types who would normally be found in the real ale pub it was being held in anyway. Was it a community? Possibly a CAMRA card carrying one.
I never went back, wasn't my thing. The only interaction as an atheist I have is with some of my friends and people on here. So for me, there really isn't one.
I don't rely on Lawrence Krauss or RD or anyone else for my views on atheism. It feels to me internal, I suspect rather like religion does to others. I'm not saying it is a matter of faith, rather that I cannot accept the obvious (to me) failings and flaws in the thoughts of you and others who continue to try to persuade me of the rightness of your cause. I purposely use the word "cause" as you clearly have an agenda to promote.
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I feel nothing in particular, since it isn't my name: I respond differently though when I hear 'Gordon'.
Yes, I think of Gin...then Thunderbirds.
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Blimey. I've seen dogs give up on bones mare quickly than you do with this topic.
I've just posted this thread!
Thanks for replying Mr T.
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I prefer the term "humanist", as being mopre positive - expressing what you're for, not what you're against - and consider myself one, even though I'm a practising anglican (I hope to get the hang of it one day - my standard joke). I am thinking of re-joining 'Humanists UK'.
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I prefer the term "humanist", as being mopre positive - expressing what you're for, not what you're against - and consider myself one, even though I'm a practising anglican (I hope to get the hang of it one day - my standard joke). I am thinking of re-joining 'Humanists UK'.
But not all atheists are humanists (I'm not a humanist), and not all humanists are atheists (as you have shown) so not sure what point there is in introducing a different term.
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But not all atheists are humanists (I'm not a humanist), and not all humanists are atheists (as you have shown) so not sure what point there is in introducing a different term.
Why aren't you a humanist?
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Why aren't you a humanist?
If we take the most current definition, it's because I'm not a believer in the idea of a world view, I'm not a philosophical naturalist, I'm doubtful of rationality's role in morality as being that clear, and I think it leads to exceptionalism as opposed to other species.
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The previously mentioned Matthew Dillahunty belongs to an Atheist community, used to head it up.
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The previously mentioned Matthew Dillahunty belongs to an Atheist community, used to head it up.
Yes he was the chairman of the atheist community of Austin (Texas).
It's a phone in show and they take calls mainly from theists.
In the US, it's quite unusual to be open about being an atheist, which looks a bit odd to us, but still enjoyable to watch sometimes.
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A polite request: Could someone please add an n in the title to make it an atheist? This will save me having to listen to Synthetic Dave reading it as is which grates on the ears!
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Hi Susan
MOD'S VOICE
I have changed that for you. It doesn't change the title within each post that have already been posted, but it changes the title for the thread and the title on any subsequent posts.
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Hi Susan
MOD'S VOICE
I have changed that for you. It doesn't change the title within each post that have already been posted, but it changes the title for the thread and the title on any subsequent posts.
Thank you for doing that. I am only affected by the title on the table that is presented when I click on 'Show new posts since ...'
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Well, of course there is (though I hate that weasel-word "community"). As Jesus didn't quite say, "where two or three are gathered together not in my name, there I'm not amongst them."
I don't like the idea of a community, can imagine few things worse than being part of a community.
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I don't like the idea of a community, can imagine few things worse than being part of a community.
So you have never had a good laugh with friends, and enjoyed it? Because that is a community.
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Yes, loosely. I wasn't thinking of community in that way. Being precise, I am biologically part of a community. My colleagues and I work for a particular community, we serve them but are not part of it. What I don't like is the idea of being tied to a group of people with a label. R&E is an online community of which I'm a member but if I stopped posting nobody would come knocking on my door.
Probably not explained very well. Not important anyway.
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R&E is an online community of which I'm a member but if I stopped posting nobody would come knocking on my door.
Don't be too sure of that!
Why do you think LR keeps coming back?
Mwahahaha......... 8)
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So you have never had a good laugh with friends, and enjoyed it? Because that is a community.
No, it isn't - it's a group of friends. "Communities" are always people who take themselves far too seriously.
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"Communities" are always people who take themselves far too seriously.
That seems like a bit of a sweeping statement, given that "communities" is used for such a wide range of disparate groups.
So which take themselves too seriously?
The mining community.
The Iona community.
The scientific community.
The LGBTQ community.
Communities of circumstance.
Communities of interest.
Retirement communities.
.....and on and on.
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Is there actually a defined atheist society or organisation in the UK - genuine question as I'm not sure.
There are certainly secular organisations (e.g. NSS) - but secularism does not equal atheism and there are plenty of religious people who believe strongly in secularism.
There are humanist organisations (e.g. BHA) - but again humanism does not equal atheism and there is a strong tradition of religious humanist thinking.
There are sceptic organisations - but again scepticism does not equal atheism (although perhaps most sceptics are atheist) and scepticism extends well beyond the sphere of religion/belief in god.
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This one?
https://www.atheismuk.com/
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https://www.atheismuk.com/
Membership, website, meetings, forum .. I'd say it counts as a community.
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https://www.atheismuk.com/
Membership, website, meetings, forum .. I'd say it counts as a community.
Interesting article by Anna Gonzales - thank you for posting.
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Is there actually a defined atheist society or organisation in the UK - genuine question as I'm not sure.
There are certainly secular organisations (e.g. NSS) - but secularism does not equal atheism and there are plenty of religious people who believe strongly in secularism.
Despite the name, I'm not entirely confident that its aims are to promote secularism rather than atheism.
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Despite the name, I'm not entirely confident that its aims are to promote secularism rather than atheism.
What the NSS?
I'd have thought it's aims are entirely secular rather than atheistic.
'We campaign for a secular state in which all citizens are free to practise their faith, change it, or have no faith at all. We promote secularism as the surest guarantor of religious freedom and the best means to foster a fair and open society, in which people of all religions and none can live together as equal citizens.'
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This one?
https://www.atheismuk.com/
Thanks ... never heard of them before.
Wonder if there are any of the atheists here who are members?
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Thanks ... never heard of them before.
Wonder if there are any of the atheists here who are members?
I listened to the various comments and to the end of the article, but since the last contribution on what seems to be the forum was 2017(?) , they don't seem to be very active! What do you think?
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I listened to the various comments and to the end of the article, but since the last contribution on what seems to be the forum was 2017(?) , they don't seem to be very active! What do you think?
They are described as a micro company - their account suggest turnover of perhaps a couple of thousand pounds, which suggests they have membership of less than 100 people.
So they may be an atheist community, but a teeny, tiny one - given that there are perhaps 10 million (maybe more) atheists in the UK, their hit rate doesn't seem great ;)
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On the whole there can't be much that atheists have to discuss between themselves not covered by non-atheist specific sites. Hence, possibly, the posts about reopening the forum to the religious.
On this forum new topics on atheism itself are very rare - we just get the same set of repeated arguments on the Searching for God thread.
If there is no "god", does it matter at all? You can attempt to dissuade believers, but if faith is not based on reason, to what end?
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What the NSS?
I'd have thought it's aims are entirely secular rather than atheistic.
In the past I've read stories on there that seem to promote atheism rather than secularism. It's fair to say though, that I've been to the site just now and can't find any - even in the opinion section - that fit that description.
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I can't see there being an "atheist community" as atheists do not have a set of rules and/or a shared belief that they publicly demand, or try to get others, to change their views to .
Atheists are atheists and unless pushed don't give a tu'penny damn what others believe or do not believe.
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In the past I've read stories on there that seem to promote atheism rather than secularism. It's fair to say though, that I've been to the site just now and can't find any - even in the opinion section - that fit that description.
Perhaps you've been spending too much time listening to Vlad - you'll be describing the NSS as anti-theists next ;)
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Perhaps you've been spending too much time listening to Vlad - you'll be describing the NSS as anti-theists next ;)
Oh Goddess - I bloody hope not!
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Why aren't you a humanist?
I'm a misanthrope . Does that help ?