Deripsni, Atheists rarely agree on much; hence the analogy "organising atheists is like herding cats" is very apt. There is a whole body of science, literature, and philosophy that atheist forums regular chew over. In fact, if there was a scripture chase here on Mind's Eye, my money is on one of the atheists winning it. The Bible is fascinating.
You will find atheists do rally to some causes. For example, I am a member of National Secular Society and the British Humanist Association and both are motivated to act on issues like: - State-funded faith schools - Religious education in schools - Teaching of science in schools - Creationism and Intelligent Design - Religious discrimination in the workplace - Theocratic incursions into our secular justice system - Religious privilege and the giving of tax revenues to religious organisations - Sexual health issues - Medical issues - Religious incursions into the 3rd or emerging world - Religious privilege in the political process - Censorship, freedom of speech, free of expression Ian 2009/7/30 deripsni <[email protected]> > > This is all good, but I wonder why a group had to be formed if they > really have no platform other than "I don't believe in God". Why not > just say the words and leave it at that? Being ignorant of the extent > or full essence of Atheism, I have to wonder what Atheists have to > talk about as it relates to "God", as without the belief by others in > such, there would be no reason for their existance. From my way of > looking at it, if I claimed to be an Atheist, all I would have to talk > about is the seeming naivette of believers because they cannot offer > scientific proof for their belief. This does not seem to be an > interesting passtime to me, but like I said, I do not know much about > it. > > On Jul 30, 9:43 am, Ian Pollard <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Lee, > > > > I'll try my best... > > > > The theist makes a positive assertion about the existence of God. An > atheist > > is someone who does not accept the theist's claim; thus they are an > > "a"-theist. Atheism is therefore only the absence of that theistic > belief. > > An atheist does not claim to know that God does not exist, only that the > > arguments presented in favour, thus far, are insufficient hold such a > > belief. > > > > Positively asserting that "there is no God" is further than any sensible > > atheist would go. An "in joke" that demonstrates this very well is the > > chapter of Richard Dawkin's 'The God Delusion' entitled 'Why There Almost > > Certainly Is No God'. I could well believe that the nuances of this were > > lost on some people, but there's no semantic word fuckery going on; this > is > > really what atheism is. > > > > What you continually describe, I think, is some form of escalated "strong > > atheism" or obnoxious forum trolling. I've started to wonder whether this > > particular kind of atheism only exists on Internet forums to antagonise > > theists (see Chazwin's posts). In a sensible discussion I don't know any > > atheist who would support such a position, hence I say your assertions > about > > atheism lead you only to a strawman. > > > > Look at the atheists you chat with here Mind's Eye; do I, Chris, Fran, or > > anyone else, claim "there is no God"? > > > > Ian > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
