Should atheists organize and meet? If so, what would the purpose be?

brian thomson www

This is already happening – it’s long past the “should we?” stage. Here in Ireland there are specific issues that are being tackled, most recently re-working of Blasphemy laws.

This is a country that is very confused about religion: it’s “in the water” and most people don’t even think about it, which makes it interesting for a foreigner and atheist such as myself. Not in a negative way, since the “established” nature of religion means there’s little perceived need to evangelise, but atheists are seen as “a bit weird”.

So, one reason to organise and meet up is to counter lazy journalism and the “established wisdom” (i.e. subtle bigotry) offered by clergy about atheists. (Catholic priests are about as knowledgeable about atheism as they are about sex: all they know about it, they’ve learned from other Catholic priests, and no-one has any practical experience of it!)

logicel

I would suggest for them to come with me to the meeting and see for themselves what is talked about and what happens at such meetings.

If they refused to do that, then I would answer that atheists are people who like to meet with other people with whom they can discuss their interests. Though atheism is just a lack of belief, atheists live in a world dominated by religious beliefs which presents various level of difficulties for atheists. It is a positive feeling to be around people who can understand that a lack of belief is a rare thing in this world and that the people who have no belief can miss the sense of social connection that religious believers take for granted.

In addition, their questions may have an underlying paranoid basis – they might be concerned that atheists are ‘plotting’ to enslave the religious (hence my suggestion of inviting them to an atheist meet-up).

You could point out that their question implies that atheists do not share the common human characteristic of sociability and that atheists are not shut out in a predominately religious world.

Dave Hitt www

Strong friendships are often formed on one trivial thing people have in common. I’ve made great friends with people because we shared a love of cigars, or a particular kind of music, or some other unimportant thing. Atheism should be as trivial as a disbelief in Santa. The only thing that makes it important is theist’s constant interference in our lives.

I’m fairly active in an atheist Meetup, The Capital Region Atheists & Agnostics The only thing we all have in common is a lack of beliefs in gods and a strong skeptical streak. The member’s politics, taste in art and pop culture, and ideas about, well, everything, are all over the place, which makes for fascinating conversation. Every one I’ve attended has given me some new idea to ponder or new point of view to consider.

Although when a Believer pooh-poohs the idea of atheists getting together and dismissively asks what we do at meets, I usually give them a smart-ass reply: First we have a meal of baby-back ribs, made from real babies. Then we shoot heroin into our eyeballs to prepare for the orgy.

Eshu www

In general I think atheist meetings are more worthwhile in a mostly religious environment. If everyone was atheist then they’d obviously be no need to meet up and form atheist groups, we’d just get on with whatever other activities we enjoy or need to get done.

Atheist groups can be a good way to campaign for secular goals, like ending religious discrimination.

They can also support those who are having doubts about religion or going through the painful process of de-conversion.

Others may wish to meet with fellow atheists to debate/discuss other people’s crazy beliefs and how to help them.

So in the absence of a strong religious background, it’s arguable that atheist groups are unnecessary. Well, that’s my take on it, anyway.

I’m a member of a local humanist group and I sometimes wonder what we’re hoping to achieve with our meetings. The country I live in (England) is not particularly religious (compared to some), so although there are pockets of religious bigotry and misuse of state money for religious aims, it’s rare that we’d suffer discrimination. We generally have a bit of a chat about politics, religious bigotry, faith schools, freedom of speech (say in relation to those Danish cartoons), that sort of thing.