More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops

[dtotire]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/us/27atheist.html?hp


More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: April 26, 2009

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Two months after the local atheist organization here put up a billboard saying “Don’t Believe in God? You Are Not Alone,” the group’s 13 board members met in Laura and Alex Kasman’s living room to grapple with the fallout.

Loretta Haskell, a board member of the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry, is also a church musician. “I am not one of the humanists who feels that religion is a bad thing,” she said.


The problem was not that the group, the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry, had attracted an outpouring of hostility. It was the opposite. An overflow audience of more than 100 had showed up for their most recent public symposium, and the board members discussed whether it was time to find a larger place.

And now parents were coming out of the woodwork asking for family-oriented programs where they could meet like-minded nonbelievers.


“Is everyone in favor of sponsoring a picnic for humanists with families?” asked the board president, Jonathan Lamb, a 27-year-old meteorologist, eliciting a chorus of “ayes.”

More than ever, America’s atheists are linking up and speaking out — even here in South Carolina, home to Bob Jones University, blue laws and a legislature that last year unanimously approved a Christian license plate embossed with a cross, a stained glass window and the words “I Believe” (a move blocked by a judge and now headed for trial).

They are connecting on the Internet, holding meet-ups in bars, advertising on billboards and buses, volunteering at food pantries and picking up roadside trash, earning atheist groups recognition on adopt-a-highway signs.


more at link.

[Lorien]

1. I always wondered when the switch happened to begin with

Growing up in Ohio in the 70's I knew many atheists. Mt parents were most of their friends were, the faculty at my school were. It wasn't "hip" to be a born again...and now most people I know up there ARE born agains, or at least won't talk about their lack of belief. I suppose that it started with Reagan and the Right Wing's stranglehold on our media.

[Buzz Clik]

2. The atheist movement is gaining a lot of momentum!

An overflow audience of more than 100 had showed up for their most recent public symposium, and the board members discussed whether it was time to find a larger place.

And now parents were coming out of the woodwork asking for family-oriented programs where they could meet like-minded nonbelievers.

"Is everyone in favor of sponsoring a picnic for humanists with families?" asked the board president, Jonathan Lamb, a 27-year-old meteorologist, eliciting a chorus of "ayes."

Maybe they could rent an old church or build one of their own. Oh, wait...

Atheists are starting to sound a lot like Presbyterians -- a social based organization with little or no religious affiliation.

[enlightenment]

3. Unitarians, you mean?

Most of the Presbyterians I know would dispute your characterization. I suppose if you're comparing them to a fundy group . . .

I'm an atheist and the idea of 'belonging' doesn't sit too easily - but I don't think this is the beginning of an organizational movement. Perhaps more of a reaction to being marginalized for many, many years. There is safety in numbers, as any marginalized group can attest, and while I don't think that the vast majority of atheists are concerned with physical harm, it can be very difficult and isolating to be surrounded by people who believe that you are not only wrong, but fundamentally flawed.

Organizing atheists would be as futile as herding cats - too many opinions!

[Buzz Clik]

4. It was a tease directed at Presbies, but Unitarians may be more fitting.

It strikes me as funny that some atheists keep looking for a sense of belonging when their only common thread is they don't belong (religion-wise).

I recognize that various Christian groups in this country (and other religious groups in other countries) keep trying to impose their morals into governing, but you don't have to be an atheist to hate that.

[enlightenment]

5. Can't disagree, though there are so many

varieties of non-believers that it's probably too broad a brush to call them all atheists - and many would reject that label in any case.

Personally, I put the organization of atheists in about the same category as university 'anarchist clubs' . . . pretty much an oxymoron. Can't speak for anyone else.

[elshiva]

10. It may be an oxymoron, but I am glad that there are forums

or groups for people to talk and socialize. One of the things I miss about church is coffee hour and picnics.

[roguevalley]

7. I've known aethiests always especially in my family but the religious

right shitheads are responsible for a lot of people looking around. too bad that dumbasses have made it hard for everyone of good faith. There are millions of people who believe and don't hold extremist views.

I love the idea of a picnic. I miss community. :)

[robinlynne]

6. cool. I was watching religilous yesterday and a stat jumped at me from the film:.

There are more atheists in the US than blacks or jews or so many other minority groups, and yet we have no voice. I never looked at it that way before, but it makes sense.

[Occam Bandage]

8. An organized atheist movement having every aspect of a religion but a God would be

a fantastic thing for this country. Atheism has difficulty attracting otherwise-receptive people on two fronts: people would miss their church/religious community, and they appreciate the moral clarity of their church. For atheism to flex political muscle as a movement, it needs to be a true social movement and not simply a collection of individuals.

[immoderate]

9. My group -- Talkin' 'Bout My Group...

This sums it up:

They are connecting on the Internet, holding meet-ups in bars, advertising on billboards and buses, volunteering at food pantries and picking up roadside trash, earning atheist groups recognition on adopt-a-highway signs.

I belong to a group almost exactly like this. Of course the group wouldn't hang together if all we had in common was a lack of belief. People keep coming for one or more of the following:

Activism

We put on several educational events yearly. We do some demonstrating, show up for public hearings, bother public officials, etc.

Intellect

People who show up at meetups usually know something. Conversations there involve great range; can be about politics, arts, sciences, culture, -- nearly everything.

Fellowship

We have a number of parties, picnics, and other gatherings. One of the advantages of churches is they provide a venue for social interaction -- tax free! If the meetup works, it's a good place to meet new people.

Those are the main things; there are as many others as the people who show up. I don't blame anyone for not joining, especially if they find these things from other associations.

--imm

[condoleeza]

11. Lori Lipman Brown is America's first Secular Lobbyist,

She spoke at Reed College here in March and it was fascinating to hear what she is doing.
This is a video of her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-dmugx3js0

An urban legend here is that Reed College was named for John Reed (Reds). Despite the college's reputation for leftist politics, it's just a rumor we'd like to believe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Reed_(journalist)

Reed College is a notoriously Atheist community
http://reedsecular.org/
http://www.rsa-secular.blogspot.com/

Daily quotations to interest, inspire or amuse atheists and agnostics
http://atheistweb.org/qotd/615

There are secular groups all over this City. Onward & upward!

[SecularMotion]

12. Why are the religious so afraid of Atheists speaking as one voice?

I think it's time for a strong voice of reason to offset the craziness we hear from the leaders of the religious right.