Something to say
I’ve just been looking at a facebook group titled something along the lines of ‘I bet I can find one million atheists’
Here we are, a link (opens in a new window) ; “I Bet I Can Find 1,000,000 Atheists!”
What really draws my attention to this page is a small comment at the bottom, that made me think on two levels.
“Atheists are like cats, free thinkers who are not united in a belief by an organisation. This can stop now. Facebook can link millions of like thinkers all over the world to give a forum, voice, and platform.”
Firstly, it becomes readily apparent that atheists as much as anyone else like to use animalistic totem imagery in order to gratify their egos and attempt to justify a point that ultimately makes no sense (I’ll put this down to linguistic norms rather than hypocrisy); and secondly, that little point about having a voice. This isn’t dissimilar to my philosophical concerns regarding any atheist society: What good is a voice if your entire point is that there is nothing to say?
I mean; I’m not trying to say that atheists don’t have any points to make. But isn’t it all counter-argument? There’s no value, at all, in being an atheist over a theist. If there is no God, then they’re pretty much on level standing, and if there is one, then, well, you’re pretty fucked. Moreover, psychologically, faith just makes people happy. I’m trying not to get into the arguments of morality here, because my own position on the possibility of a universal morality without a God is…evolving, as it were; and certainly untenable in any sophisticated argument at the moment.
But yeah, why would Atheists need any sort of unified position? To fight fundamentalism and religiously fuelled hate? Yeah; because modern sensible religions haven’t been trying to do just the same, along with governments, peace groups and pretty much everyone else other than a few bigoted pastors, manipulative imams and loud-mouthed, violent and occasionally high-explosive saps they call followers. You’re worried perhaps that the general theistic masses don’t realise that these people are evil, sinful psychopaths? Newsflash, we do.
Sorry. I got a little angry, then.
Where was I? Oh, yeah.
Leaving.
Having joined the group you mentioned following an invite from El Presidente of Leeds Atheist Society and had a looka round - I agree with your principle about this group. I think that groups for the sake of them have no place in modern atheist thinking.
I disagree with your point against all atheistic groups obviously. Atheistic thinking is primarily a counter-position, however, it has many secondary ideas that can be expressed through a group. The ideas of supernaturlaism, rationalism, humanism etc are all suitable topics for groups.
I think that your ideas regarding the atheist versus theist argument is a little biased - although that comes from my knowledge of your religious leaning. I have recently written a paper on the validity of the atheistic position as opposed to the invalidity of the theistic one. In a world of probability, the only tenable position is the atheists one.
I am annoyed by most gatherings of people of any religious belief (even none) when they start talking about other people’s religious beliefs. I mean, I am sure I will be in a discussion about atheists one day with a group of Christians and not think “Oh my goodness, have you not met any atheists??” (I have possibly experienced this in the past, but only with a couple of specific Christians, ie, the ones who have been for the majority of the time I’ve known them, surrounded by atheists) and similarly I will one day be in a group of atheists discussing Christians and not be screaming (to myself or out loud, depending on how well I know the group) “You just don’t understand!” however, blind optimism is possibly what I do best.
I looked through the group, and it is generally the same old rubbish that you find in any of these types of groups (atheistic or Christian, not looked into any others) where everyone is talking about how great their point of view is, how everyone else has got it wrong and should accept their beliefs, while condemning other viewpoints for saying the same, moaning about how everyone else is ignorant and how there will be consequences for this (in this world or the next).
Can you believe I managed to say all I wanted to in 3 sentences
Now to alienate all my friends by signing this.
Michelle
I m very pleased with your blog,i howp you will update it soon
i cant understand……