And I think I may get to meet Mr. Deity!
I’m going to California this weekend to the Atheist Alliance International conference, to give a presentation on how to nurture nontheistic communities and to see what our atheist cousins are up to. It looks like there will be some very interesting science talks, as well as talks by usual suspects Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins, whom I’ve never seen in person.
I know there’s controversy among Ethical Humanists about how closely to align ourselves with atheist organizations, since they can often have an anti-religious slant that doesn’t fit with our mission. But it’s my guess that the folks at this conference have many of the same hurts and hopes as we do, and I’m looking forward to sharing some of what I know about creating supportive and inspiring community based on faith in human worth rather than supernatural beliefs. What do you think? Should we be building a closer relationship with atheist-identified organizations, or not, or does it depend on the organization?
(I am disappointed I’ll have to miss the amazing platform this Sunday with Dale McGowan. Have a great time, everyone.)
October 1st, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I guess a good question would be do you need a deity to have a religion? I think the blasphemy from non-believers is not so much directed at the social or humanist aspects of religious institutions but rather the supernatural authority they seem to claim and the abuses that come with it.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:48 am
This is an important issue and something I’ve been thinking about since we had the opening words at Platform the other week about the ‘Imagine no religion’ billboard. This kind of billboard (and others put up by atheist organizations in recent months) seem to generate a lot of antagonism from religious groups, and there does seem to be a feeling among many of our ES members feel it is inappropriate for us to associate with such ‘proselytizing’. But how often do we see billboards promoting Christian messages? Or all those TV ads telling us Jesus loves us and wants to save us? Or that huge cross off of I-70 in Illinois near Effingham?
Why is ok for them to promote and advocate their beliefs, but not us? I personally am not comfortable with the idea of trying to convert anyone to my beliefs. And I would be happier if no one in the world felt the need to do so either. But given that this is not likely to happen, I think there is room for such organizations to promote atheist viewpoints. I guess the bottom line is ‘it depends on the organization’. I don’t care for these hate-filled anti-religious groups who feel the need to constantly denigrate all religious viewpoints, but I think there is value to some of these groups whose goals focus more on gaining a wider acceptance of atheism.