Comments on: How Would You Change American Atheists?

By: blackskeptic

blackskeptic — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:13:12 +0000

1) improve the website (yes, i know it sounds superficial, but i hate that site)
2) link themselves to some sort of humanist group (perhaps have a section of the site that links to the aha) and other atheist organizations. it’d be nice if there was more interconnectedness/networking. i think aa should link to a humanist group b/c i think it’ll be important to have us linked to an ethical organization so that different aspects of atheism are acknowledged.
3) be more active. more “youthful” (not necessarily young, but fresh).

By: Bad

Bad — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:49:47 +0000

I’ve found AA to be remarkably clunky when it comes to having any idea what most atheists think or believe (and don’t believe), or even the history of atheists and atheism. You often get the feeling from them as if atheism began and ended with their organization. I think they really need to undertake some soul-searching on their mission and purpose on this score.

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:49:01 +0000

Ask all atheists to consider a form of agnosticism, perhaps militant agnosticism. We gawk at theists who claim ‘to know that God exists, listens to prayers, performs miracles, etc.’ Why are they so sure he exists that they base their life upon a series of unprovable ideas?

Well, what makes us atheists so sure we’re right? I think atheism has a more convincing argument, but in the end I don’t know and I’m ok with that.

good idea as well as the not voting thing (i.e. don’t tell people not to vote!). Also I’d say be more inclusive of freethinkers and skeptics who don’t necessarily consider themselves atheists.

By: Ted Goas

Ted Goas — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:00:10 +0000

Ask all atheists to consider a form of agnosticism, perhaps militant agnosticism. We gawk at theists who claim ‘to know that God exists, listens to prayers, performs miracles, etc.’ Why are they so sure he exists that they base their life upon a series of unprovable ideas?

Well, what makes us atheists so sure we’re right? I think atheism has a more convincing argument, but in the end I don’t know and I’m ok with that.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:09:17 +0000

YES, don’t discourage them from voting. A solid attempt at a MAJOR public image overhaul is needed…get going on that, as well.

By: William

William — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:05:19 +0000

Let the members vote for their leaders. AA is no longer the mouth piece for Madalyn O’Hair.

By: bernat

bernat — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:15:02 +0000

I would get a better acronym. Associating atheists with alcoholics :/

By: David D.G.

David D.G. — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:24:38 +0000

What Greta Christina said. (Except for the use of the word “enormity,” which means “great evil” — though, on second thought, that sort of applies here, too!)

~David D.G.

By: Greta Christina

Greta Christina — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:20:04 +0000

My suggestion:

For the love of all that is beautiful in this world, don’t discourage atheists from voting. The fact that we don’t have many atheists running for office (and none in the Presidential election) does not mean that the elections will not affect us and the issues we hold dear. There is an enormity of difference between an elected official who has religious beliefs but also believes in the separation of church and state, and an elected official who actively promotes the de facto theocracy our country is moving towards.