Comments on: Fifth Annual Meeting of Atheist Group Leaders

By: Shelley Mountjoy

Shelley Mountjoy — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:53:40 +0000

I think you should wish August a Happy Birthday on behalf of all of your readers… and by that I don’t just mean saying “Happy Birthday.” It would need to be sung for the proper effect.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:00:07 +0000

I assume you’ll be blogging live? I’ll be watching! I’d be interested to hear if there is any more discussion about a Unity conference, as well as any talk of forming a single cohesive organization, rather than many small groups and countless bloggers.

By: Alonzo Fyfe

Alonzo Fyfe — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:12:49 +0000

I second David's point and wrote a post arguing the case at Case Study: The Atheist bust Sign Campaign. It argued for a campaign specifically designed to counter the claim that "atheist = amoral"

By: David

David — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:29:38 +0000

One of the theist arguments that I (and I suspect most atheists) are faced with is the idea that morality comes through religion and that a lack of religion automatically means a lack of morals. While I am all for the bus and billboard campaigns that let our fellow atheists know they are not alone, I would like to see some form of media presence that will start to erode this religion=morality point of view. Empathy, compassion, and charity are human qualities independent of religion or the lack there of. Nothing will help our cause more than helping theists to understand that in my opinion.

By: benjdm

benjdm — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:44:30 +0000

Seconding Alonzo Fyfe’s point. “We” is bigger than just those who trust in a god.

By: Alonzo Fyfe

Alonzo Fyfe — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:25:45 +0000

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will deliver an option on lawsuits over “under God” in the Pledge and “In God We Trust” as the motto. Have these people be prepared to deliver an immediate and substantial response to that decision when it emerges.

And, I would suggest that the response be made along the lines of, “The government should stop the practice of equating those who do not support a nation under God with one who supports rebellion, tyranny, and injustice for all,” and “The government shall not post any sign that says that because a law-abiding American does not trust in God, that neither the government nor the people should consider him one of us.”