few days ago, I expressed my disbelief in religion to a girl who used to know me as a christian. We were colleagues some years back and she knew me as a christian then but she was an atheist. She comes from a country in Asia that is highly atheistic.

We hadnt seen each other for over a year and after seeing each other we went to have coffee (I hate coffee ) together. This girl hardly sows emotions due to a traditional Asian culture she grew up in. When I told her that I was done from christianity, she smiled. It was rare for her to smile at a controversial topic of religion. We both paused for a moment and looked at each other as if we both had confessed that we were in love to each other...................if at this point, you are hoping for the story to get romantic or for me to mention that we kissed, go to the romance section


I told this story because I have two contrasting thoughts now. ~The first thought was that getting atheist together for a convention would be difficult as atheists are only held together by a disbelief in god. However, a disbelief in god was able to start something between two platonic people.


So what can bring atheists together, is a disbelief enough or we need to have something more?

Any inputs from atheists in the house?

Humanist organizations tend to fill the role of an atheist 'mission' or an organization. They don't strictly toe the atheist line but by and large their members are atheist or agnostic, and they do engage in various activities.

onetrack: Humanist organizations tend to fill the role of an atheist 'mission' or an organization. They don't strictly toe the atheist line but by and large their members are atheist or agnostic, and they do engage in various activities.

Thank you!


I think secular humanism can play such a role.

In addition, the word 'humanism' is probably less threatening a word than 'atheism'. Atheism is still a pretty shocking word to use in many parts of the world; even many newly-minted atheists have trouble using that word to describe themselves (myself included, back when..). Humanist is somehow a more acceptable word to use in the general population.

onetrack: In addition, the word 'humanism' is probably less threatening a word than 'atheism'. Atheism is still a pretty shocking word to use in many parts of the world; even many newly-minted atheists have trouble using that word to describe themselves (myself included, back when..). Humanist is somehow a more acceptable word to use in the general population.

I see.

Can't say anything. I v never met another atheist. I don't want to, yet anyway.



Humanism.

Avicenna: Can't say anything. I v never met another atheist. I don't want to, yet anyway.



Humanism.

You're not ready to meet other atheists? Why?

MacDaddy01:

You're not ready to meet other atheists? Why?

Ahh, macdaddy, that's not what I meant. I said I will attend a naija atheist convention, didn't I?

I'm not interested in looking for atheists in my vicinity right now. I live in a rather small town. I don't think there will be any.

Maybe when I'm in Lagos, or settled in Lagos, by all means, I will know some atheists. Atleast to discuss how to promote humanism and reason.

Avicenna:

Ahh, macdaddy, that's not what I meant. I said I will attend a naija atheist convention, didn't I?

I'm not interested in looking for atheists in my vicinity right now. I live in a rather small town. I don't think there will be any.

Maybe when I'm in Lagos, or settled in Lagos, by all means, I will know some atheists. Atleast to discuss how to promote humanism and reason.

No problem.


I will see what I can do about this atheist/humanist convention. I havent been to Nigeria in over a year. Lagos here i come!

MacDaddy01:


No problem.


I will see what I can do about this atheist/humanist convention. I havent been to Nigeria in over a year. Lagos here i come!

You know I opened a thread once asking how to tackle religionists. I m going to be Nigeria's foremost aggressive atheist. Beat you to it.

the advice I got was to acquire money and power. Once I do that, You will hear of me.
But if I don't, well, I will try my best with my family.

Avicenna:

You know I opened a thread once asking how to tackle religionists. I m going to be Nigeria's foremost aggressive atheist. Beat you to it.

the advice I got was to acquire money and power. Once I do that, You will hear of me.
But if I don't, well, I will try my best with my family.

Yes ooo! In Naija, one needs money and power to influence and move forward!

Avicenna:

Ahh, macdaddy, that's not what I meant. I said I will attend a naija atheist convention, didn't I?

I'm not interested in looking for atheists in my vicinity right now. I live in a rather small town. I don't think there will be any.

Stop that your 'Ah this' and 'Ah that' you keep typing. Must you announce to everybody that you are a typical yoruba man?

@topic,
atheists do not have a common universal belief system. Even the humanism stuff you wrote about is not an atheistic belief system as there are atheists that do not support that school of thought.
Apart from disbelief in God, there is nothing else that atheists everywhere share the same opinion. Even theists(christians and muslims) with their religious books and doctrines don't have one single thing bringing them together, they still have sects and all what not.

fellis:
Stop that your 'Ah this' and 'Ah that' you keep typing. Must you announce to everybody that you are a typical yoruba man?

@topic,
atheists do not have a common universal belief system. Even the humanism stuff you wrote about is not an atheistic belief system as there are atheists that do not support that school of thought.
Apart from disbelief in God, there is nothing else that atheists everywhere share the same opinion. Even theists(christians and muslims) with their religious books and doctrines don't have one single thing bringing them together, they still have sects and all what not.

But I'm a yoruba man faa

You are correct. No philosophy behind it. Atheists are not always humanist. Even Macdaddy isn't sure what can bring us together.

Maybe science? Aggressive progress? Intellectuality?
These doesn't particularly absorb most masses into its fold. There will always be religions. I just want all religionists to reason like you. That's how all relatively religious nations progress. People must reason!

Avicenna:

But I'm a yoruba man faa

Bush man.

Avicenna:

You are correct. No philosophy behind it. Atheists are not always humanist. Even Macdaddy isn't sure what can bring us together.

There is no one single subject that you can all unanimously agree on, except disbelief in the existence of God. You can still have your gathering though, maybe with the intention of meeting up and getting to know each other.

Avicenna:

I just want all religionists to reason like you. That's how all relatively religious nations progress. People must reason!

Please stop swelling my head.

fellis:
Stop that your 'Ah this' and 'Ah that' you keep typing. Must you announce to everybody that you are a typical yoruba man?

@topic,
atheists do not have a common universal belief system. Even the humanism stuff you wrote about is not an atheistic belief system as there are atheists that do not support that school of thought.
Apart from disbelief in God, there is nothing else that atheists everywhere share the same opinion. Even theists(christians and muslims) with their religious books and doctrines don't have one single thing bringing them together, they still have sects and all what not.

Sometimes it is a blessing in disguise not to be from the 3 major tribes.......


Fellis, would you go to an atheist convention?

Avicenna: Can't say anything. I v never met another atheist. I don't want to, yet anyway.



Humanism.

are you afraid of them?

You just cant trust thee

no umbilical cord attached

MacDaddy01:

Sometimes it is a blessing in disguise not to be from the 3 major tribes.......


Fellis, would you go to an atheist convention?

I can't do that. I am not an atheist.

truthislight:

are you afraid of them?

You just cant trust thee

no umbilical cord attached

Answer your name truthisLIGHT?

Be truthful.

fellis:
I can't do that. I am not an atheist.

lol....I remember some muslims praising me for wanting to see what is in a mosque.

Other way around............

I can't do it. I will stand out and feel too different.

fellis: I can't do it. I will stand out and feel too different.

Are you going to wear a burkha or something?


Other than that, youre not going to be different.

MacDaddy01:

Are you going to wear a burkha or something?


Other than that, youre not going to be different.

It's a thing of the mind.

fellis:
It's a thing of the mind.

Woooooooooooaaaaaahhhhhhh

fellis:
It's a thing of the mind.

"To overcome fear, you have to become fear itself!"


Stupid batman quote but seems appropriate for some reason

MacDaddy01:

"To overcome fear, you have to become fear itself!"


Stupid batman quote but seems appropriate for some reason

Thanks for the batman quote but I can't do it.

Avicenna:

Answer your name truthisLIGHT?

Be truthful.

cant you take a little sarcasm?

truthislight:

cant you take a little sarcasm?

Ofcourse. I can.

So, take that little sarcasm about your name too.




Hehe.

Avicenna:

Ofcourse. I can.

So, take that little sarcasm about your name too.




Hehe.

lol

besides baal and molech ? got no idea mate

obadiah777: besides baal and molech ? got no idea mate

You disappoint me! Did you forget;


-Beelzebub
-Mephistopheles
-Mammon?

MacDaddy01:

You disappoint me! Did you forget;


-Beelzebub
-Mephistopheles
-Mammon?

throw in Sango and Oya into the mix and we have a deal ?