Reply #8: There are a lot of negative connotations surrounding the word atheist

[Az]

I would rather people did not shy away from an accurate description of their position simply because of social stigma but I do understand the tendency to do so.

By allowing others to chase you away from a position it gives them power. It further creates a scenario where those that are being stigmatized can be isolated and silenced. I meet so many atheists that believe they are alone in this world. Simply because it is socially unacceptable to be open about our atheism.

We are a social species. The atheists that tend to speak up and get noticed tend to be the lone wolf angry variety. They have an axe to grind and they don't care who notices. But there are so many other atheists out there. And they don't have axes to grind. But they might like to find others of a similar mind with which they can weather the turmoil of our god soaked society. But this is often denied them because the only atheists they themself are aware of are the angry ones. And those atheists can even scare other atheists.

I will not run from the word atheist. It accurately describes me. I am someone that does not happen to have a belief in god or gods. I am also a naturalist in that I believe that in understanding nature we understand the entirety of the cosmos. And I wish to provide a beacon to other atheists to let them know they are not alone. That there are others out here. That we can shelter each other should the need arise or we can rejoice in our shared love of nature and the universe.