Should there be an atheist group?

[Malva Zebrina]

or not? Just wondering if it would be nice or not so nice.

[Nimrod]

1. I consider myself more agnostic...

But I'd join up.

[Malva Zebrina]

5. I found one for agnostics in the religion and theology forums.

but none for atheists.

Just wondering if anyone requested it.

[ulysses]

11. that's just a thread, not a group really.

I don't think there's an agnostic group.

[Flammable Materials]

2. I thought there was one ... "The Brights"?

http://the-brights.net/

[trotsky]

3. I think the Church-State separation group should work fine.

Gotta have a few Xians around to tweak, ya know.

[Malva Zebrina]

7. I don't perceive a forum for atheists as one whose pupose is to tweak

believers, but more one that would exchange information , like recipe sharing

[zippy890]

19. Yeah! we are normal human beings after all

I would like such a group

[Calvinist Basset]

4. I'm not an atheist

But I'd consider reading posts in the group just to help me understand some of the thoughts behind atheism.

[HEAVYHEART]

6. Here

http://ravingatheist.com /

There is a forum at this atheist web site.

[trotsky]

8. Ooh, and here

http://www.infidels.org

The Internet Infidels!

[Malva Zebrina]

9. thanks--it is a good one

I have bookmarked it.

[dand]

10. I would join.

It would be nice to know I wasn't the only one on the planet destined to burn in Hell for eternity.

[zippy890]

23. So would I

because it is possible to live a life according to moral values and ethical standards without believing in an omniscient being.

[Malva Zebrina]

12. Hmm, maybe atheists on DU would be satisfied just quoting H.L. Mencken

in their posts.

[MrModerate]

13. I'm an atheist myself, but . . .

I'm not especially interested in discussing at length things that I DON'T happen to believe in.

I also believe that religion often serves a useful social purpose -- specifically giving good-hearted people a focus for their positive impulses (the "better angels of their nature," if you'll forgive me the phrases) -- but that may be only because most of my exposure has been to liberal protestantism rather than fundie nonsense.

But if any believers out there want to sincerely know why I'm absolutely certain there's no such thing a supreme being, I'm happy to hold forth, at least for up to a point.

[Malva Zebrina]

14. I did not think of it as a forum to compare beliefs with believers

to tell the truth, I thought of it as a meeting place to discuss various aspects of atheism and not to belittle others, although some would see that as of and in itself a belittlment. It seems to me there are quite a few atheists here on DU and some might be interested in high level discussion rather than confrontation. As in posts like yours which I agree with. If the maturity level of DU members is not that high,and sometimes it is not, maybe it would be seen by some as a place to trash believers or a place where athesits could be trashed by those who hate atheists.

On edit

Maybe it is considered flame bait to have a place for atheists on DU.

[MrModerate]

15. Well, maturity of discourse in an anonymous setting . . .

Shouldn't be counted on.

I haven't seen a lot of flames attracted to your thread -- but I would say that the couple of sites cited above do seem to (at least with the quick glance I gave them) carry on the sort of serious discussion you're craving.

DU is perhaps too volatile. While I'm not a megaposter here, I have been lurking for quite awhile and the "yeah, what HE said" and "the hell you say" themes do sometimes predominate.

Not criticizing, really. It's part of what I like about the place.

[Malva Zebrina]

16. Yes, I went to those sites and they are indeed good sites

I am wondering if one has to petition the admin to have a group forum or does one just go and post one.

I don't like to think that the admin would deliberately shut out any group, but, it has been done other places and atheists are quite used to it.

The energy on DU is compelling. I may need something different in the future though.

[Cleita]

17. There was a GD thread up for an atheist and agnostics forum.

I believe they got more than ten supporters with a star, but I have yet to see a forum offered unless it's believed to be covered in the Skeptics forum.

[leftofthedial]

18. We are trying to start a DU Group for atheists and agnostics

Skinner is reviewing our mission statement.

[Malva Zebrina]

24. thank you for that information LOTD

that helps.

[leftofthedial]

25. he has legitimate concern

that given some rancorous history on DU, that such a forum could potentially become a
"free-fire zone" for anti-Christian or anti-religious intolerance or hate speech.

[Malva Zebrina]

28. I am not surprised

Are you implying that we may be refused a space based on our atheist views?

It seems to lead to the conclusion that some people are more protected than others.


Can we remind the admin of the blatant anti-religious intolerance and hateful bigotry against evangelicals or "fundies" that is present ever so prolifically and ever so constantly here on DU by those of faith? I suppose that would only make it worse.

Thanks for trying. No sense grovelling, although it is not a pleasant thing to swallow.

[leftofthedial]

32. No.

Skinner wants to make sure we can keep it from being a perpetual flamewar and that the DU policies against intolerance be followed.

As has been consistent in the past, Skinner and the mods draw the line at calling religious people names or ridiculing their beliefs. It's a fuzzy line at best between saying religion is stupid and saying that religious people are stupid, for example.

[Malva Zebrina]

33. Oh-- yes that makes sense

seems like the same rules would apply as in the other forums also.

[leftofthedial]

34. I submitted the mission statement late Friday night

So, I'd imagine I'll hear from Skinner again or the forum will be up sometime tomorrow.

I'm not sure what the next step is.

If we can suggest ways to maintain the decorum in the forum (almost like Al Sharpton there!) or to otherwise reassure Skinner that we won't turn the forum into a wasteland of anti-religious hate speech, I guess every little bit would help.

[Malva Zebrina]

35. thanks for your time and effort LOTD

I appreciate it.

[UNIXcock]

20. why yes, us believers think so ;-)

... lighten up a bit

[UNIXcock]

21. why yes, us believers think so ;-)

[UNIXcock]

22. why yes, us believers think so

(lighten up, it's a joke)

[Dookus]

26. I'd join

I'd also like to plug the group "Skepticism, science and pseudoscience". Drop by and say Hi!

[asthmaticeog]

27. What Dookus said.

Though I think atheism is amply covered by the mission of the Skeptics group (which by the way, y'all should pop in and have a look - some pretty lively discussion in there), I'd absolutely join in the discussions in an atheists group.

Especially since it would attract some really amusing Freep trolls!

[SmokingJacket]

29. I'm an atheist, but my atheism does not interest me much. n/t

[rman]

30. what's there to discuss about lack of religious faith?

there may be for religious types, but none that i see for atheists.

[Malva Zebrina]

31. Personal experience

how and why we came to atheist views. Support for those who have been prejudiced against, for instance, on the job and how they feel about it. History of atheism or humanism over the centuries. Views we have in common with other human beings who are not atheist and ways to establish communication without losing dignity. The meaning of atheist and the different interpretations. Logic and reasoning. Child rearing and parenting. Morals and ethics. Lots of things rman--in fact, much the same things that religious groups discuss.

[struggle4progress]

36. Why not post in the religious forum?