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Atheists in NC and SC plan first-ever convention
- Thread starter Archer
- Start date
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Atheism in and of itself doesn't, but groups of atheists (that don't consist of all atheists) can view atheism as something to be advocated and can have agendas that reflect and further that view.
There are sure to be some hidden agendas. I'm sure they realize that their cause is being promoted. Maybe spreading some information and encourage people to come out of the closet, that they aren't the only freethinkers around, and possibly not as small a minority as most suspect.
Using your analogy.
You said:
There are activist Muslims, but that doesn't mean that activism is an inherent part of Islam.
I said:
It does for me.
Thing is, Muslims have about 18,000 other things they do admit to putting forth as part of their doctrine, practice and ongoing worship. Whereas atheists generally want to pretend, "no no no no, no belief system here, no agenda here, none of that applies to atheism. But hey, who's going to the atheism conference next year where we can discuss our lack of beliefs and build a stronger strategy that is truly lasting?"
Atheism may or may not have any agenda, but clearly some atheists do have an agenda for atheism.
I just don't see what the big deal is.
Who gives a damn if a group of atheists or Christians or homosexuals or students or dog owners want to get together and talk shop. Just about everyone wants to connect with people who have the similar views. And why does it matter if they do have an agenda?
A lot of groups feel ostracized or ignored, and some are even right. If they can find a peaceful and effective way to get their ideas out there and make the population take notice, more power to them.
Who gives a damn if a group of atheists or Christians or homosexuals or students or dog owners want to get together and talk shop. Just about everyone wants to connect with people who have the similar views. And why does it matter if they do have an agenda?
A lot of groups feel ostracized or ignored, and some are even right. If they can find a peaceful and effective way to get their ideas out there and make the population take notice, more power to them.
By definition, yes, there is no agenda to atheism. (In other words, the definition of atheism isn't: The promotion and spread of the lack of belief that god exists. The definition is simply: the lack of the belief that god exists.)
However, that doesn't mean that certain atheists don't have an agenda.
Precisely.
Your last sentence is just about right. (My only quibble is that atheism, itself, cannot be said to have an agenda.)
Think of a club that revolves around the Lord of the Rings. They can discuss what they think LotR means, and why they like it, and various nuances about the book. None of this implies an "agenda"; it is just a sharing of a mutual interest.
There could also be a club of LotR that is worried about people banning LotR from libraries and wants to prevent that, or who would like to promote the reading of LotR so that more people could discover what they find so enjoyable. This would be a LotR group with an agenda.
Note that both groups can exist, but only one is activist. In other words, not all LotR fans must have an agenda. Also note that just because there are activist LotR fans, that doesn't mean that "enjoyment of LotR" is an inherently activist position.
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That sounds about right. I also wouldn't be surprised if there were talks about atheist discrimination and how to prevent that.
What is this hypocrisy you keep speaking of? Not every atheist is anti-religious and even if they are doesn't mean they don't like being organized. Unless you think being organized equals religion but I wouldn't exactly agree with that. I know you like to say science is religion but I don't agree with that either. Engineering isn't a religion either.
If you value getting promotions I would recommend not talking about atheism at work. There is a stigma out there and majority of people are theists.
DUDE read the rest of my posts. I was curious. I really don't care if they are plotting the end of Christianity I mean hell the Churches do a good job of making people dislike them enough to want them gone. Hell I want the dissolution of organized groups of people that think they are better than everyone else just because they are "SAVED". They think they can be just like the outside world they claim they are better than just because they think they eave Jesus in their black hearts. Boy most are going to be suprised.
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Amill
Apikoros
What's stopping you?
So the small percentage of atheists that go to conventions proves that atheism has an inherent agenda? Did you read his suicide bombing example? Just because some atheists go to conventions to discuss who knows what(like some muslims like to blow themselves up around other people) doesn't mean all atheists share the same opinions and motives as those at the convention(and not all muslims believe it's ok to blow themselves and other people up). Atheists at the convention are going to have all sorts of differing opinions, interests, ideas, and motives. They are there to discuss different things. Maybe things like the peaceful existence of the various beliefs around the globe, or how we can better our education process here in America. I mean I wouldn't be surprised if they ridiculed Creationism a bit because of the hoopla that's been occurring in some school districts in the past and present, but I don't have a clue what is discussed at these things, and I'm not sure if I'd ever be interested enough to attend one if they had one in Indiana.
If atheism has an agenda, why don't I know what it is? I'm an atheist.
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waitasec
Veteran Member
what is our agenda? i'd like to know....
Secular charity work because the faith based initiates don't want to help people as bad as they want to criticize you. They will use your money against you.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
My agenda is to laugh when people make idiotic remarks. RF is helpful at allowing me to fulfill my agenda. Especially all the rabid anti-atheists.
gnomon
Well-Known Member
There is no hypocrisy.
The OP linked to a secular convention.
Secularists can include atheists, pantheists, theists, freethinkers, humanists, naturalists, etc. This convention certainly has an agenda.
That's all. It would be fair to say that secularism has an agenda but secularism, as it is defined as a separation of government and religion, by definition does not preclude the participation of theists. So to take the OP which links to a secular convention, call it an atheist convention and then generalize an aspect of philosophy with this equivocation.....it makes no sense.
Christianity doesn't have an agenda. Islam doesn't have an agenda. Atheism doesn't have an agenda.
Lutherans have an Agenda.