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Atheist Nexus Goals for 2009?

Even thou A|N is less then a year old, we are already making an impact in the realm of unbelief. As we approach the new year, I can't help but think (and dream) of what we collectively could accomplish in 2009.

Let's brainstorm. What are your ideas? What would you like to see us achieve this year?

Also, this shouldn't be a place to poo-poo other's ideas. Let's just dream unencumbered, and then worry about the details once we get some decent ideas.

Tags: 2009, dreams, goals, ideas

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Permalink Reply by Brother Richard on January 27, 2009 at 10:42pm

I really don't want to get in the middle of you guys and your wonderful conversation. But you are both right.

Shocking titles get people to notice and pick up the books. But it is what is inside of them that makes people change.

People first buy cereal because of the pretty box. But they buy it again because of the taste.

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Permalink Reply by Chrys Stevenson on January 27, 2009 at 11:35pm

I have said repeatedly that ridicule has a role to play, and so, yes, the title of Dawkins book probably had some 'shock factor' and got it noticed. But remember that "The God Delusion" was published in 2006, two years after Sam Harris' "The End of Faith" hit the New York Times Best Sellers' list in 2004 and stayed there for 33 weeks. "The End of Faith" is nowhere near as provocative a title as "The God Delusion" and it could be argued that the success of "The God Delusion" rode in on the bow wave of the success of "The End of Faith". If anything, I would argue that "The End of Faith" helped create a market for "The God Delusion" and that, even if it had had a less provocative title, Harris had already 'created' a market for Dawkins' text.

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Permalink Reply by Kozz on January 28, 2009 at 12:59am

I can only testify to what I saw on planet Earth, and it seemed to me "The God Delusion" got quite a lot more press than "The End of Faith". But hey what do I know? Perhaps it was just riding the bow wave of Hume's Enquiry of 1748.

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Permalink Reply by Kozz on January 28, 2009 at 2:45am

Ok, I was willing to let sleeping dogs lie with Richards post, but then one thing led to another and BAM another post. i don't even know how it happened ;) Anyway I'm sure we both have better things to do, so I'll extend the olive branch of peace. We're just not going to see eye to eye on this one, but hey we're still on the same team, we just play different positions, and I still think you play yours very well. Cheers.

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Permalink Reply by Chrys Stevenson on January 28, 2009 at 3:04am

Cheers back. Always like a good debate. No hard feelings at all.

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Permalink Reply by Goz on January 27, 2009 at 3:13pm

Lobby to bring back the fairness doctorate in broadcasting is a good start.

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Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on January 13, 2009 at 12:17pm

A area that should be stressed is that spirituality and morality are not dependent on the belief in some supernatural entity. In fact non-theist spirituality and moral values are not held out of fear of reprisal from a non-existent father figure out there somewhere.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Meyer on January 13, 2009 at 8:30pm

Hear, hear!

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Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on January 18, 2009 at 1:04pm

"Pushing the idea that many have been brainwashed and purposefully stunted intellectually is a stronger argument ".
That would be a strong argument among atheist but if you start out by telling a theist that they are mentally stunted (while true) you probably will not get much conversion to our side.

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Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on January 19, 2009 at 11:02am

Do I have all the answers? I not sure I even know the questions. As for being a prophet, I did go to a Halloween party some years ago as the prophet Elijah to my date's Jezebel.
Apparently I misinterpreted your statement,
"Freeing people from their mental prisons is what we should focus on." , as a desire to convert the theist - my mistake.
I don't understand your comment, "The struggle between good and evil is not up for debate, it is endless.", as I didn't mention any such struggle.
In fact I don't use the word evil because, to me, it stinks of religious judgementalism.

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Permalink Reply by Kozz on January 27, 2009 at 4:12pm

This is simply wrong. Atheists have been having rational arguments with theists for at least 250 years and look where the US is right now. In contrast you might look at the progress made by Atheism in the last 4 years, mainly propelled forward by books with titles such as "The God Delusion" or "God is Not Great" titles with ridicule dripping from their titles. I'm afraid that Atheists who are simply interested in having polite debates over coffee can count a future of more of the same. See my latest blog post for morel.

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Permalink Reply by rashon23 on January 13, 2009 at 10:19pm

Well, I'm new here, and I all ready feel extremely comfortable. Im only requesting an on-going, informative, and inviting scene, although I'm new to atheism and have no where else to speak about my inner soul other than to myself, I know this wonderful site will not only teach me, but embrace me with an infinitive and endless knowledge of such a good belief.