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Atheism Without The Grey Hairs

A Younger Generation’s Rise to Atheism

Dear all young non-theists! I am Pete Darwin and I’m an avid secular humanist atheist and have been all my life. I’m currently completing a Masters of Science at the University of Melbourne in the area of evolutionary genetics and zoology. Anyway, I am working at putting together a book of essays regarding the younger generations’ rise to atheism.

The idea for this book was brought about when I decided I wanted to tell my story about how I became an atheist, as well as share a bit about my personal life with religion and numerous fundi family members. It’s been a bumpy and interesting ride to say the least. However, while reflecting on my own history with religion and atheism I knew there must be numerous other interesting, amazing, scary, and even heartbreaking stories out there that should also be told.

The majority of what one reads, views or hears about atheism comes from an older generation. They are the authors of books, speakers at conferences and hosts on documentaries, and they do an amazing job at it too. However, I think the voice of the younger generations of atheists and their experiences and stories would be a great addition to the scientific, sceptical and non-theistic realm!

I want to provide a book that younger generations of theists, non-theists and agnostics alike can read, more easily digest, and hopefully connect with on a deeper level. I want to show what kind of person your average atheist is, and present an argument to show that the gap between atheists and theists is much narrower than assumed. To show that we atheists just have a different take on life that is based on scientific evidence and fact. Atheists are the least trusted minority according to US polls, when things couldn’t be further from the truth.

So I think it’s incredibly important to create a book that illustrates who and what the average atheist is like, as well as why, when and how they became an atheist.

I hope the book gives theist readers a better understanding of atheism and atheists in general, and not to fear or hate them as all too many do today. I hope it reassures and strengthens other atheists who read it, and that it gets fence sitter agnostics into the right paddock. I also hope that people in the process of losing their religion, or even those who just starting to question things, with something to connect with and provide a little support and guidance.

What is required of essay authors?

To write 2000-5000 words
- Firstly, on their rise to atheism (the when, where, why, how), and any other interesting personal stories with religion or supernatural belief.
- Secondly, on the role atheism plays in your life.
- Thirdly, on at least one thing that brought them to atheism or solidifies there position there.

For the third section I’d like to cover as many areas as possible, which reinforce one’s stance as an atheist or a sceptic (if it’s about supernatural beliefs like astrology/homeopathy/psychics, etc).

Examples: any area of science: evolution, archaeology, geology, history and inaccuracies in the bible, philosophy, issues with morality, Christ mythicism,

So one would introduce that topic and then explain how it is in direct contrast with theism or supernatural beliefs and affirms their atheism. With any personal stories relating to the topic added in if one chooses.

It doesn’t have to be that exact formula, but the main idea is to have a personal story about how one became an atheist and why one remains an atheist with reference to a specific reason/topic. People are welcome to add in anything extra, and go outside of the word limit if they need.

I will be getting in contact with a number of renowned atheists to be involved with this book, and will hopefully have space for 15-20 essays from average Joe young atheists of all shapes and sizes. I have to just quickly mention that all essays may be edited or asked for editing to be made, and that there’s no assurance that all essays will be published in the book. The best 15-20 will be chosen. Anyway, thanks for your time and keep fighting the good fight my friends!

I might also add, the cut off age will be 40. So anyone 40 years old or younger is able to write for this book (sorry anyone 41+ years old, I had to put the line somewhere). I'm yet to work out organise a publisher and issues surrounded proceedings from the book, but hope to have this sorted in the coming few weeks. Stay tuned. Cheers for your time guys!

Deadline for essay submission

Quite a few people have been asking me about a deadline for getting their essay in for the book. There's no real rush currently as I'm finishing up my MSc project from now until November, so I might put the deadline around the end of January of 2012. So let's say Jan 31st for now, and if things change as I'm sure they will we can reassess things.

So for anyone writing an essay currently, or hoping to write one in the future, feel free to send them to me at petedarwin@gmail.com anytime from now until January. However, I may not be able to read it and offer feed back instantly, but I promise to reply to all submissions as soon as I am able.

Please share this information around with anyone you may think would be interested in writing an essay.

Contact me at petedarwin@gmail.com

more updates here - http://atheismwithoutthegreyhairs.blogspot.com/

Pete

Tags: atheism, atheist, book, dark, hairs, the, without

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Pete Darwin on July 29, 2011 at 9:12pm

Please do :D

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Permalink Reply by Ally on July 29, 2011 at 12:06pm

Brilliant Idea for a book, I hope it is very successful, but poop! I'm 41 - sigh!

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Permalink Reply by Pete Darwin on July 29, 2011 at 9:12pm

Thanks heaps Ally! Sorry you're just outside the bracket! :(

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Permalink Reply by Joe Swam on July 30, 2011 at 5:33am

I like your book idea, and since I just fit under the cut off (I'm 37) I'm going to give it a shot.

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Permalink Reply by Pete Darwin on July 30, 2011 at 5:54am

Legend :D

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Permalink Reply by Matt VDB on August 1, 2011 at 4:01am

Well I could participate but I'm not sure you'll like what I have to say ;) I don't find myself to be a typical atheist.

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Permalink Reply by Pete Darwin on August 1, 2011 at 10:08am

The whole point is to get as many atheists from all walks of life and spectrums etc as possible into the book. So I'd definitely encourage you to give it a shot! :)

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Permalink Reply by Philip Copeman on August 1, 2011 at 10:21am

I wrote it more as a satire, but see if anything from my book - Gods First Fisherman interests you. You are free to use whatever you like:

http://www.philipcopeman.net

This is the remarkable tale of how a humble tribe of Beachwalkers conquers the World. Philip Copeman follows the history of Early man from his humble beginnings in Southern Africa, to the 6 Billion colossus that we are today. Written in an approachable and satirical style, Copeman holds no reverence for tribal and religious sensitivities and brings a fresh cutting edge approach to paleoanthropology. He holds no punches and storms into racial politics where others fear to tread.

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Permalink Reply by Pete Darwin on December 27, 2011 at 11:03pm

Hey all! I trust you've had a good xmas!

I’ve decided to extend the deadline for essay submission for my atheist book project to the end of 2012. It’s become obvious that it’s going to take a while to put things together as well as collect all these essays from people. Some have written and submitted them within hours of finding out about the project whilst others have taken weeks maybe months.

I too have stuff to do in the mean time and want to get the best I can out of this project so I’m in no rush at all and don’t mind taking my time.

Please keep spreading the word to anyone who may be interested even if you yourself may not be. And feel free to contact me about it at any time via email petedarwin@gmail.com or on here in a comment. Cheers.

Pete

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Permalink Reply by Madhukar Kulkarni on December 28, 2011 at 9:16am

I would love to make contribution, but I am 72!!! Don't be unfair to we oldies!

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Permalink Reply by Pete Darwin on December 28, 2011 at 10:30pm

Forgive me Madhukar, I'm not trying to be unfair to people >40 years of age, but I am trying to write a book for younger generations of people around my age (in their 20s-30s) and written by people of that age. So I have to be ageist for this book unfortunately! :(