What do you expect from an atheist organization?

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Permalink Reply by V1ktor on March 22, 2009 at 12:27pm

Great post Blair. Seems like NAFA is very active, thats always good.

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Permalink Reply by V1ktor on April 15, 2009 at 12:26am

We already do have an umbrella organization. Atheist Alliance International is an umbrella organizations for smaller local groups. They have over 50 US and about 11 international member organizations. www.AtheistAlliance.org

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Permalink Reply by Blair Scott on April 15, 2009 at 9:58am

In addition, American Atheists has an Affiliate program which currently has 62 Affiliates nationwide. American Atheists encourages local groups to affiliate with as many national organizations as they can because American Atheists sees the need for local and national groups to work together. Each national group has its own focus and tactics, but they are all working toward the same goals.

I just wish CFI would allow multiple affiliation for its affiliates...

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Permalink Reply by Dre Smith on April 15, 2009 at 10:05am

I don't think organizations reach everywhere and that is the problem. And when you ask how to get started in your area the information I know I have recieved on this has been very vague. I live in an extremely small town in the state of Virginia. I went to American Atheists a few times about finding groups in my area, and to no surprise there are not any in my immediate area the nearest one is way on the other side of the state 5-6 hours away. I asked them what I should do to help setup one in my local area, and all I got in response was go to meetup.com as if somehow that was a good answer. I admit they might have been trying the best they can but if that's all I am going to recieve when I come to you for help. Quite frankly, it pisses me off. I want groups to do more to reach out to people in smaller towns, we exist in these places and they are the hardest places to get help because you are much much more isolated.

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Permalink Reply by Blair Scott on April 15, 2009 at 12:45pm

Dre: If you need help starting a local group shoot me an email at bscott@atheists.org and I will be happy to help.

Meetup is a great service to use to start local groups because it is a read-made Web Page, Forum, Mailing List, etc. It is also great advertising. My local group in Huntsville has far surpassed its humble Meetup origins, but we maintain our Meetup page because 30% of our membership still finds us that way.

Don't dismiss Meetup so quickly - it is an amazing tool and resource.

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Permalink Reply by Asa Watcher on April 15, 2009 at 12:19pm

I find it astounding, and curious, that there are any atheist organizations at all. And, frankly, I have unsettling feelings about their existence in the first place. Why?
Well, I think that people organize around things they believe in, a cause they can rally behind, a goal, a purpose.
Human nature, being what it is, we are less inclined, if inclined at all, to organize around not being something.
People don’t join churches be they are not atheists. Rather, they join because they believe in something...er...have faith, or want to have faith in ... whatever.
My acquaintances who are atheists join political parties, or voter registration groups. We join circles of friends and have pot lucks for the purpose of fellowship and pleasure, not because we don’t believe in something.
That A/N exists is a remarkable and wonderful phenomenon, and I look at this site as a sort of ongoing social gathering where we can share, and laugh together, enjoy conversation, and each other’s company.
Purpose?? meh. Who needs purpose?

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Permalink Reply by Chrys Stevenson on April 15, 2009 at 5:50pm

You are assuming that atheism is a negative thing. But, in my experience, many/most atheists are FOR a great many things, and it is in this POSITIVE way that we come together.

We are FOR logic, reason, rationality, science and humanism.
We are FOR free speech and civil liberties.
We are FOR maximising individual freedom (at least to the extent that it does not impinge negatively on others).
We are FOR peace and non-violence.
We are passionately FOR justice.
We are FOR education and critical thinking.
We are FOR saving the planet - realizing that it's the only habitat we have, and there will be no God or Heaven to save us.
We are FOR pursuing happiness and health and personal fulfilment without guilt.
We are FOR the equality of all people - regardless of race or sexual identity.

I could go on and on. Atheism is positive, not negative. I have had only positive experiences meeting fellow atheists through meet-up and elsewhere. It is not just that we share a disbelief in God, we share a positive world-view. And yes, we share a common purpose in promoting the ideal of that world-view both socially and politically.

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Permalink Reply by Blair Scott on April 15, 2009 at 6:31pm

Well said! BRAVO!

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Permalink Reply by Asa Watcher on April 16, 2009 at 1:51pm

Hi Kristy
You write:
"You are assuming that atheism is a negative thing."
No I'm not. I'm simply saying that Human nature does not usually motivate people to organize around non, or un belief.
Your list of things that you are FOR, or that atheists are FOR, is a list that you don't have to be an atheist to embrace. (with the exception of the first one perhaps).

Surely you are not saying that you are FOR justice because you are an atheist are you?

Atheism is neither positive nor negative. It is simply a state of being.

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Permalink Reply by Tedster on April 16, 2009 at 4:24pm

Atheism gives us independence that hold back many, and I won't say all, christians. Many christians do want there identity behind there causes, including civil rights and social equity, so why shouldn't atheist. To me, atheism is not about what I don't believe in, but rather by the fact that I am choosing by a morality not guided superstition.

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Permalink Reply by Asa Watcher on April 16, 2009 at 11:43pm

Tedster;
You write:
***"To me, atheism is not about what I don't believe in, but rather by the fact that I am choosing by a morality not guided superstition."***

Yea, I understand, but I have simply chosen morality. My morality is not defined by what it is not guided by.
My atheism is incidental and has nothing to do with whether I am moral or not.
I choose morality because I am a human, because I am a member of a species that has evolved empathy like we evolved an opposable thumb. I don't choose to be moral because I am an atheist. I am moral because I am a human. I don't credit atheism for my morality anymore than I credit some religious creed.

By the way, what you "dont believe in" is exactly what makes you an atheist. What you do believe in makes you...well...Tedster.

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Permalink Reply by V1ktor on June 21, 2009 at 11:07pm

Asa,

Where did you get this from, "I'm simply saying that Human nature does not usually motivate people to organize around non, or un belief."

You don't have to believe in anything to congregate and meet people. Just think about all the conventions, Star Trek, Star Wars, Comics, Photography, and I can go on an on. People who attend them don't "believe" in it, but rather enjoy it, like it, love it, and want to talk about it with other people who enjoy it.

It is human nature, well animal nature, to gather in a group, to herd into a community. Community is stronger than an individual. Communities have power to move mountains, part seas.

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