Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Secular Atheist on January 20, 2011 at 12:34pm

Or may be

IN GOD WE RUST

Permalink Reply by Alex Catgirl on July 5, 2010 at 9:54am

Er shouldn't we fix the symbol first? Of all the symbols to co-opt, they choose one associated with virginal blood in a negative context, what were they thinking.

Why not the Ace of Cups? A big ol' jewel encrusted gold cup gushing over,surrounded by greenery and happy dancing animals, bright blue sunny skies in the background....

As opposed to a cross, which represents suffering, swords which represent conflict, the star of David which represents being abused for a few millennia because of pride and ridiculous beliefs, etc.

Permalink Reply by Quinn Mander on July 5, 2010 at 10:05am

I am firmly of the opinion that this is the last thing we need. Mostly because I am a habitual iconoclast. I cannot stand the elevation of either persons or symbols (or phrases) to the level of knee-jerk adulation. I recognize the need for community, and to posit something in the place of religion to fill that need, but we must be careful not to replace one unthinking system with another. Slogans make me itchy. And I certainly don't recommend associating Darwin with any motto previously associated with religion. This doesn't rebut religion, it merely adds fuel to the religious accusation that recognition of the truth of evolution is tantamount to the worship of Darwin.

Permalink Reply by Jason Spicer on July 6, 2010 at 1:11pm

I tend to agree with you Quinn, although perhaps if we translated "Slogans make me itchy" into Latin...

Permalink Reply by Daniel on July 10, 2010 at 11:25pm

I initially agreed with you then I may have talked myself out of it.

So, do you think we should encourage and promote other actions, groups, and philosophies that also lead to an atheist / naturalist conclusion?

Would secular morality, skepticism, science, individualism, free speech and education also suffer from picking up a motto?

If so, is it that just a critique on the effectiveness of mottos? Or do you think atheism is an exception and why?

I do think we should evaluate if a slogan would even be effective or if it would just be counter productive.

Permalink Reply by Jason Spicer on July 10, 2010 at 11:46pm

I can see the objection that a motto would just give theists another target, something to pick at or ridicule. On the other hand, they do that to atheists/atheism anyway.

Permalink Reply by scott adams on August 10, 2010 at 6:13pm

slogans are sloppy

Permalink Reply by Al-KADIM on July 28, 2010 at 8:58am

I agree with this completely. I am also concerned about the use of the word "trust" in any motto. As atheists, it is not up to us to trust anyone, whether it is Darwin or the Pope. We derive conclusions based on investigation and research, not because someone we trust told us to reach that conclusion.

Permalink Reply by Harley Faggetter on July 5, 2010 at 10:15am

We already have our own 'subsects' of atheism with their own clear idealogical pathways, I don't see why we need an umbrella over all of that. If anything though, the tagline of the Atheist Bus Campaign would suffice.

And ffs, the whole point of atheism is the rejection of idol worship. If anything it would be "In Science we trust". Which given it's generally factual nature is a logical argument.

Permalink Reply by bobh on July 23, 2010 at 7:02pm

I value lack-of-war but that is not a popular outlook all over the planet these days.

Permalink Reply by Jason Spicer on July 6, 2010 at 9:45pm

More like anti-modernists, I think. They reject the idea that things can be known. Thus giving ammunition to those who like to take things on faith. "Well, since science is meaningless anyway..."

Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on July 9, 2010 at 8:36pm

Morons who insist the government/auto industry/the Masons, etc are hiding the evidence/alien bodies/ 300 mpg carburetors, etc ...the list is near endless... are little different from the fundies (and often one in the same). Wacky conspiracy theorist paranoid loons are elevated to the public forum where they contaminate the low information, highly suggestible couch creatures with their base stupidity.
Tolerance for that lot my wrinkled ass - insults and scorn is more than fitting.

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