Any other atheists around?

[GuybrushThreepwoodMP]

Is there a group for us atheists to discuss ideas of faith, morality, life, the universe and everything (42!)?
Note: I would not want this to become about dissing people of faith and would truly welcome discussion with anyone. This isn't about ridiculing anyone. I would be particularly interested in sharing ideas and discussing the social, anthropological, philosophical, political and psychological aspects of religion from an atheist point of view. Anyone else? I can provide and and .

I think we do need to be a republic, but we don't need to wait for that to sort the schools out.

I think I can fix faith schools anyway by talking to the parents.

"So you insist on religious teaching and worship in school Mr & Mrs Christian?"

"We certainly do! We're a decent, moral, god fearing, family"

"Okay then. Monday they will pray to Jesus, Tuesday they will bow to Satan, Wednesday we'll give them a prayer mat and they will prostrate themselves before Allah.... oh what's that Mr Christian? You don't think religion has a place in school after all?"

We can't stay the process of secularisation while the head of the state and the head of the church are the same person.

I don't really see why not TBH. The Queen is head of all sorts of bodies.

Ok. It's official. I love this thread.

Waves

Used to be a fundamentalist Christian, went through a bit of an epiphany on MN regarding feminist thought, and by extension free thinking, and have subsequently begun to relish atheist thought and identity. I try not to be convert though, as that's just tedious...

Hello PMGM - that's a really interesting path!

It's funny how free thinking slips in through the side door. My foray into atheism started through star gazing in the back garden with DH. I then wanted to unearth the old 'Cosmos' series with Carl Sagan that is watched as a child. It was some of his thinking that prompted me to explore why and how I believed what I did.

That is interesting, PMGM! And thanks for not being a 'convert', heh.

although I do get a bit heated about the religious schools topic - but then I did when I was a believer.

I do get a bit heated about the religious schools topic

Me too, I just this minute saw another of those 'if you don't like religion don't send your kid to a religious school' and it amazes me that people think there's a real choice about that in the UK.

I've posted this before but it bears repeating:-

Having a religion is like having a penis: it's ok to have one, just don't wave it around in public and keep it out of my children.

Oh the 'why did you send your kids to a religious school' thing gives me the irrits. "Because I fucking paid my taxes to run the bugger and I'll damn well use the facilities I paid for"

Doctortwo LOOOLL!!!

Is it okay if I use that - x

The threads moved on a bit but can someone please explain symbolism to me, those who say they use it?

Go ahead taf, I stole it from a Facebook group I'm a member of.

We probably all use it in different ways, Rotten. For me, focusing on my Buddha carving helps me access the wise, calm and understanding side of myself. If I want to be a super-assertive, take-no-shit kind of woman, I "invoke" the voodoo goddess Iansa. I don't actually do rituals or think she's going to materialise in my kitchen; it's just a way of hyping myself up to be strong. Most people use symbols like, though perhaps not as consciously - think of students taking a lucky mascot into an exam. If you make it conscious, it works better.

And I have an imaginary Mumsnet, too, which I call up when the situation demands "What would Mumsnet say?"

1. What are all we atheists doing on Christmas day? (A: Whatever my wife tells me .)

2. Did you sign up yet (click below)?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/1910951-Atheist-agnostic-skeptic-register-1-post-each-10-words-max-I-am

I shall be holed up in the kitchen, cooking a feast for just us, listening to the request show on Classic FM and drinking at an appallingly early time.

Christmas ARGH!! It'll be spent ruining food and just waiting for tea time do I can pile into the vino.

We do Xmas because that's what my church going other half wants.

Do real atheists do Xmas? Because of tradition, family time, an excuse for a party?

Is Xmas one of the hardest tests for atheists?

I'm an atheist and I love Christmas. I figure that if I were living in or visiting a non-Christian country, I would embrace the local festivals with equal enthusiasm (unless they were actually morally dodgy in some way, obviously) so why on earth shouldn't I embrace Christmas. I love the carols and Christmas symbols etc, not just the food and present-giving. Plus there's the whole 'it was a pagan festival first' thing. I think we need a big cheery festival to get us through the winter.

When the dc were young, we did Xmas because of Santa Claus. Now, we do Xmas because of Santa Claus (4yo dgs) and because otherwise my Xtian, elderly and widowed MIL would be sitting alone.

mixed household here and I treat it like a cultural festival. Don't mind the odd carol service and the like, LOVE Christmas music. Enjoy festive cheer in the middle of winter, no more, no less.

Why would Christmas be a test? I was brought up in a religious household and do sometimes miss the traditions associated with that, but for me Christmas has more to do with the older winter festivals, so I like the decorating, the lights, the feasting and the gift giving. The only bit of my Christian roots that really shows is that I really like carols and hate santa related songs (mainly because they are rubbish).

I don't get to spend Christmas with my family anymore (we emigrated and it's too far/too expensive) so no clashes with the more religious members of my family (my BIL and sister are both ordained) but that was never a huge issue until my mum out of the blue decided that she needed everyone to do grace, which I really find quite objectionable (and dh refuses to participate in).

Sub, you say you're not as concerned with evidence, but there isn't ANY. I have no good reason to pick Christianity over any other religion or belief system.

DOH!