We are on a worldwide stage, showing how agnostics and atheists think and live, and laugh and play. We, the community, have aged well, in spite of some bruises. With this community, younger converts will recover faster. Many posts are about politics and lifestyle What will our role be in the future?
Thinking of non-believers in terms of community feels a bit confining. I share no sense of anything with other infidels except the intellectual waters we've chosen for habitat. It's sort of like salt vs. fresh waters with the brackish waters in-between for agnostics.
Rejecting salt doesn't mean that there aren't still a lot of strange fish in the area with whom there is little of anything different to note than when they were in 'the sea'.
One example is an entirely common delusion among non-believers that rejection of gods is more than evidence of the possibility that one thinks independently. Most of them are still uncomfortable with self-navigating and still prefer moving about in 'schools'; comforted and secure by schools of 'like-minded' fish. Like mindedness is, in fact, often mentioned as a desirable trait in others. Independent, critical thought avoids such safe-zones; seeking rather like interested with differing perspectives to share and compare. It is how learning happens.
You make good points.
I would like to think social justice. Humanism. Diversity. All inclusive LGBTQ.
Agree, justice is very important.
There is no social 'justice' offered in sets of social doctrines imposed for purposes of herding people who are not entitled to question or criticize all or even part of the doctrinal composition. It is a masquerade; a pretend justice no different functionally than religious doctrines of exclusion. There isn't ten cents worth of difference between political correctness and 'having one's mind right with God'.
I feel that we will remain as a foil against zealots.
Agree, but feel we will be more. We could be as strong a force as the LGBT community, since there are about as many agnostic/atheists as LGBT.
The 'community' of believers has no monopoly on Zealotry. Many fanatics count themselves in our number and enthusiastically try herding us under secondary categories of unquestionable 'isms'. They are no less potential thought tyrants than sober Cardinals or Mullahs.
Good point! I think ‘injustice,’ is a constant threat to our society and we must not drop our guard, because we are tired or need to be entertained! We DO need to be reminded frequently what is REALLY important before most folks ‘go to sleep at the wheel!’ We have proof on this very continent ...go back to the attempted annihilation of Native Americans...a war to support slavery of African Americans...that cost the lives of thousands upon thousand of ‘white’ men! Has the lesson been learned? I think not, when fleeing people attempting to find safety or survival are denigrated as criminals and their children ripped from their safe keeping and put in ‘holding tanks,’ where contractors are making millions of dollars, paid for with OUR tax dollars! And we should keep quiet...hell no! This is injustice done in my name...hell no...I will not support such a system!
Hell no. I do not support abusing children.
"Converts"?
I've never been anything else.
Some of us actually had agnostic/atheist parents.
...you are lucky and then on the other hand, we who found our way out, know how destructive on an intimate level, some religious practices are...so luck may go both ways!
Actually, I converted, had religious parents.
I would like to see atheism distance itself from the far right. The far right is attracted to atheism because it gives it free reign to bash Muslims.
I expect agnostic/atheists among the far right, but they will remain a minority and can be managed.
@EdEarl who wants to manage them? Maybe, some ‘light’ can be shed on their ‘path?’ Then they can manage their self...that way we all win!
@Freedompath I think we do want to change politics and make a better world. The far right are on Trump's side, and need to be managed. If they learn the folly of their ways, and embrace progressive ideas, sure they can manage themselves. Otherwise, they will be putting roadblocks in our way.
@EdEarl I will never except ‘their’ roadblocks...but that is me! I am not so sure that ‘all’ the far-right people are for trump! I know a few people, who are mostly supporting trump and they were liberals! The ‘far-right’ has the pulpit at the moment, it LOOKS like they are powerful! Looks, can be deceiving...
That's a strange claim. The US far right is happily derogatory to Muslims, and is in power thanks to Evangelical zealots who hate any person who follows any book other than the bible. They certainly are not atheist.
@Petter, @Freedompath People are funny.
@EdEarl or strange...it is hard to find humor in bigotry and hate of any kind! A few of those people are just misguided, that is no ‘fun fact’ either!
@Freedompath, @Petter Exactly, some are funny haha, some are funny odd, and some are funny crazy.
We are just the beginning of the end
I hope it is near the end of neoliberals.
I think (I could be wrong) we ARE the future.
Yes, but we will no doubt share it with others.
@EdEarl You are correct, sir!
I think we will be a voice of reason.
I love the idea Ed but with Trump in the White House looks a bit tentative at this minute! Mind you, I am a Brit in Australia so not really qualified to comment. My two nations have enough nonsense of their own
@Geoffrey51 sometimes, distance allows less cloudy prospective! We see, not with only with our eyes...