What binds us together.
As agnostics and atheists, I think what we can all agree upon is that we reject the notion of a god that has given us directions to live a certain way and to evaluate other people accordingly, with a range of penalties from social stigma to death. Let's celebrate that as a whole community, simply as human beings.
I would like to ask that we examine the rest of our motives as people and consider whether we thrust upon others our judgments based on other personal preferences outside of those having to do with some fantastic supreme being. This I think is an opportunity, we have the ultimate ability to shed animosity and grievances, to have patience and kindness; shall we embrace it?
I notice there are many who aren't in a agreement and I agree that being atheist or agnostic is not a moral stance BUT many people on this site have ticked the box Humanist. Now that IS values based. I'm a humanist but I am also a militant atheist because it religion is indoctrinating our kids at school. It is divisive and the cause of many atrocities. I think we have an obligation to spread the word of reason.
What makes one an “atheist” is the disbelief of a “god” based on the lack of evidence. What makes one an “agnostic” is the belief that we cannot know. But these things do not necessarily bind us together. You can be one or the other, both, maybe neither, and give yourself a gradient of any.
What binds us together (or should in my opinion) is the quest for knowledge and for truth. We need to accept that which is true and better for humans and our planet, and reject the falsities that threaten to destroy us (religion). Becoming better people for the sake of people, through knowledge and kindness.
well said. I think the 3rd century stoics had the right idea.
A person’s opinion about religion is just that, an opinion, and of little significance.
What is significant is that each person is due the utmost respect.
I think this is a great sentiment. But I've always believed that our status as "atheists and agnostics" does not make us any more rational or reasonable than the rest of humanity. I think we take ourselves a little too seriously if we start believing that we are somehow situated on a higher moral ground than the theists. We are free of one virus. It doesn't mean we are healthy.
I believe that patience and kindness are qualities that we all should strive to, and sometimes I believe that some theists excel on those qualities compared to many of us.
My go-to maxim when I disagree with someone is this: I try to remember that the ideas are open to attack and criticism; the person is not. By attacking the person, we forget that all of us are containers of some truly bad ideas. None of us are immune.
Yes even a dumb arse can get it right sometimes