Stumbled on this article today.
Old Atheists like myself have no real problem with there not being a "sense of community" among our fellow Atheists. We never had any in the old days, and we tend to be "loners" anyways. See..
Yes, we’ve lost our faith in God, but we’ve lost our faith in reason too
4
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15 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.This is one of several communities to which I belong. I don't believe in things without evidence, be that god or other woo. But that doesn't define me per se.
chicagojcb
Level 7
Apr 2, 2018
0
We are a supportive community if you need it or ever want it.
sassygirl3869
Level 9
Apr 1, 2018
0
Interesting premise and also helps explain why the fundamentalist and most severe religious believers can overcome the much greater numbers of secular or even moderates believers. They use the power of community and shared faith to organize and back regressive political parties and candidates, with little abstention. While non believers debate the differences between Atheist and Agnostic, Liberal and Progressive, the religious conservatives are circling the wagons tighter with little dissent, making it easier to get them to vote en mass with little critical thinking.
As much as I enjoy being an Atheist, my prognosis for the near future of liberalism and turning the tide of religious dominance of politics is dim. Our best chance of effecting change is the implosion of the Republican Party by its own greed and total lack of humanity. If they can become as fractured as the Democrats, there may be a time when our country can reclaim the mantel of a great democracy. At the moment, we have become more and more an Oligarchy, run by corporate greed and Christian Theocracy. Only if the masses of scattered liberals and moderates can find common ground can this path be changed.
Barnie2years
Level 8
Apr 1, 2018
3
Probably not much comfort I know, but the rest of the developed world is nothing like this. Which is probably why other countries have not created a website like this, as there is no need as agnostics are in the majority and agnosticism is presumed, at least among the native populations. However America is so unlike the rest of the western world that I doubt what we are all doing over here will have much influence on what most Americans are doing your side of the pond. Hope things improve for you guys over there soon.
My friend Bart Campolo, a couple other humanists, and I have started a humanist community in Cincinnati, Ohio. I know there are some people who don't miss the group communal aspect of religion, but there are a lot that do and I feel that we are fulfilling a need.
OhioAdam
Level 5
Apr 1, 2018
3
From the article: "'God is dead,' Nietzsche wrote, before adding: 'Yet his shadow still looms.' That shadow is in reality our failure to create movements and institutions that can nurture a sense of meaning and belongingness and dignity. Disbelief in God carries little weight without also a faith in ourselves as human beings. Otherwise, we find ourselves in a different kind of hell."
Movements and Institutions it says. It says it's because of our failure to create institutions and movements. I suggest that movements and institutions are artificial constructs from the human mind and, as such, provide a fragile illusion of meaning, belonging, and dignity. Tribal thinking at its destructive best. My gang, your gang, our gang. The way religion gets away with that sort of gaseous logic is by backing it up with reward and punishment constructs that aid in the policing process by making sure no one drifts too far from the accepted illusion. Is that what we want? Is that what we need? To create an atheist shadow that looms? I think not.
The secret to all of this, it seems to me, is for individuals to come to the internal realization that meaning emanates from within. That belonging is no more than realizing that each of us is but a small part of the whole of humanity and we should connect with it and cherish it. That meaning and purpose are what each of us decides they are and that responsibility to the whole should govern those decisions. By coming to these realizations, we provide all we need without illusion. Without phony constructs and symbols and creeds and dogmas and reward and punishment. By doing all of this, we bring dignity to us all. We build something with a fighting chance of survival.
evidentialist
Level 8
Apr 1, 2018
1
One reason I don't like groups is that when you join one you often exclude yourself from others because they tend to be exclusionary. Examples: I am an Environmentalist who supports Development, an anti-gun person who has taken training and has a carry permit and a gun, an anti-abortionist who supports a woman's access to abortion.
Oh so true. I don't like most people anyway.
LeighShelton
Level 8
Apr 1, 2018
3
I can appreciate that. Everybody who ever screws you over will be a fellow person.
yes religious or not. I have had many dogs and they never have.
Being an atheist was never an issue for me until I moved to Floriduh in '96. Then I became outspoken. North of the Mason-Dixon line and on the west coast people weren't trying to constantly ram religion down your throat.
I don't know about losing faith in reason, I try to apply it every day. I just know I don't need a church for community. There are plenty of secular groups to join that don't involve religion.
NoSacredCow
Level 4
Apr 1, 2018
5
If you have lost your faith in reason, what anchors you?
wordywalt
Level 9
Apr 1, 2018
1
Who says you need to be anchored?
@wordywalt
I have no personally defined "purpose"... "The unaimed arrow never misses."... and I am fine with it. The " purposes" I do have are entirely situational and ephemeral (may be over in a minute). To me it is like saying to an asexual person that they must like boys or girls. Animals don't have a purpose, and it is doubtful Denisovans did either.
Incidentally, the article is not about me. I am firmly grounded in reason.
I make a point of not discussing religion with my friends , and we try to show mutual respect for one another . I would like to make more friends , but I'm simply not that desperate for friends .
Cast1es
Level 9
Apr 1, 2018
2
I have a friend I talk to about religion all time. He is also anti-science, anti-vax, NASA in a hoax, Flat Earther, no space or gravity kinda guy. Those are all he talks about, and it wears me out. He was not always crazy.
Faith aside, there are some people I enjoy chatting with, going shopping with or sharing a meal, we don't discuss religion and I do my best to not said, 'god damn it!!' when I swear because I enjoy them as a person. I think my sense of community is satisfied by going to the grocery store. 
silverotter11
Level 9
Apr 1, 2018
3
You're absolutely right! When I was younger (ahem!)..you never, EVER, spoke of atheism because you'd lose friends/be branded! I had to know someone really well before I might hint around to see if they ever doubted the myths. It's only been within the last 20 years or so that we've been ''coming out." I've always treated theists with quiet, grim courtesy and lately, I see the same response if I mention my lack of belief. Things are better...not at all perfect....but better. Sometimes, I credit the gay pride/black pride/transgender ''outings.'' The theists must be reeling, since it's all happening at once.
LucyLoohoo
Level 9
Apr 1, 2018
2
I fully and publically declared my Atheism back in 1983. Let's just say it was not well received, and I never met another Atheist until I moved to Georgia in 1999.
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