Fiach

It must be a greater challenge to gather Atheists in groups more than 5 people because you are a minority in America. I have read that the percentage of unbelievers in America are clumped in certain areas. Seattle to Portland in the Northwest supposedly has 14-18% non-believers, and similarly in parts of N. California, Boston, New Mexico. And other places like Alabama or Mississippi may be less than 1-3%.

Good luck. There is not much real interest in Scotland where we are a slight majority.

Fiach

PopeInTheWoods

Hello Fiach,

I think another factor in the difficulty of gathering atheists is that atheism (lack of belief) itself doesn't inherently spawn the communal activity that religions, dart leagues, book clubs, etc. do. I only became active in this community as a response to the xian fundamentalist hijacking of US politics, and subsequent threats to my rights.

It will be interesting to see atheist gatherings are more common among the larger but less threatened European population, or the much smaller but more threatened US population (or the ?-sized, ?-threatened Canadians)?

Andy

Fiach

We have no separation of Church and State. The Queen is head of state and church. Of course she is only a figurehead. But despite compulsory religion classes in what you would call public schools in my childhood, it obviously didn't work. Now that Atheists in England are the largest plurality with Anglicans, Muslims and catholics next. In Scotland we are a slight majority.

In summary none of us in Scotland or England feel threatened in our rights to speak out, admit our unbelief even on the job. People in general have reached the point that they have little or no interest in religion. There was a temporary interest in Islam after 9-11, but it has faded. Blokes in the pub don't want to discuss what most of us don't believe. They want to talk football and Rugby, horse races, etc. It is not easy to find a fundy to argue against.

I did live in America for 8 years and remember a lot of talk and heated debate about religion versus religion, and how evil atheists were destroying American Family values??????

Why do they fear such a small, generally not gun owning, groups of academics, scientists, and such who don't believe in their god? They outnumber Atheists at least 8:1, and are heavily armed compared to the minority. What is it that they fear?

They fear our very existence. Our existence to fundies makes them think. It forces them to think. When they think about us they think about what we oppose, and it threatens their shakey literal biblical faith. That faith is the only excuse for belief in immortality. So we threaten their immortality.

Fiach

PopeInTheWoods

Fiach,

That's the irony, ennit? Official religions produce lots of athiests, separation of church and state produces lots of fundies. At least in the Western world.

As for the perceived threat, it's probably not so much that we make fundies think, it's that we may make their children think.

Andy

Fiach

Maybe American Atheists should join the fundies in pushing for compulsory chrsitian prayers in the the schools. Look what it done for us, Scotland is 52% Atheist/agnostic.

Maybe you should put in God We Trust on all official documents, court houses, public schools, highway bill boards, and the back of every toilet.

That may be the secret. Separation only promotes fundies by giving them a cause. We don't have separation and we are freer than you.

Fiach

Captain Howdy

There is no Philippines listed on the available countries in that link. That's very very sad. Must be reall empty

Fiach

You could be the only Atheist in the country?

Fiach

Shake

I think that's the location I voted for (IIRC)! Heck, that's only like 3 miles from my house!

Secular Pinoy

Ahem... That is unlikely!

Fiach

Partly I was trying to be humourous about you being the only Atheist in the country, but my Celtic humour often falls flat.

Yet, I recall there was a communist rebellion as well as muslim rebellion simultaneously in that country. While I think Communists are barmy totalitarians, they are officially or nominally Atheists. I know that because when I travelled to America, my atheism often led to me being called a Communist. But I disagree with almost 99% of Communist theory apart from agreeing with them on the non-belief in gods.

Fiach