Top left, but I avoid the title 'atheist' due to its unfortunate connotations in recent times. I kind of look at it as largely unecessary to name an absence of a particular belief.
On a side point, I wonder if the atheist community here will devolve into something similar to that mess of a sub on reddit. Obviously, I hope it doesn't!
Top left, but I avoid the title 'atheist' due to its unfortunate connotations in recent times. I kind of look at it as largely unecessary to name an absence of a particular belief.
It's a useful label, due to the ubiquity of theism. If theism was a rarity, we wouldn't need to call ourselves "atheists". (It'd be like calling yourself a "non-golfer".) Coming out as an atheist can help others get over their anti-atheist prejudices.
Oh, I understand why people use it, and I'm not judging anyone else for it. I just come from a world where it's more unusual to be religious than not so, for me, it's perhaps less useful and could be perceived to be more about social alignment than philosophy.
Edit: also, I think it's worth pointing out that when I referred to reddit's /r/atheism as a 'mess', I was directing it at the mean-spiritedness and self congratulation that seem so prevalent there.
/r/atheism is kind of an exaggeration of everything I hate about reddit. Lots of people bitching about how something is "anti-theist" and rude to religious people, or people with covert homophobia complaining about how anything pro-gay had "nothing to do with atheism". Lots of whining, negativity, and stupid drama.
I wonder if the atheist community here will devolve into something similar to that mess of a sub on reddit.
This is my first online experience with this type of discussion outside of Reddit, and I have to say the civil discourse here is a welcome, and surprising change. This is definitely drastically different. I wasn't expecting that to be honest.
Top left, but I avoid the title 'atheist' due to its unfortunate connotations in recent times. I kind of look at it as largely unecessary to name an absence of a particular belief.
On a side point, I wonder if the atheist community here will devolve into something similar to that mess of a sub on reddit. Obviously, I hope it doesn't!
It's a useful label, due to the ubiquity of theism. If theism was a rarity, we wouldn't need to call ourselves "atheists". (It'd be like calling yourself a "non-golfer".) Coming out as an atheist can help others get over their anti-atheist prejudices.
Oh, I understand why people use it, and I'm not judging anyone else for it. I just come from a world where it's more unusual to be religious than not so, for me, it's perhaps less useful and could be perceived to be more about social alignment than philosophy.
Edit: also, I think it's worth pointing out that when I referred to reddit's /r/atheism as a 'mess', I was directing it at the mean-spiritedness and self congratulation that seem so prevalent there.
/r/atheism is kind of an exaggeration of everything I hate about reddit. Lots of people bitching about how something is "anti-theist" and rude to religious people, or people with covert homophobia complaining about how anything pro-gay had "nothing to do with atheism". Lots of whining, negativity, and stupid drama.
Totally. Exactly how I feel.
This is my first online experience with this type of discussion outside of Reddit, and I have to say the civil discourse here is a welcome, and surprising change. This is definitely drastically different. I wasn't expecting that to be honest.