Ah, if only it were true...
Jesse Jackson was quoted as saying:
“There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps... then turn around and see somebody white and feel relieved.” 
Wouldn't it be wunnerful if a business advertised itself as “staunch Christian” or holding to “real Christian Values”, and you could believe it?
Wouldn't it be nice if you could think to yourself:
“Well this bloke's a church going Christian, so he's not going to rip anyone off.”
“This business must be honest. They believe it's impossible for a rich man to pass through the gates of Heaven”.
“This bloke must be good to work for, he believes the last should be first, and the first should be last (to get paid, and at an equal rate)”
“This company believes in treating everyone the way they would like to be treated”
No way they'd ring up right on dinner time to try an sell you something you don't want and don't need.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could find out you were doing business with a God Botherer, and feel relieved?

Looking for a potential common creed between himself and ‘many’ atheists, Chris Mulherin (Anglican minister) arrived here:

“1. We believe that we live in a wonderful and ordered world, where the law of cause and effect is the norm and where human rationality is, in some extraordinary way, able to comprehend much of its amazing complexity.

2. We believe that science is the major source of truth about the physical universe in which we find ourselves, from the microscopic to the macroscopic level. More than that, we put our trust in the consensus of scientific experts in their respective fields, recognising that while they might be proven wrong, we would be foolish not to believe them.

3. We believe in the old-fashioned and common sense concept of truth. When it comes to factual claims about the world or about God, we agree that we can’t all be right. In such matters we are frustrated with a so-called postmodern relativism that talks of tolerance as an excuse not to deal with the issues.

4. We believe that, because of 2. and 3., these issues matter. Climate change won’t go away. It is not just “another metanarrative.” It is not “true for me but not for you.”

5. We believe human beings need to activate their little grey cells (please say that with the accent of Monsieur Hercule Poirot.) We have been created with brains; we ought to use them.

6. We believe in the problem of evil. Appalling things happen in our world. All is not good. Something must be done about it.

7. We believe in the problem of evil. No, I am not repeating myself: this time the issue is the theological problem of evil. For both of us, the question of how a good God could allow evil demands an answer.

8. We believe that atheism can be a rational and internally coherent worldview.

9. We believe that intolerant fundamentalism is a bad thing.

10. We believe that Monty Python is funny and that Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy was ground-breaking science fiction.

On this we stand united.”

*no one does because its a load of c_ap. Of course JP is not 'smart' enough because he isn't blinded by the dogma of evolution*

Runner, there is good news and there is bad news for you.

The good news is that you are free to cling to your beliefs, if they
help you cope with life. I concede, some need guidance in their lives,
of one sort or another. Our society guarantees you those rights.

The bad news is that the Catholic Church, unlike some of the Fundie
churches, does in fact employ various intellctuals to examine these
issues further. Today the Vatican accepts evolution theory as a given
and realises that they would have too much egg on their face, if they
ever tried to deny it.

The most interesting question has in fact been raised by AJ Philips.

*If you think that we’d be wise to invent a God and convince ourselves of their existence - whether or not a God actually exists - purely for the sake of maintaining morality, then not only do not understand morality and its origins, but your whole take on it is dishonest and shallow.*

JP comes across as having remarkably similar philosphies as Pell.
Perhaps those in the Vatican don't even believe the dogma that they
are preaching to the masses, but they might think its good for society
and of course gives them huge power, quite a cushy lifestyle is thrown in,
for the Vatican is not exactly poor, so those running this
huge shindig are doing very well.

lol...Oh the forces of good and evil, and the uneasy bedfellows rest the swords. I've always wondered about what would happen if the pillars of transition didnt take place? Would we be still wild animals today like humans were 2.5 million years ago, and what part did religion/spiritual play?

Well the two are the same. Being a conscience species we are, (and the only one in all living history of the earth) we forget the fact there was a transitional, and ever since man was pulled away from the comforts of remote instinct, after that we could not stop naming everything that couldn't be understood.

The moon god, the sun god...and so on...

And that in short, is the real birth of religion.....IMO.

Dont some find it strange that we are the only lifeforms that need it? (religion)

It certainly seems some human-beings have forgotten what our species needs in order to function correctly, and the first human mammals that saw this raw world, still today need that little comfort from some higher power. Why you might ask?......some still need the whip.

Just the very thought of replacing it with something else is moot at best,since the programing for it has being running from that first day we said by by to the animal kingdom.

So thinking one can change millions of years of EVOLUTION in-side you is very laughable indeed:)

In your brain, you just cant press delete:)

Have a great day.

CC

"Maybe it's about time we took runner at his word that atheists have faith, tenets and dogma… have the AFA register as a religion."

Um no, that would be the day that I left it, as would everyone I know in it. The AFA exists only because there is a need for it not as a group to try and also garner the privilege above others that religion claims.

No, the best way is exactly what is occurring. The de-stigmatisation of being atheist. It won't happen overnight, but it is occurring as more people are educated in regard what atheism entails and that being atheist is common place. Social perceptions of atheism will change.

Issues like this might not obviously for quite a while, but providing supporting frameworks and social connections with others without faith does wonders for peoples moral. onwards! :)

I look forward to great talks, great conversation, great food, great drink and entertainment with like minded folk at the convention. It's gonna be AWESOME :)

Yabby,
What is the significance of different denominations (e.g. Catholic and fundie) having various points of view and variations among their belief? I would have thought that from an atheist perspective all theological refinements would be equally irrelevant.