I noticed this Australian community group (a community of non-believers) as I was wandering around the web.

Atheist Nexus
http://www.atheistnexus.org/

A Community For Atheists, Agnostics, Brights, Freethinkers, Humanists & Skeptics

Within the community, a working group has been established to take submissions for a HREOC Discussion Paper.

"...NEW! READ THE DRAFT INTRODUCTION TO THE SUBMISSION HERE AND ADD YOUR COMMENTS.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has invited submissions on a Discussion Paper entitled: Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century...

...To ensure that the atheistic/secularist viewpoint is well represented , funkQ, The Irreverent Mr Black and I are inviting interested Australians to participate in a working group to prepare a submission.

Closing date for submissions is 31 January 2009.

We believe that it is vital that atheists should have a say in this discussion. Although the discussion paper says that the report will be prepared in consultation with ‘spiritual and religious communities and civil society organisations’ there are some worrying omissions regarding atheism/secularism. For example:

• In discussing the factors which have led to the prevalence of religion and faith as subjects for public debate, the growth of atheism/secularism in Australia is not mentioned.

• Amongst the eight supplementary papers commissioned for the report, atheism/secularism is not included.

We were, however, pleased to find that the previous, 1998, discussion on religious freedom (which this submission is designed to update) included submissions from: The Humanist Society of Vic, The Humanist Society of WA, The Council of Australian Humanist Societies, the Rationalist Soceity of Australia, the Atheist Club of Sydney, the Atheist Foundation of Australia, and the Victorian Secular Society. This time, we hope to add another atheist 'voice' to the mix, both reflecting and signaling the growth of atheism and atheist activism in this country. We would, of course, welcome input from any of the above organizations or their members..."

Australian "Freedom of Religion" Submission Working Group
http://atheistnexus.ning.com/group/australianfreedomofreligionsubmissionworkinggroup

Correction:

On looking further, I believe the community group is American with two Australian groups within it. One of the two is the Australian "Freedom of Religion" Submission Working Group, the other is The Skeptic Zone.

http://www.atheistnexus.org/groups/group/listByLocation?location=Australia

David Nicholls,
If this time I understand you properly, you did not mean to include my “good self” personally (perhaps only atheists and agnostics?), when you said that your thread on bus adverts made people think. In that case I apologise for insinuating that you did. By the way, also Theos (a British “public theology think tank” - see my earlier post) claims that the bus initiative in London will make atheists think, therefore they contributed £50 to the fund. The same as slogans like “Jesus loves you”, etc. might make some superficial Christians think (though I doubt it) but certainly would not lead to an atheist’s conversion.

As for the rest, I can only repeat that I do not think reasoning leads necessarily to atheist or theist conclusions, the same as I do not think only Christians can have ethical ideals (which they might or might not be able to live up to). I can assure you that e.g. whether a mathematician is a “theist“ or an “atheist“ is completely irrelevant to his/her ability to do the job, which depends heavily on his/her ability to reason.

Yes, there are “intellectually handicapped” Christians as well as “intellectually handicapped” atheists, part of their handicap being an urge to attack those they disagree with or cannot understand. Some contributors here have been exposed to (RE) teachers of the first kind, I myself have learned my lessons from those of the second kind (who introduced me to the “scientific world-view“ of Marx, Lenin and Stalin). This is what I meant by the memes that make you “religious” or “Irreligious”. The ability to reason properly comes on top of it, and - I repeat - I do not think it is the privilege of only one world-view orientation.

Fractelle,
I agree that “we are all born atheists“ the same as we are all born a-scientists, a-philosophers, a-mathematicians etc. I just raised the possibility that in case of religion it might not be completely so, but not being a neuroscientist I cannot defend it. If you wish, you can “google“ yourself to the appropriate references.

Dear David F

<<When Jesus said that only through him could one enter the kingdom of heaven (if he said it as who knows what words were put in his mouth) he showed himself to be a bigot.>>

No dear David..he showed Himself to be the Messiah :)

<<24The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

25Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish>>

Now.. that also may appear to be 'bigotry' but the KEY to it being Messianic is this:

"The miracles I do speak for me"

They were the only thing which separated the Lord from all others in terms of credibility.

A.J. PHILLIPS.. contribute more please.. I saw you had a little fling on another thread about me doing a dissappearing act...but you had not said much toward the topic..

PERICLES.. I'm quite amused here at your 'whack-an-atheist' dialogue there.. it does give me cause for hope for you.
At least you are even handed here :)

All we need do now is sort out your fuzzy thinking on few spiritual things and your talents will be better used on behalf of the Kingdom. Although human skill is not always a qualification for the work of the Kingdom.. Gideon started with 30,000 men, and God said "Tooooo many.. get rid of most"
He finished with just 300 or so.. against a huge army. God did not want them to claim human glory for the victory.

Porky: << "The miracles I do speak for me"

They were the only thing which separated the Lord from all others in terms of credibility. >>

Somehow the AFA slogan "Because there is no credible evidence" seems particularly apposite. Roll on the campaign.

And Porky feigns injury when described as an 'insufferable godbotherer' - sweet Heaven forfend!

Runner,

Yes, people do vote with their feet.

How is church attendance nowdays? <10%?

Karl Marx said religion was the opiate of the masses. Well it looks like most of them have kicked the habit.