My feelings exactly.

>>If Atheism is going to become another group with a barrow to push we go down the same road of the religious zealots and missionary agendas... to make atheism a movement in itself would appear to counteract the very nature of atheism.<<

Just don't expect David Nicholls to agree with you. He gets very sensitive indeed when you point out the contradiction.

Dear Suze and Pelly,

As you both know I was raised as a Catholic,
and I still consider myself one (- admittedly,
probably not a very good one ). I still need to know
the wonder of the Mass and the comfort of confession.
I cringe at the many experiences of exclusion
(like the example that Suze gave us),
that people have suffered
over the years. Yet, I don't blame religion for some
feeble men who serve it.

Anyway, I guess the only way to be able to judge
what this Convention is trying to achieve is to go
along and attend. The thought that most of the speakers
identify themselves as "Humanists," appeals to me.
Their credentials are certainly impressive.
The only way to learn anything - I guess, is to keep an open
mind. Who knows - it may, as David Nicholls (whom I
respect greatly) says - prove to be quite exciting.

Hello Foxy,

Thanks for your kind words. Yes, we have applied for a very small amount of government funding and it is still being considered.

David

We cannot be hypocritical about tax free benefits or government funding for religious groups if we don't also dissaprove of funding for atheist groups. Although one could argue that while all this money is being handed about why not the Atheists as well.

Foxy
My mother used to tell me stories of her Catholic Girls' School. Some nuns were quite sadistic and had a warped notion of what it meant to be a Christian but there were also some lovely nuns who made a positive impact. You get good and bad in all walks.

I have no problems with humanism but why dress it up with the moniker of atheism. Why not have a humanist conference with people from all different religious and non-religious groups contributing?

Atheists have a right to have a conference as much as anyone else but As an atheist, I just happen to think it a odd objective. A conference for people who don't believe in something that they think other people should not believe in.

Atheism is on the rise for many very good reasons.

To say that making a movement out of it will counteract the very nature of Atheism is a misnomer. How do you expect to tackle any of the various prickly religious issues without an organised response?

Unless there is an organised push from Atheists things will just on the same way forever.

Foxy, I respect your feelings about your religion, as I know it brings comfort to many people, especially the sick and dying I care for.

What I can't handle is the people who want to damn every non-believer to hell and damnation, and who blame all the world's woes on who they believe are the sinners!

Trikkerdee, I see your point in one way, but I feel that being an atheist is enough without being a 'member' of an atheist group.

If enough people in this world reject organised religions and merely follow a morally and ethically sound lifestyle then that will be a good start.