The Biggest Atheist group in the world are the believers in Confucism
Confucism is not a religion it is a way of life
Confucism does not believe in gods as such it believes in the following of a healthy lifestyle and way of life
Thanks have a good life
From Dave

Religious groups have rights above and beyond those of non-believers. We pay our taxes, we want equality, and all the puts downs and mockery that people of belief throw our way is not going to stop us.

This is just another example of the hypocrisy that we are seeing manifest. The attitudes of many of the people on this board is an example of what our community is dealing with, whether you understand or like that is beside the point.

You may mock us for collectively having humanistic evolutionary social morals and standards, this is a reflection of the inherent good that is within us all as social beings. We will not let religious bigotry take that away from us.

'one under god' you may mock and ridicule, claim a stronger moral compass, may not understand what atheism is, but you are kinda proving a point here. I am not mocking your belief, but you are mocking us for not having yours. This is no different that you mocking Islam, mocking the Jewish faith, mocking buddhism etc. Indeed the issue is inherently entwined because of your attitude.

I just have belief in one less god than you do.

We are people of logic, reason and humanistic ideals, and we want a voice and to be heard.

We are a community, a growing and large community made up of many, with vocal groups such as the AFA just part of that.

What about the Parliament of World Religion? They are being funded millions of dollars.

Not only do these groups get tax breaks, but they are also allowed funding from those of us that do pay taxes, while we are denied.

All we want is equality.

David
I agree they did fudge the answers on Q&A but the fact they were not honest in stating the Church view of homesexuality as a sin does imply change even if only a tiny step.

Yes I would be against ripping off cat legs - shock horror. :)

What will the rise of Atheism do to achieve religious groups breaking the laws (animal cruelty in this instance) that the law won't already provide?

Yes in some countries people can be killed for being homosexual or for committing adultery, but again, what will an atheism movement achieve that a human rights movement wouldn't without any of the dogma, one way or the other?

Achieve? here's just a number of things that need confronting :

http://www.smh.com.au/national/almighty-row-over-ethics-class-in-schools-20090925-g6a0.html

Religions are actively stopping our children from learning ANYTHING in our public schools, doesn't matter than we have structured ethics classes ready to go. Religion is fighting this from happening.

Victoria has proposed a new law granting religious groups an exemption from certain sorts of anti-discrimination measures, they would be allowed to exclude candidates for jobs or services on the basis of religious faith, gender, and sexuality. Why? one law for them and another for us?

Federal exemptions or concessions apply to religions for income tax, fringe benefits tax and the GST. In state government, concessions apply to payroll tax, land tax, stamp duties and car registration fees. Local government bodies give exemptions from municipal rates to religious bodies. Concessions apply to some water and power charges, as well. Section 57 of the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 gives total exemption to fringe benefits given to employees who are religious practitioners.

One law for them, another for us. We are citizens, we are tax-payers.

These things and more are why the voices of non-believers are asking for equality, our current laws only support religion, above and beyond the rights of Australians that do not have their 'faith'.

thanks woot...<<we are different only in that of one god>>

it dosnt seem much...but just/by believing...no..its more than belief...just in knowing..god is a/the reality..that one small difference..allows me instant symatry..with others..believing in god

in time..you athiests..will have your own churches...were you can simply find..those like you..see..i visit their alters...and feel at home..with my own...our fathers/children

you would not have this..with other than..athiests...who vary from the most loving..to the most...well not ..so loving...but i can happliy sit with athiest/or..thiest alike...for i know..we are all one

god so loves us...so loves you...all

..has given..your life/..egsactly what you need..and you know it not...have you thanked your parentals..for raising you...it just makes me sad..people are so ea-silly taken in..by those feared/ignorant of good/god

i might seem to give..athiests..a hard-time...but i know im a retard...only channeling on mind/imagry....light and light..is..of god

all suns..radiate/channel.. the fathers light..[love]
light/..is the logic/..that sustains life/...

that life realise love,..shoot..its like pointing..and peoople replying..i cant hear it...

well of course you cant hear..your hearing with your ear..not your mind...nor your heart

im really sorry..for trying to tell the deaf and blind..to listen with their heart...

what is the end fruit..of this topic?...there is a certain timming...its going to be at..or near..election time...finalises on the last-day..of the old moon

has many celibrities...that NORMALLY/nominally..charge appearance fees...even if..for free..they would still need courtesies..pickups/hotel/resterant...etc..add in hall hire..promotion/organisation..

someone..has put up some serious cash...to explode on the scene quickly/..unthinklingly quickly...IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ELECTION CAMPAIN

in politics timming is everything...seems a lot of cash behind the athiest movement...they even co-sponcer our postings..ability to post and the..[this]..forum...

so i wont say more than

dont give up on god
if he gave up on us
we would simply cease to be

..the logic/logus...would return to dream time
and those without love in their heart...

somehow..must be..given/the key...prayer...from/heart

before..heading..into the darkness...

god is within...the natural..of nature/nurture...

love that good/living/loving..of..nature.....simply by loving others...when/then..if..one day..in the far_distant_futur...you should awake..in darkness...remember the logic of god..living..in..your heart...know he-is within...send prayer..to the light..without

dont forget that..
then try to do love...to all..and too..all...

believe..if..you have it..and..if you dont
have a good night

From all the literature and statements I have read from the AFA, the Convention is being funded by the tickets themselves. This has been repeated here from what I read that David posted. I do not believe this will be easy to even cover, and the costs you mention are one of the reasons for this. The point is, we are organising anyway, regardless of the difficulty of our struggle against concepts such as yours.

I am not going to confront your somewhat incoherent post, nor ridicule you, I think you speak for yourself with disproving that morals and a sense of right and wrong come only from religion.

Whether you understand it or not, non-believers have a lot of specific issues that need addressing. There are specific inequalities that I gave examples of, there are plenty more, and what appears to be happening to the Atheist Foundation is that they are still waiting on a response.

As a tax-payer, and a citizen, whether you like it or not, whether you cannot conceive that atheists and non-believers have found any common consensus on morals and equality that we want to address, is beside the point. It is beside the point that you cannot accept that non-believers have a moral compass, anymore than if you said it of muslims.

I for one am attending the convention and so thankful that in some way I can join with others in a community of similar minds, to address common interest that pertains to us, without having to trudge through bigotry against us, for not sharing beliefs.