Atheism and Identity
Atheism is not a religion, nor does it require "faith" in the sense that that word is used by religious people. Many atheists, justifiably put off by assertions to the contrary, have pushed back in the opposite direction, claiming that to be an atheist means nothing more than to lack a belief in a God or gods. While this may be true as a matter of semantics, it ignores the important role that politically conscious atheists play in modern American society.
Individual and group identities can form around any of a number of traits that are rendered salient by the social, political, economic, and cultural conditions in which individuals find themselves. When we speak of Palestinians, of the "Black Community," and of atheists (at least in America), we are talking about groups whose members identify with one another because they have a shared sense of having endured, and still enduring, some form of oppression, marginalization, or antagonization on the part of the larger societies in which they find themselves.
When atheists go to Reason Rallies, or Apostacons, or other atheism/agnosticism/freethinker/secular humanist conventions, they do not go as votaries to a sacred ritual, but they do go as members of a community defined by much more than the mere lack of a belief in God. There is no essence of the atheist community, but there are overlapping and criss-crossing values - skepticism, intellectual honesty, anti-authoritarianism, etc. - that form the background for the conversations and debates such gathering inevitably lead to.
One of the things many formerly religious people grapple with is how to find meaning in a world without God. But many eventually realize that what they missed was not so much God but the sense of community, of being a part of something larger than oneself, that comes with belonging to a church. Given the degree to which non-believers are marginalized and demonized in American society, it was almost inevitable that many atheists would be drawn to a community of like-minded persons dedicated to secular activism.
Recently, I appeared on: Road to Reason - A Skeptic's Guide to the 21st Century
, where the hosts and I discussed the questions of identity and community among secular Americans. I join the show at 18:00.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFzVH...
Individual and group identities can form around any of a number of traits that are rendered salient by the social, political, economic, and cultural conditions in which individuals find themselves. When we speak of Palestinians, of the "Black Community," and of atheists (at least in America), we are talking about groups whose members identify with one another because they have a shared sense of having endured, and still enduring, some form of oppression, marginalization, or antagonization on the part of the larger societies in which they find themselves.
When atheists go to Reason Rallies, or Apostacons, or other atheism/agnosticism/freethinker/secular humanist conventions, they do not go as votaries to a sacred ritual, but they do go as members of a community defined by much more than the mere lack of a belief in God. There is no essence of the atheist community, but there are overlapping and criss-crossing values - skepticism, intellectual honesty, anti-authoritarianism, etc. - that form the background for the conversations and debates such gathering inevitably lead to.
One of the things many formerly religious people grapple with is how to find meaning in a world without God. But many eventually realize that what they missed was not so much God but the sense of community, of being a part of something larger than oneself, that comes with belonging to a church. Given the degree to which non-believers are marginalized and demonized in American society, it was almost inevitable that many atheists would be drawn to a community of like-minded persons dedicated to secular activism.
Recently, I appeared on: Road to Reason - A Skeptic's Guide to the 21st Century
, where the hosts and I discussed the questions of identity and community among secular Americans. I join the show at 18:00.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFzVH...
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I remember back to the times when, as a non-deist, I felt the lack of community. However, going even further back, and intending no humour or levity here, I was,at a very young age, part of the "psychonaut" community. Our experiences with psychedelics provided us with a shortcut, an almost instant entree into an understanding of agape, or "oneness". This proved very useful over the years, long after the actual ingestion of said substances had been discontinued.
These are now being used for people needing "something" at the end of life, and people experiencing severe depression or PTSD and other mental health issues. I mention this in the context of especially the end-of-life and seeking of "more", because these substances and their use are now being taken seriously by many professionals in such fields.
I'm not trying to promote their use. My point is that of the instant community we became part of (in the sixties and seventies), by virtue of this experience. And now, we are still able to recognize one another quite quickly, by a few key words, phrases, attitudes.
Later, I would again experience the lack of community, but I had never had it to begin with, in the church. Though I was raised strictly Lutheran, I felt outcast and "anti" at a very young age and so felt alone.
Now, I'm just adrift, but social media has been a great place to alleviate this, to find like-minded individuals.
I've not heard of your particular group, but being Canadian, it would more likely be called something like "How To Recover From Religeon Without Offending Anyone".
Keep up the great work, Dustin.
Sue.