Loneliness is a basic human emotion. It is biologically implanted in order to keep us in packs. Living in tribes, communities, protecting one another and ensuring the survival of our offspring. It is also what drives most people to religion. I have had a few comments lately (yes, I do read them all!) expressing gratitude for reminding them that they are not alone.
It makes me sad and frustrated because the lack of support and community is the secular world’s biggest failure. There are so many of us out there – so many atheists and not-so-sures who want to feel a part of something but don’t want to abandon their faculties to do it. We are a community of skeptics and rationalists and good moral people who can learn from one another, and gain strength from one another and affect change in the world. We just don’t have our shit together quite yet.
Liberally minded people tend not to feel as strongly about things. The very nature of our thought process means we don’t believe in forcing others to think like us. It limits our ability to recruit and form a cohesive group. The internet has obviously made that easier but for many people, the warmth that comes from sitting and talking with someone who shares your values and understands who you are, cannot be matched by a computer screen.
Come out of the closet. Tell the people around you that you are an atheist – I promise you that some of your friends, co-workers, neighbours and even family members are also atheists, or at the very least, unsure. You just don’t know it yet. Spend time thinking about your own journey to atheism so that when asked you can give a quick, convincing yet friendly synopsis. It’s not easy but it needs to be done. Many people don’t think they even know an atheist – let them know they not only know one, that they like one and hey, even love one!
And for those of you who read this blog – you are not alone. Even if there is no bearded man in the sky watching over you today, there are millions of people in this world who respect, understand, and share your world view. Help us turn this whisper into a roar.
good thinking. nothing to add.
http://www.ANaturalPhilosophy.com
(as you are writing about solitude, loneliness… i’m going to add something… because it is important. i’ve been a non-believer for a long time. at the beginning of my journey of divine truth discovery… i would let everyone know about my views. (the shock and awe approach!). then, as i got more comfortable with myself, my purpose, values, and self-worth, i became less agressive, less combative.
still, i tell people who i am. but i’dont’t feel the need to “convert” them… in person… as i use to. the internet and other venues exist for more combative discourse. overtime i have been able to built excellent relationship with some very believing christians.
and i have found that the more they believe… the more curious they are about how a non-believer sees life, death, the world. but again… caring is important. i (we) are after all the ones at odd with the multitudes.not wrong, just at odd.
http://www.ANaturalPhilosophy.com
I have been fortunate to connect with a meetup group in my area for freethinkers, atheists, and non-believers. the group was started because some of my friends wanted the community of church, but with out the religion or god (obviously). it’s nice to have a community of like minded people to get together with. we aren’t of the same backgrounds, or ethnicities, and our religious backgrounds vary between total atheism and training for evangelical pastorhood. we have a myriad of reasons for becoming non-believers and that’s what makes our group so rich! we have monthly lecturers on various topics. one of our members went undercover at some “pray away the gay” camps. we’ve had authors who are writing books nearly proving that there most likely was no jesus.
anyway, my point is, because there are so many of us out there, there might be a meetup in your area too! check meetup.com!
Within the Jewish community, tehre is a movement that was started in the 60′s that embraces a human-centered philosophy that combines the celebration of Jewish culture and identity with an adherence to humanistic values and ideas. (i.e. it strives to keep the good stuff – comunity/tradition/cultural heritage). Do you see potential for a similar movements geared at recovering Christians?
I feel more comfortable calling myself an atheist than a Humanist Jew for various reasons, but the movement is an interesting way to provide a unified voice/patform to atheists born within the Jewish community . . . ..
http://www.shj.org/believe.htm
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