Godnose, the comments about being a sheep in wolf's clothing aren't really about your ideas in particular but more about us not really knowing your true views. We are weary of anyone that just jumps right in with ideas such as yours who haven't been around long enough for us to know you. Every week someone jumps in here spouting their ideas and condemning anyone who thinks differently. These people have no intentions of having meaningful debate or sticking around to have real discussion, so that makes us skeptical of people that don't try to get to know everyone here first before declaring their new ideas. Our reaction has little to do with your idea, and more to do with how you've presented it. Don't take it personally, but we get a lot of this around here.
I do understand what you mean about many atheists lacking desire for spiritual growth, but that is a personal issue anyway, so I don't think a community would solve that. I get my fill by reading about Buddhism and Native American culture.
As far as moral guidance goes, I think you are making a false correlation between a position of authority and wisdom. Atheists don't need a dedicated advisor to dispense guidance and wisdom to each other. Talking to clergy gives you a false sense of compassion anyway. The priest may genuinely care about you, but he does so because god told him to. Meeting people who you can share things with is an important part of life, and just declaring someone a 'priest' is taking a shortcut to finding meaningful relationships. If you have trouble meeting people real life, as I do, there's always places like this on the internet.
I do understand what you mean about many atheists lacking desire for spiritual growth, but that is a personal issue anyway, so I don't think a community would solve that. I get my fill by reading about Buddhism and Native American culture.
As far as moral guidance goes, I think you are making a false correlation between a position of authority and wisdom. Atheists don't need a dedicated advisor to dispense guidance and wisdom to each other. Talking to clergy gives you a false sense of compassion anyway. The priest may genuinely care about you, but he does so because god told him to. Meeting people who you can share things with is an important part of life, and just declaring someone a 'priest' is taking a shortcut to finding meaningful relationships. If you have trouble meeting people real life, as I do, there's always places like this on the internet.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
