Atheism's new political wing..

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Advocate secularism and keep plugging away. Generally speaking as people become more aware of politics and the structures of the state they become more invested. If we consider that more people will be non-religious in the UK than religious in the coming decades, simple parsimonious math would dictate that it would be a political inevitability that some religious activities endorsed by the state will become a thing of the past.

but that's far too simplistic. Combating ignorance of politics and the matters of the state is the first step; knowing is half the battle after all. Ask anyone on the street where you live "What do you think about academies" or "what do you think of the lords spiritual" and you'll most likely get a blank stare. Secularism also obviously includes many religious people (being a religious construct itself), so I think engaging in a dialogue through the lens of secularism helps demolish barriers to the continuing secularisation of the state (after all, secularism is about the protection of religion and non-religion, and if more religious people advocate that then it can only benefit in the long run).

Finally we have to consider in our simplistic analysis that people who stand to lose something won't give it up quickly or easily. To that end, we should campaign actively to stop, immediately, all religiously based exemptions. We should stop tax exemptions based on beliefs, and we should certainly campaign to end state funded faith based education. The less there is to lose, the easier it is to facilitate.

[RobbyPants]

isn't it time us atheists joined together as a positive force with a positive common purpose?

There already are numerous humanist groups devoted to helping people without using religion to drive the cause.

So we form non theist political parties and promote secularism and humanism first... and become the world's biggest pressure group?

What would be the point? America is pretty anti-atheist when it comes to politics, so such a party would be guaranteed to not get enough votes to be elected. What's more, any vote it did get would almost certainly be siphoned from Democrats, making it more likely Republicans would get elected. This party would basically do the opposite of what you want.

Instead, focus your efforts on promoting secular ideas within the existing framework.

[Dystopia]

No thanks, I wouldn't mind being in a party full of Christians as long as their measures were the best possible. I don't think being in an atheist exclusive party would be better for me, in fact I tend to disagree with a lot of political ideas other atheists have.

[lifesagift]

isn't it time us atheists joined together as a positive force with a positive common purpose?

There already are numerous humanist groups devoted to helping people without using religion to drive the cause.

So we form non theist political parties and promote secularism and humanism first... and become the world's biggest pressure group?

What would be the point? America is pretty anti-atheist when it comes to politics, so such a party would be guaranteed to not get enough votes to be elected. What's more, any vote it did get would almost certainly be siphoned from Democrats, making it more likely Republicans would get elected. This party would basically do the opposite of what you want.

Instead, focus your efforts on promoting secular ideas within the existing framework.

How do I promote secular values as an individual?
We need to for a pressure group because we won't get elected, but we need to demand that our rights are observed as are religious groups...

[dyresand]

hey a atheist president would do us some good it would be a breath of fresh air considering.

[dimaniac]

Party that supports social darwinism will surely be good for America.

[Ryantology]

In the United States, the choice has been made for us: conservatives hate atheists, and care nothing for our rights.

I know there are atheists who are politically conservative, but this strikes me as absurd in the extreme, like Log Cabin Republicans.

[Chas]

Party that supports social darwinism will surely be good for America.

Go fuck yourself.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Party that supports social darwinism will surely be good for America.

*sigh*

Your comment only makes you out to be the ignorant tosser you no doubt are.