Cuddly Atheism

‘A’ week on Facebook was on the 29th of March through the 6th of April and yet I’d venture a guess that at least half my atheist Facebook friends still have their A’s up or have somehow incorporated them into their regular profile pictures. You’ll note the date is now the third of May.

Why does this irk me? I dunno. It just seems cliquey and exclusionary. You’re with us or you’re against us. We’re all individuals (“Yes, we’re all individuals.”). I wear my atheism proudly. To me it represents my childlike enthusiasm and curiosity for all the wonders of science and nature. What I wonder, however, is how many potential atheists are being turned off or away by this herd mentality. Where’s the focus on the beauty and wonder of the universe, a la Carl Sagan, that brought so many of us where we are today? Where’s the unique humor, a la Douglas Adams, used to expose so many obvious and fantastic truths that, yes, made us laugh, but also made us see the world from a bizarrely right-side-up perspective?

So where are we now? What we have devolved into, I’m afraid, my friends, is an anonymous group of internet atheists, rallying around the flagpole righting wrongs most of us can’t begin to comprehend or at least righting wrongs in a misdirected or misguided manner. Also of note is that when this happens, you end up preaching to the choir or spiral downwards into shouting matches with those who don’t agree with you. Nothing helpful is accomplished. What I’ve found to be true on the internet is that it’s a great place for people to anonymously vent their ire. Following this statement, I’ve come to the conclusion that the vast majority of internet atheists are using anonymity, the internet, and their cause du jour to stifle what could and should be pockets of healthy, rational discussion and debate.

The big question is, how do we get rid of the Internet Atheist meme and get back to a world where the norm is atheists, agnostics and freethinkers having rational (if heated) discourse over important topics? I think we start by getting rid of cliquey memes such as Atheist A’s for profile pics long after A week is over. Imagine if Christians did the same thing? We’d find it unsettling, yes? And they probably find what the Internet Atheists are doing unsettling, as I’m sure many other groups do – and here’s the kicker – I’m including fence-sitters in this. Don’t push them over the fence into the hands of those who would love to take hold and advantage of a vulnerable heart.

If you’re reading this and you have an A up as a profile pic, don’t be offended. Just think to yourself. Do I want the first thing people associate with me to be ‘Atheist’ or ‘Oh, hey, that’s John. We had fun skiing that time together.’

At the very least, do it for me, won’t you?

Please Stop Being an Internet Atheist

Cuddles,
Kate