Not Enough Reality

Caught up recently with the announcement of a world meeting of atheists in Melbourne, Australia, in March next year. I'm very tempted to go, not just because of the caliber of speakers (including Richard Dawkins and Peter Singer) but just because it is a big assembly of rational human beings all in one place, and atheists don't often get to experience that.

Got me thinking. The advantage of the big cathedrals and megachurches to the religious is obvious. You sit down (I speak hypothetically in my case), and looking all around you see people who share the same delusion. Must be right then, you think, all these people can't be wrong. I suppose, though I've never done this either, that it must be the same feeling you get as one of a large number of people on stage at a hypnotism show, all barking like dogs, or eating soap. Must be right, they think, all the others are eating this lovely yellow cake, too.

So I think Richard Dawkins could do the world an even greater service than he has already by funding places of atheist non-worship in all the countries afflicted by religion. I would call them Reality Domes, but he might have other ideas.

And there we could all sit, and looking around could be reassured that we were not alone, that there were, in spite of all the religious madness we see on the news, day after day, other rational people in the world. More, perhaps, than we think.

I suppose I could change the name of The Watermelon Blog to the Reality Dome, to signal the start of brave new day.

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Comments

[Liberal Angel]

I don't understand why there would be a need for atheists to get together to discuss their disbelief. Atheism isn't monolithic. Some people who say they're atheists really mean they aren't religious. Some people (like me) are atheist about the idea of God as a supernatural being. Some people who are atheist, are still religious i.e Buddhists and Jains. Some Christians and Jews are atheists, but adhere to their religions because of culture. Having a place where atheists gather for what? Worship of atheist principles? That would make them adherents of a faith similar to Jainism. Atheism is no more unified than theism is. I reject both views and call myself a panentheist Christian. Many people (like many Hindus) are technically atheists because they are monists. Do we consider deists to be atheists now?

How can you say religious people are irrational? You have your disbelief in God, while we have our various beliefs. What proof have you of His non-existence? And if it could be proven that supernatural beings exist, why would you assume God is a supernatural being? Why does anyone assume God is subject to be "proven"? What makes an atheist rational and a believer irrational?

[minimalist syntax]

:-) This idea is a little bit mockable (said while ducking rationally thrown objects). I don't know about other Christians, but I don't really stand in church thinking: hmm. What a validation of my beliefs! There are other (unintelligent) people here. In fact, I like it best when it is a weekday liturgy that almost no one can go to. It is so peaceful and intimate.

[NevaforLeadership]

I'm a big fan of Richard Dawkins, but why don't you fund the Realty Domes. Why should he? It's your idea.

[David Horton - Huffpost Blogger]

Because, unaccountably, he is much much richer than me! But also I've always been an ideas man, happy to send my intellectual children winging into cyber space where entrepeneurs can take them and develop them. I seek no credit, just basking in the warm glow of serving my fellow rational humans. Mainly the wealth question though.

[JohnFromCensornati]

How inconvenient.

[David Horton - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks to everyone who contributed. Looks like I'll be seeing some of you at least (even you John) in the first Reality Dome congregation. And then we can plan the first outings with the help of Octopi!

[JohnFromCensornati]

Honestly, it's unlikely that I'd attend an un-church either.

[JayDubs]

I laugh at the irony of "holier than thou" atheists. Though, I suppose these types are more likely to think of it as "more rational than you." Nonetheless, it is still just a group of people trying to affirm how they are somehow superior than another group of people with different beliefs. It is no better or worse.

[wondering]

Do you believe in Zeus? Do you believe in Odin? Do you believe in Krishna? Do you believe in Ahura Mazda?

No? Well, welcome to the club, fellow "holier than thou" atheist! (Oh yeah, I forgot Yahweh. A much more plausible invisible friend, fer sure.)
.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Actually, it is just a group of people trying to demonstrate how their *ideas* are superior to the god *beliefs* of another group of people.

[minimalist syntax]

How is an idea not a belief?

[yourmotherwasahamster]

I read nothing in the article to suggest that the writer sees himself or his fellow non-believers as superior. If you are basing your comment not on the article but on your experience with atheists that you have met personally then that is your right to hold such an opinion, of course. However, I find in my experience that the superior attitude comes far more often from the religionists, xtians in particular, who claim to be "chosen" or saved or somehow favored for special privilege due to their faith. They frequently condemn those who believe differently as "damned" and hell-bound or certain to suffer some horrible fate (deserved) for their failure to embrace the one true faith(whichever that is). I have yet to hear a non-believer say such vile things about their fellow human beings. If anything, they feel sorry for those who are blinded by fantasy and wish only to free them from their mental shackles.

[NevaforLeadership]

Well, they are actually superior. They have not abandoned all reason. They know that the myths of the zodiac are just that. Myths. Two-thousand plus year old myths.

Believing in religion is equivalent to believing in any of the many pagan gods, fairies and space aliens.

[Liberal Angel]

You don't "believe" in religion. You adhere to a faith or you don't. You may believe tenets of that religion, or you may not. Religion is more than just beliefs. It has to do with fellowship, rituals and observances, ethical teachings (that may or may not be up to date), and seeking knowledge of the realities of our existence. Myths are about deep truths that are best explained in metaphor and allegory. Thinking of a myth as the same as a fairytale is a modern thing. Since we have no clue about what other type of life forms there may or may not be, you can't say there are no aliens. Our visible universe is about 90 billion light years huge. I think claiming aliens exist is well founded. lt's not reasonable to think earthlings are the only ones living in the Universe. Who knows, some may actually look like fairies. Another thing is no one is superior to another. We are all equal (whether you believe it or not) and subject to the same things. So, no atheists aren't superior to believers any more than socialist are superior to capitalists.

[Liberal Angel]

Irony. I don't know what criterion they use for saying they're rational, and believers aren't. Irrationality and rationality are common to use all. What is rational about music or art? Surely they have a like of these things. What's rational about comedy? What's rational about most things we enjoy in life? We are not Vulcans.

[octopi]

Why build a special place for sitting around gossiping and gawking at each other? How about starting group visits to museums, group science learning, or group educational forums on Sundays? Instead of a pastor, have a coordinator who receives group donations for putting together interesting sessions. Imagine how much it would enhance our culture if people did those kind of activities weekly instead of going to churches.

[elmerfude]

I call myself a Jesusian. This really throws the off the scent. It basically means that the Old Testament God is a filament of mankind's imagination but that some of the parables of Jesus are okay. I don't think we need reality domes--for heavens sake it might morph into another darn religion! I think just hugging a walnut tree will do it.

[Merlin7]

I can't make it, but please pass along the following suggestion: Let's change our designation from atheists to realists and refer to ourselves as such. The term atheist has such a negative ring in popular culture, and "realists" more accurately describes how we think. I was pleasantly surprised to see that you suggested meeting in Reality Domes, so it must be true that great minds think alike. The realist movement also would be wise to recruit more celebrities such as Bill Maher to promote rational thinking in an entertaining way. Perhaps Brad Pitt would be willing to pick up this sword, as he recently voiced skepticism in the Sky Daddy Department.

[peckerberto]

How refreshing it would be, being in a group of intelligent, rational people. After the idiocy I've been seeing at those town hall meetings I forgot that there are still rational people in the world.