Past meeting

What is "Radical Atheism"

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Friday, April 18, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Jean Talon Building
Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6
4.75

(7 ratings)

Meeting Description

Organized by: Seanna

Details

Are there Radical Atheists among us???? Let's hear from them.

Important note regarding directions

As several people mentioned at the January meeting, this building is hard to find if you have never been there before and/or don't work for the government. Unfortunately, it is not possible to edit Meetup's automated directions, so please use these instead:

The Jean Talon building is located in the Tunney's Pasture complex, near Holland and Scott.

* From Scott Street go north on Holland.
* On the right hand side, about half way down, you will find the Jean Talon Building. Go up the steps to the entrance, the conference room is on the main floor to the right.

Click here for directions

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Pre-event comments

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RSVP: Yes

Having an opinion which differs from the majority is not radical so most of those who are labeled "radical Atheists" really aren't; they're simply Atheists with a different opinion. Cheers.

Derrick G.

Posted Apr 17, 10:07 PM
RSVP: Maybe

Dioni - http://www.sciam.com/articl... Brilliant! :D To do with that new film expelled that is getting all the media hype. I LOVE Sci Am :D !!! Oh, anyone feel like doing an atheist discussion while attending a dark sky site for some astronomy? We have an 8" SCT Celestron with GPS and a van ;) Now that the weather is great, what a super way to explore and reflect on the universe at large.

Andrea

Posted Apr 17, 7:39 PM
RSVP: No

I would love to attend but I have a conflicting event.

Xander Miller

Posted Apr 17, 5:34 PM
RSVP: Maybe

The real point is in the alleged supremacy of those who want to believe. Perfectly dishonest strategies allow them to present atheists as what THEY are : closed, weird people with whom it's not possible to have any sincere discussion.

Dioni

Posted Apr 17, 4:59 PM
RSVP: Maybe

Exactly Dioni, and thus both the claim that there is no god or there is a god cannot pass a test. I think based on the science we know, that god is the least likely possiblility and that's about as much as we can show at the moment or feasibly claim.

Andrea

Posted Apr 17, 2:51 PM
RSVP: Maybe

Would any theory be considered true, until no one has proved that it's false ??? That's exactly the opposite of the scientist mind. 1°) There's no point in seeking any absolute truth. 2°) There are just better theories than others : those who are related to the reality resist better to any attack, until next discoveries and, thus, new theories. 3°) They are corroborated by showing how "true" they are : how bound to the reality. The "God" theory has no chance to pass such a test.

Dioni

Posted Apr 17, 2:21 PM
RSVP: No

yikes! Exams ahoy! I hope someone will take notes!

Catherine

Posted Apr 17, 2:04 PM
RSVP: Maybe

Sorry, i should correct my last statement, a 'weak' atheist apart from an agnostic or theist allows for one extra option: nothing.

Andrea

Posted Apr 14, 10:09 AM
RSVP: Maybe

I would also argue, that the position of a weak atheist allows for a better argument point. The onus is not on you proving that there can be no god, just that the one they present isn't logical. And truly... who can prove there is no god either? I think the biggest factor is "can we be happy realizing that there might not be an eternity". An atheist apart from an agnostic or theist allows for one extra option: nothing.

Andrea

Posted Apr 14, 8:43 AM
RSVP: Maybe

I think that's an interesting distinction. I'm a weak atheist in that until someone can show me solid evidence that there is a god, I'll stick with a position of no position. It would be comparable to me saying i don't believe in a swarming flock of stinging pick unicorns orbiting the sun. So, i neither maintain the position that their is a god, or their isn't. Simply, until one is shown with empiracle evidence, it won't make a difference to the way i live my life.

Andrea

Posted Apr 14, 8:40 AM
RSVP: No

Andrea... Thanks for your comment. Your own (first) post raises another key issue: beliefs. I think we atheists cannot avoid this when talking about our standpoint. The status of sentences "Ottawa is the capital of Canada" and "There is no god" are not the same. The first is a provable fact, the second (similarly as its negation) is an unprovable belief. So atheists (as opposed to agnostics) do claim a belief in this matter. I see myself as "symmetric" to a believer in god.

Andrzej

Posted Apr 13, 9:38 AM
RSVP: Maybe

Andrzej... I don't have a specific answer but my opinion is this: I have a copy of Scientific Mind beside me with an article suggesting that certain personalities have an inherent 'need' to believe. To take away this crutch if you will could leave them with a void needing to be filled. I have observed similar in my family. As long as they obey our civil laws and liberties, i think it's ok. No reason not to engage in discussions if they so desire.

Andrea

Posted Apr 12, 3:05 PM
RSVP: No

Unfortunately, I won't be able to come, although I was really looking forward to this meeting. Here is the issue I wanted to raise. Do we (and by "we" I mean here convinced atheists) have the moral right to try to talk a close believer friend out of his/her faith (assuming that this could be successful)? In particular, if the friend says that faith in god gives him/her psychological comfort and helps dealing with fear, anxiety, etc. In the past I did it, now I have growing doubts if I should.

Andrzej

Posted Apr 12, 2:08 PM
RSVP: Yes

I do believe there is such a thing as radical atheism unfortunately, and more so, that many atheists are falling for it. Of course you could define that term in many ways, but the sense in which I refer to it is in how many atheists believe that religious people are inherently stupid or deluded. In the same way we believe that the earth and everything else did not just drop out of the sky, it is equally wrong to believe that religion did just that. It evolved into our mindsets for a good reason.

Abhishek

Posted Apr 11, 9:05 PM
RSVP: Maybe

Spurning any belief, thinking by oneself, intending to KNOW (and not, to believe), by using an honest, pessimistic and self-critical way of thinking, that's atheism ... Much more than just an absence of belief. Something radically else.

Dioni

Posted Apr 11, 7:02 PM
RSVP: Maybe

I'm curious where the notion of "beliefs" comes in. To believe in something is to consider it real, sight unseen. People 'believe' in a god. Can an atheist really believe in atheism? I have no beliefs because I have nothing to believe in. I would suggest that it is not helping define atheists if we keep referring to our belief. It's very strange to say that a belief is not believing in something unproven. A thought... not sure i can make it that night but am looking forward to meeting you all.

Andrea

Posted Apr 11, 3:02 PM
RSVP: Yes

I don't believe there is such a thing in our pluralistic secular society. There is nothing radical in letting society know that we don't want our tax dollars supporting their mythology whether it be catholic schools, prayer at council meetings etc. Now if this were Iran or any other muslim country, THEN it would be considered radical. Should be an interesting discussion...

Derrick G.

Posted Apr 4, 2:49 PM
RSVP: Yes

IS ATHEISM A BELIEF IN NOTHING OR A BELIEF IN SOMETHING???? DOES A BELIEF IN SOMETHING GIVE PEOPLE ( A GROUP OF PEOPLE) MORE COHESSION, FOCUS, ENERGY AND POWER, AND IS IT MORE MOTIVATING AND INSPIRING????????? IS THERE AN INATE NEED IN HUMANS TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING????? ARE THE AUTHORS OF RECENT ANTI-GOD BOOKS SUCH AS THE "GOD DELUSION", "GOD IS NOT GREAT", AND "THE SECULAR AGE" RADICAL ATHEIST OR ARE THEY JUST PROACTIVE ATHEISTS????

david burton

Posted Apr 2, 12:36 PM
RSVP: Yes

RADICAL ATHEISM IS AN UNDEFINED TERM AND CAN MEAN WHATEVER ANYONE WANTS IT TO MEAN. A RADICAL ATHEIST IS WILLING TO BE A SUICIDE BOMBER FOR HIS BELIEFS, A RADICAL ATHEIST IS WILLING TO SACRIFICE HIS LIFE FOR HIS BELIEFS. BEING A RADICAL ATHEIST INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST TALKING - IT INVOLVES ACTION, TAKING RISKS AND A WILLINGNESS TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR THEIR BELIEFS....... MILITANT ATHEIST ATTACK THE RELGIOUS BELIEFS OF OTHERS AND ORGANIZED RELIGIONS AND CHURCHES...... FREETHINKER DAVE

david burton

Posted Apr 2, 12:25 PM
RSVP: Maybe

True or fake atheism, that's the question.

Dioni

Posted Mar 29, 9:07 AM

Who Attended

The organizer estimated that 35 people attended.

david burton
" THERE WAS AGREEMENT BY MOST OF THE PEOPLE AT THE MEETING THAT THERE ARE NO RADICAL ATHEISTS IN TODAY'S WORLD............... HOWEVER, I DID FIND MANY COMMENTS ON THE ATHEIST EXPERIENCE TO BE INTERESTING AND WORTH WHILE - AND IT DID GIVE ME A CHANCE TO GET OTHER PEOPLES PERSPECTIVES ON ATHEISM ................. - IT WAS A WORTH WHILE EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS THOUGHT PROVOKING...... ATHEIST WHO CAN NOT OR WILL NOT ACCEPT AND RESPECT THE BELIEFS AND VIEWS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY HARDLINE ATHEISTS OR INTOLERANT ATHEISTS - I AM NOT SURE IF THAT MAKES THEM RADICAL ATHEISTS....... IT DOES NOT BOTHER ME PERSONALLY, IF PEOPLE WISH ME A MERRY CHRISTMAS,OR IF THERE IS A BIBLE IN MY HOTEL ROOM................ .................... ......... "
Derrick G.
"From a Theist point of view a Radical Atheist is an Atheist who dares open his or her mouth! From a dictionary definition it is an Atheist who tries to change the laws to reduce/remove the influence of Theist organizations from the Public sphere."
Martin
Michael
Dave Green
Steve Zabarylo
Mike B
Chuck O'Dale
Bob
Suzanne
hilary
Dwayne
Seanna
Abhishek
Julian
Paul Leclair
Sandy
Halden
Julie
Eva Myers
Steve Watson
Glen Boese
Kenan Kenan
Nick
lise landriault
lise landriault

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What is "Radical Atheism"

Meeting Description

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Who Attended