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Aleisha Verwoert interviews David Nicholls, President of Atheist Foundation of Australia, about Atheism and the Global Atheist Convention for Panorama, Student Youth Network.
The Rise of Atheism2010 Global Atheist Convention
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Wow! What a GREAT video, David Nicholls is such an EXCELLENT speaker!
One other thing I might want to add with regard to this negative stigma of atheism: Just because one is atheist (one who is merely without belief in god), doesn't necessarily and automatically make them anti-theist (one who passionately detests and is against the idea of god). It's just that:
(a) there's simply no tangible evidence to prove the existence thereof,
and/or
(b). some of us just really don't care and choose to live our lives in a secular and irreligious, yet happy, healthy, morally responsible and productive way.
Like David Nicholls said, atheism is an idea whose time has come. Well, so too is the banishment of all the negative stereotypes associated with those who are atheists. Many of us are NOT the ignorant, immoral, corrupt, lost, lonely, or shallow-minded people that the religious community makes us out to be. I think that once the religious community sees that, it will become much easier to be accepted by them and to co-exist with them more peacefully.
Will this be one of the topics brought up at the convention? I can only HOPE that it will be. If not, rest assured that I'll be the one to voice my opinion on that! (now I'm REALLY wanting to go to Melbourne!)"
“Brilliant David. Really well done. Nailed it.”
adding to what Michael had to say, but your talk pretty much implied this was:
Atheists have no problem with people having faith so long as the faithful don’t try to push their views on the non-religious or society generally. The reason why atheists are speaking out is in response to ongoing discrimination, defamation and fearmongering by the religious against the non-religious on all levels.
and again, I just was to re-iterate my support of Michael's sentiments