What is a good 'symbol' for an atheist to wear?

[Mich the Tester]

Unlike the chappy in the lift this morning wearing a huge ‘JC; guaranteed salvation’ symbol on his t-shirt, I don’t really feel the need to throw my beliefs or lack of them at people who haven’t asked.

[Tarquin Farquhar]

Unlike the chappy in the lift this morning wearing a huge ‘JC; guaranteed salvation’ symbol on his t-shirt, I don’t really feel the need to throw my beliefs or lack of them at people who haven’t asked.

I don't either. But people who do ask, get.

[Mich the Tester]

I don't either. But people who do ask, get.

Indeed. Neighbours of ours were very upset when their daughter’s boyfriend brought a copy of ‘The God Delusion’ with him when he visited them for the weekend. Their daughter has to go through the pretence of going to church just to pacify her father, and her boyfriend, who seems to me to be a very good kid indeed, is terrified to visit. The same neighbours came into my place one day and saw the complete works of Richard Dawkins and Carl Sagan in a prominent place on the bookshelf, and said ‘oh not another atheist; why do you people want to offend christians with your nasty books?’ Now this is really twisting things; they’re in MY house and they expect me to adapt my choice of books to the fact that they might take offence. Besides, I don’t think there’s a single insulting word in either Dawkins’ or Sagan’s works; both are very critical of religion, but do not lower themselves to insulting religious people.

[Moscow Mule]

‘oh not another atheist; why do you people want to offend christians with your nasty books?’

<MTT>
It's not just the Christians mate, I think you're all bonkers.
</MTT>

[Mich the Tester]

<MTT>
It's not just the Christians mate, I think you're all bonkers.
</MTT>

I don’t think believers are bonkers at all. I just think they’re wrong.

[Moscow Mule]

I don’t think believers are bonkers at all. I just think they’re wrong.

Oh, sorry.

[NotAllThere]

... (Richard Dawkins nailed to a cross excepted)

Doesn't Dawkins himself wear some kind of lapel badge that identifies him as a "Clear Thinker"?

Yes, not realising that it identifies him as an arrogant tw*t.

Please get back on topic. How about a nice bleak abyss?

[meridian]

Now this is really twisting things; they’re in MY house and they expect me to adapt my choice of books to the fact that they might take offence.

Vegetarians are the same - coming round, expecting meat-free meals. Bloody cheek!

[Board Game Geek]

Vegetarians are the same - coming round, expecting meat-free meals. Bloody cheek!

Yeah I know.

Try something different.

Organise a chilli-con-carnal party.

(It is just me, or is using the words Organ and Carnal in the same sentence deeply alluring ?)

[pzz76077]

Once again the right to advertise your brand of religion to the rest of society rears its head with the Sikh dagger malarkey. We have one mob with their head scarves and beards, another with skull caps and Volvos, while others prefer fish symbols and effigies of little men nailed to a cross.

As an atheist I think they are all equally wrong in their beliefs but reserve their right to believe what they want, providing they are tolerant of others and don't insult me by telling me my children will burn in hell for not being christened etc. I do have a problem with generation after generation indoctrinating their offspring to believe the same without challenge though.

I wonder if it would help those poor indoctrinated kids to think for themselves if they encountered an atheist symbol in their daily lives rather than assume that everyone else is 'probably' of one faith or another.

What do you lot think? and what would be a good symbol? (Richard Dawkins nailed to a cross excepted)

How about a nice little chain with the letters 'NSA'* attached to it??
Or is that too American??

*=No Symbol Applicable

PZZ


Interesting note: out of 70,000 skeletons recently examined from the time/place of Jesus, only one was found to have evidence of being nailed to anything. Most sinners were just tied to a cross, nails being too expensive to throw away on mere Christian crusifictions it seems. Hey but wait a minute, I wonder if that one could of been...no it couldn't be...could it??