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A word for nonbelievers | Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/05/2008

What do you think of this? Here is a man who wants everyone to think like him. Would it be a better world if they did?

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Serious question. What's the difference between this man's signs and other signs outside other places of diverse beliefs? Aren't many of them designed to get others to think like they do?


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I would disagree.
Like it or not, religions do the world a great service in keeping people honest. Typically the fear of the law or the fear of God are the only things which keep many people from running amuck.
So if people somehow lost that fear of God which keeps them in line there would be chaos.
Many people are inherently good, but not all, some are inherently bad.
If people thought that there was no life after death and no consequences for actions taken in this life other than in this life, then murders would rise as if there is no witness, there could be no punishment.
People would do whatever they wanted and if there were witnesses they would kill them so as to avoid the legal punishments.
So how would just not believing in God bring about a better world???

No, it wouldn't be a better world if everyone thought like him, or me. By the nature of our experiences our thinking is limited and full of blind spots. No one mind can cover all the bases, and if all minds thought alike there would be huge areas of human experiences not explored and pioneered.

Care of one's conscience and others human rights needs attention if one finds themselves among a majority of any group. Most majority groups seek to bully the minority into conformity, all for 'a better world"

My own realisation is that i have nothing to hope for from what i called god and atheists have nothing to fear from it. With that said, and past histories of human behavior, i have the feeling atheism as a majority would deal no better with a believing minority then they are being dealt with as a minority now. Am talking group behavior.

I don't think there's any problem with telling people there are other liked-minded folks out there. Churches advertise all the time. Why shouldn't other groups? I must say, though, I've never liked the "billboard" approach. Maybe it speaks to some people - I don't really know. I just don't think spirituality can be marketed - I think such convictions come from within.

I can't imagine the backlash my organization would face if we ever openly advertised our lodge to the public in such a fashion. People would be locking their children indoors and there would be petitions to take it down.


This is absolute idiocy. This guy is no better than the fundamentalists he probably rails against. The problem you get when you pigeon-hole every human on the planet down to one belief is a bland, culture-less society. Think of how much diversity we'd lose. I'm not an apologist for any faith or belief, but I'm happy I live in a world where everyone doesn't think like I do. Because of this I am constantly challenged and I'm constantly growing. The alternative would make life absolutely pointless. Fight against these people, no matter what their faith or beliefs...they want to make us all into one bland grey race of dullards. Does that make the world better or worse?

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"The Lord can make you tumble, the Lord can make you turn, the Lord can make you overflow...but the Lord can't make you burn." - Randy Newman

I agree with Octavius. I think that the world would be rather dull and bland if we all believed the same things, religious fundamentalism or atheism. I like that we all believe differently, think differently, and have different experiences. We are much more interesting being diverse than we would be if we all were the same.

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"Philosophy is a walk on a slippery rock
Religion is a smile on a dog."