Symbol for Atheism

[Jack 007]

is there an internationally recognised symbol for the atheist, like the christians have the cross (or fish)?

8)

[Melanie]

Apparently not, at least as far as I can see. I googled 'atheist symbol' and found this;

http://intepid.com/2005-05-25/00.39/

which contains some nice ideas - I do like the Darwin fish with legs, but I fear that might be seen as a tad too provocative...

Nice philosophical question tho - in a way an atheist symbol should mean nothing. The very idea messes with my head a bit!

[tkingdoll]

I'm not keen on the idea - for me atheist is the absence of belief, that's all. It would be like having a symbol for people who don't drive or who don't believe it's Santa.

Many people make it an issue, but I prefer it that atheism is a non-issue, and a symbol would pigeon-hole it at lot.

As far as I know, there isn't one already. In many places, being an atheist will get you assaulted.

[Dr B]

wait......are you saying there is no such thing as santa? You had better back that up with evidence girl >:( :tongue2:

[seren]

I do agree that you can't symbolise a lack of belief, and that giving it a symbol therefore is a bit meaningless, but sometimes I do want to make my feelings clear. Christians (and I choose them because for some reason they annoy me the most. I actually rather like some other religious symbols) can have bumper stickers which irritate me and I want ones to irritate them back. Which is childish, I know.

I guess it does depend if you see it as an "issue" or not. Sometimes when I read stuff about fundamentalism in America and the orthodox Muslim countries, I feel like atheism is under threat and I feel like I want to defend the right to no belief. And like all "pride" movements, one way to do so is to say it clear and say it loud, I am an atheist and I am proud. Perhaps in the UK (and Europe?) we can be more complacent as we are not (yet) a theocracy, and are pretty unfussed about religion as a population. In which case I come back to just wanting to get up the noses of fundies.

[Cuddles]

Like this one? http://www.venganza.org/images/wallpapers/WWFSMD2.jpg

[tkingdoll]

I have three parodies of the Christian fish which I can stick on my car bumper (I don't because my car is very old and rare and I've heard reports of vandalism).

I put 'em on my fridge instead.

For me, displaying my atheism on my car or in my windows at home would be like having an Aston Villa sticker or a Labour party sticker. It's divisive.

But then, I don't discuss religion with people unless they bring it up, and I don't say I'm an atheist unless they ask. I also don't say I'm a tee-totaller unless they ask. Again, it's the absence of something so no big deal, but may easily alienatey me. In business, sadly, I just can't afford to do that. And even at social events I have to keep a networking head on!

[Jocky]

even at social events I have to keep a networking head on!

Keep on socialising with us skeptics then - we're much less like hard work ;)

[tkingdoll]

even at social events I have to keep a networking head on!

Keep on socialising with us skeptics then - we're much less like hard work ;)


But if for one second I get a sniff of a potential business opportunity, I will whip my card out faster than you can say 'need any marketing?' ;D

[sonofajoiner]

I remember Penn Jillette (on his podcast) discussing which religious symbols are authorised to be used on american military gravestones, and there is one for atheism. Googling eventually brought me to this pdf document http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/40-1330.pdf. Look on the last page. Not sure how universal it is as a specific symbol of atheism.

[bungdown]

Some people seem to think we need a new name too. I don't know if anyone read the Herald on Sunday but Muriel Gray reckons Enlightenist is better than Atheist.
I think Dawkins favours Bright or something ?