A symbol for atheists

[crocodile deathroll]

Does any one know of any symbols like the cross, the crescent, the yin yang that is universally used by atheists.

Here is one very simple suggestion. Of course when you are designing logos of symbols, it does pay to stick to the KISS principle or "keep it simple stupid" because you can do so much more with them and even a child can draw them.

This one symbolizes who one should be open the question dogma. The crucifix is a symbol of traditional dogma and I superimposed a question mark over it.

CDR

[elliotfc]

Originally posted by crocodile deathroll
Does any one know of any symbols like the cross, the crescent, the yin yang that is universally used by atheists.

Here is one very simple suggestion. Of course when you are designing logos of symbols, it does pay to stick to the KISS principle or "keep it simple stupid" because you can do so much more with them and even a child can draw them.

This one symbolizes who one should be open the question dogma. The crucifix is a symbol of traditional dogma and I superimposed a question mark over it.

CDR

Why would you need a symbol in the first place?

The symbol you provided is akin to hijacking someone else's symbol to be cutesy, like the Darwin fish. But I guess this is to be expected from humanists. Humanistic morality hasn't come up with any new ideas as far as I can tell, but picks and chooses and tweaks past religious and philosophical morality.

The creative thing would be to pick a symbol that isn't associated with religious symbols, but religious symbols have a powerful appeal, don't they?

-Elliot

[MRC_Hans]

A symbol for atheism is self-contradictory. Atheism is not a religion or a movement, there is no unifying theme. You might as well make a club for not collecting stamps.

elliotfc:
Humanistic morality hasn't come up with any new ideas as far as I can tell, but picks and chooses and tweaks past religious and philosophical morality.The new idea is exactly that you are not confined by dogmas about the "one divine thruth". Instead you are burdened with the responsibility of thinking for yourself and living up to a more universal ethical standard. That you can recognize herein various principles of several religions is only evidence that morals and ethics are universal human values and not the property of any praticular religion.

Hans

[Peter Jenkins]

The symbol you provided is akin to hijacking someone else's symbol to be cutesy, like the Darwin fish. But I guess this is to be expected from humanists. Humanistic morality hasn't come up with any new ideas as far as I can tell, but picks and chooses and tweaks past religious and philosophical morality

Is this something peculiar to Humanists?
Wasn't the 'Jesus fish' originally a fertility symbol?
Wasn't December 25th originally a pagan festival?
Isn't this a case of 'Dear Kettle. Sincerely, Pot?
Peter

[elliotfc]

Originally posted by MRC_Hans

The new idea is exactly that you are not confined by dogmas about the "one divine thruth". Instead you are burdened with the responsibility of thinking for yourself and living up to a more universal ethical standard. That you can recognize herein various principles of several religions is only evidence that morals and ethics are universal human values and not the property of any praticular religion.

Hans

More universal ethical standard? What is a standard? Or, what is the standard? Is there one standad for every person? I am not talking about "property of any particular religion". I agree that we should look for universal values, and in my parlance another way of saying that would be "one divine truth". If you don't like that way of speaking, I'm happy to settle for universal values. I also see no inherent reason why *one particular religion* should have a monopoly on universal truth. Accept for the fact that religions differ because they differ on their ideas about universal truth, even if it slightly. :)

-Elliot

[elliotfc]

Originally posted by Peter Jenkins


Is this something peculiar to Humanists?
Wasn't the 'Jesus fish' originally a fertility symbol?
Wasn't December 25th originally a pagan festival?
Isn't this a case of 'Dear Kettle. Sincerely, Pot?
Peter


No, because I believe in spirituality.

Now, if you believe in supernatural reality, I apologize. I am going to assume that you do not believe in supernatural reality.

I believe that it worked the other way around as well. If a symbol is inspired by the super/preternatural, then it's in that particular lexicon. The fertility symbol (I think it besides the point to get into the specific of the fish at the moment, and if/ifnot it was a fertility symbol, I'll give you that for now because it's not a big deal) was tied to a belief that rituals could invoke super/preternatural intervention, or, such spirits could be controlled and made to do a particular thing. When Christianity assumed more ancient practices/rites, they were maintaining the belief that a supernatural reality existed.

CS Lewis, among others, had the idea that the ideas could have been hijacked the other way around. Take the crucifixion. If you believe in demonic spirits (maybe you do, maybe you don't, just work within the belief for a moment), it is possible to believe that they would take the glorious moment of Christianity (crucifixion/resurrection), and debase it earlier in history by associating it with something inferior. Or, they could be what Lewis called "happy dreams", where people in the past had a vague idea about what was coming up, and articulated it as best they could.

Regarding December 25th, it was more of a convenient date to pick. Before Christians celebrated Christmas, they celebrated the feast of the Anunciation (the conception of Jesus, when Gabriel appeared to Mary). Being the kind of people who liked patterns, they assumed this would have happened on the same day as the crucifixion (meaning Jesus' life would have spanned an exact number of years). The date for the crucifixion was held to be late March/early April, and that date varied in the opinions of early Church leaders. Anyhow, 9 months after late March, early April, gives you late December, early January. Before Christmas was celebrated, the feast of the Ephiphany was celebrated. That became associated with the New Year. And of course Christmas came several days before the Epiphany. In December 25th they found a convenient day for Christmas (because it was already a festival). But like the Romans, they believed in the supernatural.

What I'm saying here is that people when people who don't believe in the supernatural hijack the symbols of people who do believe in the supernatural, it smacks me as ulterior to their essential beliefs. But I suppose the point might not to be faithful to their beliefs. I've always believed that the Darwin fish is meant more to mock the beliefs of others, or to give certain people the symbolic mechanism to feel intellectual satisfaction. We all need our own coping mechanisms I guess.

-Elliot

[c4ts]

That symbol looks like the roads at the center of an English town.

[elliotfc]

I actually like this symbol. It gives you something to think about. Even a Christian could like it. The cross, after all, is a mystery...

-Elliot

[Lord Emsworth]

I have another suggestion:

[Hal 2001]

Originally posted by elliotfc


Humanistic morality hasn't come up with any new ideas as far as I can tell, but picks and chooses and tweaks past religious and philosophical morality.


-Elliot

Let me partly disagree.

First let's be clear ethics or morality are basic sets of principle governing peoples action.

Let's be simplistic and say it's a set of rules of does and don't.

It's in fact a combination of rules and principles governing our actions. And of course a humanistic view on morality would use preexisting ideas (but combines them differently), So has christianity (I'm pretty sure it's hard to find a true "first pick".

The new side of humanitarian morality is largely in the way we choose those rules. A Christian will largely base them on authority (Gods).

I personly do not find that satisfying. I have I admit a very "utilitarian" view on morality, and I am very permissive. If I can see no reason/utility behind a rule I reject it. And my morality differs largely from Classic Christian morality. And yet I would under almost no condition kill or steal(and loads of other stuff), that doesn't mean I just "stole" that from christianity (or anyother religion as they almost all tell not to steal of kill), I don't do it because I think a society based on such rules would have less total utility than a society not based on those rules (Theres is a part of Kant's golden rule here).

Sorry this was written very fast, it is very simplistic and not a real good explanations of my views...but I want to go home from work now.

Mss Hal

[crocodile deathroll]

Originally posted by Lord Emsworth
I have another suggestion:

Yes I aggree atheism does not need symbols any more than pragmatism needs symbols.

But just for fun I will throw in this one.
Still sticking to the question mark theme.


A crucifix being sucked into a black hole (or stirring paint).

[Mercutio]

Ok, so I still can't attach an image... but this site (http://www.evolvefish.com/fish/pins.html) has pins for sale (about halfway down) with "the atheist symbol" on them. Looks like somebody beat you to it. Oh, this site is by the darwin-fish people.

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by MRC_Hans
Atheism is not a religion or a movement, there is no unifying theme. You might as well make a club for not collecting stamps.


There are atheist clubs, organizations, publications, etc. Apparently there is some unifying theme even if you don't chose to acknowledge that.

[swstephe]

First thing I thought when I saw it ... I still think their symbol is cooler:

[Andonyx]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi


There are atheist clubs, organizations, publications, etc. Apparently there is some unifying theme even if you don't chose to acknowledge that.

Well, the unifying theme is usually, hey, we're also citizens!

It's the same as any group that has been marginalized. The unifying drive has far less to do with atheism and more to do with the fact that we get screwed out of legislation, ceremonies, political policy and other things all the time.

I think the day that Atheism is not admonished as evil and the government actually sticks to the separation clause you'll see a lot of these clubs dissolve.

[Checkmite]

Originally posted by swstephe
First thing I thought when I saw it ... I still think their symbol is cooler:

That symbol, by the way, is also known as the "Cross of Confusion" and has been hijacked as a symbol used by 14-year-olds who pretend to worship Satan.

[Sindai]

Originally posted by Joshua Korosi


That symbol, by the way, is also known as the "Cross of Confusion" and has been hijacked as a symbol used by 14-year-olds who pretend to worship Satan.


My first thought was "Look, an upside-down anhk!" I guess for worshipping some evil Egyptian gods or something. I'm sure all the hip young Egyptians wore it. :D

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by Andonyx
It's the same as any group that has been marginalized. The unifying drive has far less to do with atheism and more to do with the fact that we get screwed out of legislation, ceremonies, political policy and other things all the time.

I think the day that Atheism is not admonished as evil and the government actually sticks to the separation clause you'll see a lot of these clubs dissolve.

Perhaps. Or perhaps they form clubs, organizations, groups, create publications, etc., because they like atheism. I can see both ways, and I'm sure it is some of both.

[Quinn]

Originally posted by crocodile deathroll
A crucifix being sucked into a black hole (or stirring paint).

I don't think that one meets your qualification of being easy for kids to draw. Unless five-year-olds are learning Photoshop these days.

Quinn

[Yahweh]

Call me crazy but I think this pretty well constitutes as a symbol for atheists...

[crocodile deathroll]

Originally posted by swstephe
First thing I thought when I saw it ... I still think their symbol is cooler:

I thought of hanging mine upside down too

[Kilted_Canuck]

The symbol on evolvefish.com is the symbol for American Atheists (http://www.atheist.org) and is copyrited.

A better symbol is the ALMIGHTY, Holy Goddess, The Invisible Pink Unicorn (http://www.invisiblepinkunicorn.com)

[calladus]

Originally posted by Kilted_Canuck

A better symbol is the ALMIGHTY, Holy Goddess, The Invisible Pink Unicorn (http://www.invisiblepinkunicorn.com)

The problem with the IPU as a symbol is that if you tossed it into your sock drawer it would be lost forever.

No one would actually KNOW that you are wearing it either.

Actually, now that I think about it, I guess I AM wearing it right now!

[urstardust]

If anything this should be are American Atheists Flag…

[crocodile deathroll]

Here is one , nice and simple but at least you instantly know what it means.

[crocodile deathroll]

Originally posted by urstardust
If anything this should be are American Atheists Flag…

Look good on American Currency

[blackadder65738]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by elliotfc
If you believe in demonic spirits (maybe you do, maybe you don't, just work within the belief for a moment), it is possible to believe that they would take the glorious moment of Christianity (crucifixion/resurrection), and debase it earlier in history by associating it with something inferior.

Oh my god, this is funny. So now the demons are traveling through time to debase Christianity! That's the funniest damn thing I've read in a long time. Thanks! :D

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by crocodile deathroll
Here is one , nice and simple but at least you instantly know what it means.

That works well, simply because most atheists tirade against Christianity mainly.

And yes, I know it is the most common religion, but for a group of superior thinkers (the atheists), it still seems odd to focus primarily on Christianity.

[urstardust]

T'ai Chi:
And yes, I know it is the most common religion, but for a group of superior thinkers (the atheists), it still seems odd to focus primarily on Christianity.

Well in America Christianity is the most common religion that we seem to focus on, because they seem to be on every street corner with their bible thumping and telling us how we should live our lives. So I don’t think it’s odd to focus primarily on Christianity at all.



BTW, I dont think that I'm a superior thinker, just someone that doesn't believe in any old story someone tells me.

[sorgoth]

How about.....No. All atheists share is a LACK of belief in God. To me, that isn't nearly enough to group together for. This just gives the religious peoples fuel for their misguided opinion that Atheism is just another religion.

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by urstardust
T'ai Chi:

Well in America Christianity is the most common religion that we seem to focus on, because they seem to be on every street corner with their bible thumping and telling us how we should live our lives. So I don’t think it’s odd to focus primarily on Christianity at all.

BTW, I dont think that I'm a superior thinker, just someone that doesn't believe in any old story someone tells me.

"seem to be on every street corner", ummm, I'm glad I don't view the world through your distorted lens.

Statistically, I'd say that most street corners are not inhabited by people "bible thumping", and even if they were, there is something called freedom of speech. Sorry.

[urstardust]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi


"seem to be on every street corner", ummm, I'm glad I don't view the world through your distorted lens.

Statistically, I'd say that most street corners are not inhabited by people "bible thumping", and even if they were, there is something called freedom of speech. Sorry.

Well T'ai Chi in Dallas, Texas (aka bible belt) you are right bible thumpers aren't on every corner. But I do run into a lot of bible thumpers that like to tell me that I'm going to burn in HELL if I don't ask some old dead guy name Jesus into my heart and ask him for forgiveness. So I'm sorry that you thought I really meant street corner in a real sense. As an Atheist I get tired of Christens using their freedom of speech to tell me and our children that a man 2000 years ago is coming back to take only believers off to heaven and if you don't believe in him you will die in the fiery pits of hell for all eternity. I also have that freedom of speech and think that it's rude to tell someone I don't know what they should do or judge their lives on a belief.

I'm glad I don't view the world through your distorted lens.
I feel the same way T'ai Chi.;)

[Roadtoad]

I think Emsworth had the right idea. Most symbols refer to something. They're a graphic representation of an idea, however vague the idea may or may not be.

If you're speaking of atheism, how do you represent that? What would you choose to represent which does not exist in your mind?

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by urstardust
Well T'ai Chi in Dallas, Texas (aka bible belt) you are right bible thumpers aren't on every corner. But I do run into a lot of bible thumpers that like to tell me that I'm going to burn in HELL if I don't ask some old dead guy name Jesus into my heart and ask him for forgiveness. So I'm sorry that you thought I really meant street corner in a real sense. As an Atheist I get tired of Christens using their freedom of speech to tell me and our children that a man 2000 years ago is coming back to take only believers off to heaven and if you don't believe in him you will die in the fiery pits of hell for all eternity. I also have that freedom of speech and think that it's rude to tell someone I don't know what they should do or judge their lives on a belief.


I used to live in Texas, and just visited there a while ago, and yes, there are a lot of religious people. In fact, I stayed about 20 miles from Hagee's huge place. However, I was back there for over a month, and I didn't get pestered, not even once, and I was in the country-side and in down town areas many times.

It is people's right to tell you and your kids things. You may not want to hear those things, or believe in those things, and those are your rights. You might think them telling you is rude, and that is your right. It is also your right to tell them whatever you want, and to protest however you want.

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by sorgoth
How about.....No. All atheists share is a LACK of belief in God. To me, that isn't nearly enough to group together for. This just gives the religious peoples fuel for their misguided opinion that Atheism is just another religion.

They "share", good point.

You think if they share a lack of belief in god(s, esses), that they might share other things?

Hmm...

You think that even if they JUST share their lack of belief in god(s, esses) that that is enough to form a group, club, organization, and publications?

What percentage of atheists have a naturalism worldview or a non-paranormal worldview? To say that all atheists share is a lack of belief in god(s, esses) is probabily not reality.

[sorgoth]

It's true that most atheists are a little more rational, especially those who used to be religious (being lied to for over a decade does that to you). But what are they going to DO? Talk about how religious people are stupid? I see these meetings as giving a bit of credibility to those who say that atheists act like they're better than everyone else, and that Atheism is some kind of religion.

I think, if you want to join a group with mostly atheists, join some kind of science group.

[Ladewig]

elliotfc-
But I suppose the point might not to be faithful to their beliefs. I've always believed that the Darwin fish is meant more to mock the beliefs of others, or to give certain people the symbolic mechanism to feel intellectual satisfaction.

After re-reading your posts a few times I did manage to find a couple of things to agree with. Yes, the Darwin fish is meant to mock people who deny that evolution exists. If you consider Darwin's ideas a threat to your religious beliefs then you deserve to be mocked. The people in the U.S. who insist that this is a Christian country, who ask for I.D. to be taught in science class, who lobby for school prayer are a very vocal group. There are people who disagree with those views and the Darwin fish is a way for these people to be recognized in public.


After reading about the possibility that demons who knew how Christianity was going to play out led the ancients to verbalize, believe, or preach the ideas of virgin birth, symbolically drinking blood, gruesome death followed by resurrection, and the importance of winter solstice and spring fertilty rites.... I agree with your final statement

We all need our own coping mechanisms I guess.

[urstardust]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi


It is people's right to tell you and your kids things. You may not want to hear those things, or believe in those things, and those are your rights. You might think them telling you is rude, and that is your right. It is also your right to tell them whatever you want, and to protest however you want.

Hi T'ai Chi,

To be honest most of the time when I run into a bible thumper I tell them what they what to hear, that I'm a born again christen. It's so much simpler that way then to try and get this little brain washed monkey off my back that will not leave me alone. And sometimes I'm drunk and can't help telling them the truth that I’m an atheist that is in a secret atheist organization called S.A.G.A.N.= Secret Atheists Group Against Nonsense operation “Kill Religion”. Because if the truth be known religions don’t kill people atheists kill people.

[Kilted_Canuck]

Originally posted by urstardust

And sometimes I'm drunk and can't help telling them the truth that I’m an atheist that is in a secret atheist organization called S.A.G.A.N.= Secret Atheists Group Against Nonsense operation “Kill Religion”. Because if the truth be known religions don’t kill people atheists kill people.



Pssst, its called the EAC, the Evil Atheist Conspiracy (http://www.cyberdespot.com/eac.html)

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi
That works well, simply because most atheists tirade against Christianity mainly.
Ooh, harshness. Might I add unnecessary harshness.

And yes, I know it is the most common religion, but for a group of superior thinkers (the atheists), it still seems odd to focus primarily on Christianity.
Well, I live in America, a place where 80% of the people around me are Christians. You seem to be exercising good reasoning, seriously, what reason would an atheist have that he would need to be so preoccupied by the most popular, most powerful, and (in my opinion) most historically influencial religion of our times... they probably do it as a large inside joke or something.

Good education and reasoning skills tend to make you a superior thinker, not belief. No need to undermind the demeanor of atheism by trying to play reverse-psychologist on us now (yes, I'm fully aware of what I said above, its an unusual form of humoring myself).

[crocodile deathroll]

I used an object of nature to rough this one up. I call it illustrator.

[Roadtoad]

Originally posted by Yahweh
Well, I live in America, a place where 80% of the people around me are Christians. You seem to be exercising good reasoning, seriously, what reason would an atheist have that he would need to be so preoccupied by the most popular, most powerful, and (in my opinion) most historically influencial religion of our times... they probably do it as a large inside joke or something.

Nuts. Someone else beat me to this argument...

Seriously, considering that in the United States, most of the idiotic woo-woo arguments are (tragically) made by Christians, including the bleat that there never was evolution, whom did you expect the Atheists in America to go after? I find myself stumped by people who whine about atheists attacking Christians, but then I listen to Christians and their falsehoods about atheists, and shake my head. There's more truth to most of the arguments atheists make against Christians than the other way around.

For people who claim to believe in a loving, personal God, we act worse than the damn pagans. Truth to tell, for that matter, I'd rather hang out with the pagans. They're more fun.

[urstardust]

The crucifix is a symbol of Christ but, what if he was hanged or had his head cut of by a guillotine (if they had guillotines back then or just used a axe). I sometimes wonder when I would pass by a church instead of a cross would I see a hangmen’s noose on top of the church or a guillotine/axe. Now I know this was the most common way of killing criminals back then and that’s why Jesus was killed on the cross and now we see the crucifix around people necks on their bummer stickers (Jesus died for your sins, with a cross), tattoos, etc. If Jesus was to die today as a criminal, what would be the symbol of Christ’s death be for the next 2000 years?

[Roadtoad]

Originally posted by urstardust
The crucifix is a symbol of Christ but, what if he was hanged or had his head cut of by a guillotine (if they had guillotines back then or just used a axe). I sometimes wonder when I would pass by a church instead of a cross would I see a hangmen’s noose on top of the church or a guillotine/axe. Now I know this was the most common way of killing criminals back then and that’s why Jesus was killed on the cross and now we see the crucifix around people necks on their bummer stickers (Jesus died for your sins, with a cross), tattoos, etc. If Jesus was to die today as a criminal, what would be the symbol of Christ’s death be for the next 2000 years?

Actually, I forget who said it, but it's probably more accurate than most people want to admit: "If Jesus were to come today, they wouldn't crucify him, they'd invite him to dinner, and make fun of him."

[urstardust]

Originally posted by Roadtoad


Actually, I forget who said it, but it's probably more accurate than most people want to admit: "If Jesus were to come today, they wouldn't crucify him, they'd invite him to dinner, and make fun of him."

I don't know If I would like Jesus to come to dinner at my house.
He might what me to drink his blood and eat some of his Flesh maybe as an appetizer. Who knows when it comes to the son of God, It's hard to say what would Jesus do today (like what he would drive)? ;)

[The Mad Linguist]

Originally posted by urstardust
Now I know this was the most common way of killing criminals back then and that’s why Jesus was killed on the cross and now we see the crucifix around people necks on their bummer stickers (Jesus died for your sins, with a cross), tattoos, etc.

Crucifixion wasn't actually a general punishment. It was reserved for insurrectionists and other political malcontents IIRC. This is part of the reason why the Gospel account of the crucifixion doesn't make sense - the crime Jesus is accused of doesn't match the punishment he's said to have received.

[fishbait]

Originally posted by MRC_Hans
A symbol for atheism is self-contradictory. Atheism is not a religion or a movement, there is no unifying theme. You might as well make a club for not collecting stamps.

Ha! Good one.

I think a secret handshake would be cool, too.

[Rosencrantz]

A few years ago, my wife and I made a version of the board game "Life" called "Death." In the original game, there are several professions that have little icons which are used throughout the game. For the parody, we used religions, which represented what could happen to you after you died. Here's the icons I used for atheism and agnosticism. The latter should be self-explanatory; the former is nothing with a footnote. I don't know what the footnote says -- for me it might say something like "nothing, except for human appreciation of beauty, morality, memory and logic, pending evidence to the contrary."

[swstephe]

...

[Roadtoad]

Originally posted by swstephe
...

NO!

[fishbob]

swstephe, I like it, but it is perhaps a little too complicated for everyday use.

How about we all paint a big red "A" on our foreheads?

What - not original enough?

[UnrepentantSinner]

The American Humanist Association uses a stylized H in the shape of a human (here's a close up of part of it).
http://www.americanhumanist.org/images/2nd_tier/about_image.gif
That I think is pretty clever.

As far as I'm concerned, the current "atheist" symbol is the symbol of American Atheists, an organization I do not belong to.

That's the symbol of belief that is placed on military headstones and grave markers in VA cemetaries.
http://www.cem.va.gov/hmemb.htm
There's one a short distance from my father's grave marker as well as a Buddhist and a Mormon.

[CWL]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
The American Humanist Association uses a stylized H in the shape of a human (here's a close up of part of it).
http://www.americanhumanist.org/images/2nd_tier/about_image.gif
That I think is pretty clever.

That symbol is also used by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (http://www.iheu.org/) (of which the American Humanist Association is a member).

I like the symbol too, except for the fact that it looks like a guy being mugged (as someone pointed out in another thread on the same subject).

[Abdul Alhazred]

Originally posted by crocodile deathroll
Here is one , nice and simple but at least you instantly know what it means.

That's just anti-Christianity, it doesn't positively mean Atheism.

There was that dreadful atomic energy looking thingie that Madeline Murray O'Hair's outfit came up with.

http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/emblems/atheist.gif

That one is actually on the approved list of "religious symbols" for grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery{1}, along with crosses, hexagrams, and various others.

Here's a link to the entire list (http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/arlington/0_arlington_emblems.html)

I guess there were some Atheists in foxholes.

{1} Major military cemetery near Washington DC.

[LW]

Originally posted by The Mad Linguist


Crucifixion wasn't actually a general punishment. It was reserved for insurrectionists and other political malcontents IIRC. This is part of the reason why the Gospel account of the crucifixion doesn't make sense - the crime Jesus is accused of doesn't match the punishment he's said to have received.

Someone goes arond stating that he is the king of Jews. Sounds quite close to insurrection to me.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Abdul Alhazred


That's just anti-Christianity, it doesn't positively mean Atheism.

There was that dreadful atomic energy looking thingie that Madeline Murray O'Hair's outfit came up with.

http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/emblems/atheist.gif

That one is actually on the approved list of "religious symbols" for grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery{1}, along with crosses, hexagrams, and various others.

Here's a link to the entire list (http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/arlington/0_arlington_emblems.html)

I guess there were some Atheists in foxholes.

{1} Major military cemetery near Washington DC.

Psst!

Originally posted by me two messages up
As far as I'm concerned, the current "atheist" symbol is the symbol of American Atheists, an organization I do not belong to.

That's the symbol of belief that is placed on military headstones and grave markers in VA cemetaries.
http://www.cem.va.gov/hmemb.htm
There's one a short distance from my father's grave marker as well as a Buddhist and a Mormon.

And it's not just for Arlington, it's for any Veterans Administration run Cemetary. Also the approved symbols can be used in non-VA Cemetaries.

[Abdul Alhazred]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner


Psst!



And it's not just for Arlington, it's for any Veterans Administration run Cemetary. Also the approved symbols can be used in non-VA Cemetaries.

What I get for not reading the entire thread before answering an earlier post.

However I stand by my statement that it's a dreadful symbol. It looks like the logo for the Atomic Maniacs Club or something.

Is a particular group the one true canonical Atheists or something? I never cared for Madeline Murry O'Hair myself, though she did some good.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Abdul Alhazred
However I stand by my statement that it's a dreadful symbol. It looks like the logo for the Atomic Maniacs Club or something.

Is a particular group the one true canonical Atheists or something? I never cared for Madeline Murry O'Hair myself, though she did some good.

Agreed. Worse yet, given the return of Franko, some might confuse it for Logical Deism.

Madeline Murray O'Hair served some purpose. She gave all the angry God-Haters an organization to join. Atheism in general would have been better suited by someone who was less pissed off and worried less about starting a ruckus.

[Yahweh]

I think the perfect Atheist symbol should be an adorable kitten. No one could possibly hate a kitten could they?

[Abdul Alhazred]

Originally posted by Yahweh
I think the perfect Atheist symbol should be an adorable kitten. No one could possibly hate a kitten could they?

Now you're talking. But there are some real meanies out there who even hate widdle kitties, even some Atheists.

But everybody loves Teddy, and Teddy loves everybody:

http://www.cyhaus.com/card/teddy%20bear.jpg

This is the one true symbol of Atheism.
Though I admit I'd like it better if the message were spelled out in full: "I wuv oo".

:p