Happy Atheist Forum

Religion => Religion => Topic started by: Squid on July 31, 2006, 11:49:42 PM

Title: Atheist Projects
Post by: Squid on July 31, 2006, 11:49:42 PM
I've been tossing out this idea here and there and I figured I'd give you guys the low-down too.  The basic idea is this - get a bunch of atheists from all over the internet and in real life to work together on a large project upon a certain subject (such as addressing the "Xmas is a Christian holiday" thing or something similar).

Here's what I posted over at my site's MySpace (HERE (http://www.myspace.com/atheistcoalition)) profile:

QuoteAt the Atheist Coalition, we've come up with the idea of having large, atheist community involved projects. These projects would center around one topic that the participants choose. The participants would then set to work on doing scholarly research upon that subject to create a scholarly work of substantial size and information. The project could also include links to other websites, flash games, power point presentations, flash presentations, interactive websites, music and videos and anything else the participants can come up with that will add to and aid the project. All participants will be recognized once the project is reviewed and finished. If you're interested in the project and would like to contribute, e-mail us through MySpace or e-mail us at solidsquid (at) atheistcoalition.com. Don't forget to replace the (at) with the "@" symbol.

This project would be something I'd look to possibly have included in places like the AN Wiki, the Secular Web and something that can be used by atheist groups all over.

So, whaddya think?  Possible or am I just dreaming too big?
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Post by: Asmodean Prime on July 31, 2006, 11:55:02 PM
Yeah, I think maybe you are dreaming too big, Squid.  Christians have always accepted that Christmas was not based on a Christian holiday, nor are half of the customs rooted in Christian tradition.  What's wrong, though, with Christians taking a pagan holiday, where people used to worship pagan 'gods', and turning it to their advantage, to worship their God?  If, for example, a pagan group uses say, a building to worship pagan deities, why shouldn't we overtake it and use it to worship the Christian God?

And yeah, you do have way too much time of your hands
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Post by: Squid on August 01, 2006, 12:06:12 AM
It was just an example off the top of my head.  The projects could be on many different things.
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Post by: iplaw on August 01, 2006, 03:35:41 AM
Why don't you band together and do something that will create positive change for society rather than dividing people and widening the societal gaps between atheist groups and theistic groups.  Theistic groups spend a lot of time and money giving to worthy causes I.E. Feed the Children, Habitat for Humanity and the list goes on.  I know athesits give to worthy causes, but I don't know an atheist "group" which does.

Why don't you use the collective power of the net to get atheists together to do something that will affect the world and the less fortunate.  I personally would love to serve the less fortunate side by side with atheists or theists.  Maybe it would help both sides to stop painting false portraits of one another and understand the other side better at the same time we are helping build a better world.
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Post by: Squid on August 01, 2006, 03:43:10 AM
So basically you're saying "bad idea".  Gotchya.
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Post by: MommaSquid on August 01, 2006, 04:12:50 AM
Squid, don't listen to the xtian naysayers.  Rock on with your bad self!  

I'm not sure about the "scholarly" aspect of the idea, but atheists do need to have a more active role in the community.  Hiding in cyberspace isn't going to help xtians see that we're not devil worshipping weirdoes.

Quote from: "iplaw"Maybe it would help both sides to stop painting false portraits of one another…
It doesn't help matters when our President doesn't think we should even be recognized as citizens.
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Post by: Big Mac on August 01, 2006, 04:19:52 AM
Or patriots for that matter. Who's he to call good citizens who did stints in the military unpatriotic? Not that he is worthy to touch their combat boots.
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Post by: Whitney on August 01, 2006, 07:53:59 AM
I sent Squid a pm on his forum so he'd know we don't think it's a terrible idea:

These were my suggestions:

QuoteA good topic would be atheists in foxholes.  We could contact every known atheist forum and get a list of atheists (and probably agnostics too)  in the military who are willing to have their information and maybe even a picture used in a video showing that there are atheists in foxholes.  It wouldn't necessarily be scholarly, but we could release the video on various places like googlevideo and youtube.

For a scolarly work, something on the founding fathers which explains why the USA is not founded on Christianity would be a great topic.  Also, since ID is a big thing for theists right now, something easy for them to understand (maybe another video) that explains evolution and why ID shouldn't be in the science classroom would be a good project.  I've had a theist ask me for a video that explains that sort of thing before (without big words...lol) but can't seem to find anything for free.

As far as atheist chartiy groups go, they already exist as secular charity groups.  I think it would be better to help those that already exist rather than try to create one of our own.
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Post by: Aullios on August 01, 2006, 08:57:02 AM
To be honest... I would have to agree with iplaw here.  Start by doing obviously charitable things.  Work on erasing the idea that atheists are bad people, as many Christians believe.  You won't make much of a statement by rediculing them (as much as I believe they deserve it.)
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Post by: iplaw on August 01, 2006, 02:45:24 PM
Exactly Squid.  Make things happen in the atheist community.  Just use your numbers for affecting positive change for everyone not just atheists.
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Post by: iplaw on August 01, 2006, 02:52:57 PM
MommaSquid.

Do yourself and atheists a favor and stop being so myopic.  I obviously specifically made that statement reciprocal for a reason.  Do you really think you're going to garner support by being militant and reinforcing the biases the majority already has against atheists.

Hmmm.  The majority sees atheists as angry, god-hating nihilists who don't deserve a seat at the table so I'm going to make things better by being angry, divisive, condescending and smug; yeah, that's a way to get people to really listen to you.
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Post by: Big Mac on August 01, 2006, 02:57:10 PM
Maybe if you Cross huggers weren't so close-minded and violent, we would take offense. I can't hate something that doesn't exist. It's like hating Superman, Luke Skywalker (well he is a pussy), and Santa Claus. It's not as if many people are listening to you anyway. Tex.
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Post by: iplaw on August 01, 2006, 02:57:37 PM
QuoteAs far as atheist chartiy groups go, they already exist as secular charity groups.
It's all about marketing and branding ladies and gentlemen.  Atheists can either participate anonymously within the system or they can make a name for themselves and affect change in the name of atheism.  I know which one sounds better to me from a PR standpoint.
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Post by: Court on August 01, 2006, 03:06:54 PM
From the scholarly aspect, I would suggest a layman's terms, simple introduction to evolution. You wouldn't believe the lack of education on that subject. My mother still thinks it says we evolved from monkeys. And she's 39. Honestly, I think it would be a fabulous idea, as long as it wasn't christian-bashing. It would be a way to make evolution and its evidence crystal clear to the common man. :)

At the same time, you could make a charitable foundation connected to the project. Kill two birds with one stone...
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Post by: MommaSquid on August 01, 2006, 05:01:47 PM
Quote from: "iplaw"MommaSquid.
Do yourself and atheists a favor and ....

How about this:  you keep your opinions about my character to yourself and I’ll stop telling you that Christianity borrowed ideas from other religions.  


Laetusatheos, I like your ideas.  If memory serves, we have two guys on this forum who would qualify for this project.  I have an agnostic/atheist cousin who was in the Army.  If this project goes in that direction I’ll contact him.  He’s not a compliant sort of guy, but I guess that runs in the family.

Court, I also like your idea.  

Link (http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/ha/primate.html)

QuoteHowever, it must be stressed that humans did not evolve from living chimpanzees. Rather, our species and chimpanzees are both the descendants of a common ancestor that was distinct from other African apes. This common ancestor is thought to have existed in the Pliocene between 5 and 8 million years ago…

Don’t forget to point out that the earth is more than a few thousand years old.
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Post by: iplaw on August 01, 2006, 05:36:26 PM
Your character was never called into question; just your behavior.
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Post by: MikeyV on August 01, 2006, 05:46:02 PM
Quote from: "MommaSquid"Don’t forget to point out that the earth is more than a few thousand years old.

And round....
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Post by: Asmodean Prime on August 01, 2006, 05:50:23 PM
Round???!!!

But the earth is obviously FLAT!!


...erm...I didn't say that out loud, did I?

it wasn't me....you can't prove it.
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Post by: Whitney on August 01, 2006, 06:11:32 PM
Quote from: "onlyme"Round???!!!

But the earth is obviously FLAT!!

Flat Earth Society (http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm) :monk:  :lol:
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Post by: Asmodean Prime on August 01, 2006, 06:16:11 PM
Quote from: "laetusatheos"
Quote from: "onlyme"Round???!!!

But the earth is obviously FLAT!!

Flat Earth Society (http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm) :monk:  :lol:

See?  I told you so!

There is proof if ever you needed it.  And yeah, I DID say it out loud.  I'm getting more confident by the minute!
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Post by: Squid on August 01, 2006, 09:12:41 PM
Okay, I suppose I should clarify my thinking on what exactly my point of putting together these projects.

I intended this to be a project in which many people can contribute to.  The project was to increase knowledge on particular subjects, such as Court suggested about evolutionary theory possibly.  It is not meant to be a creation of some organization to serve some atheist agenda.  I only want to bring many minds together and add to a knowledge base of sorts.

As for the charitable projects - I would not be opposed to that idea.  It wasn't the intent of my idea for these projects but I would not be opposed if someone were to put together an idea on how to go about doing that.  However, as has been pointed out, there already exist many charitable organizations.  The campus atheist and agnostic group here has an ongoing fund-raising project for the American Cancer Society.  Last year I was the VP of the local Psi Chi chapter which did a food drive for local soup kitchens, put together care packages for local military members (they were all aware their VP was an atheist if anyone wanted to know), worked with a local organization to remodel local shelters, and I worked in a domestic violence shelter for nearly four years as well.  So I am no stranger to doing charity work.

Forming an organization was never my idea.  It was to simply bring minds together to work on intellectual projects and piece together some scholarly work in the sense that it will be evidenced-based information.

Does that provide a better understanding?
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Post by: Court on August 01, 2006, 10:24:46 PM
I totally agree, Squid, and I think this is a great idea. You just need to nail down a topic.
Once you do, I'd just post it on a bunch of forums and start a mass email chain, informing people of the project. The more participants, the better.
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Post by: MikeyV on August 01, 2006, 10:48:32 PM
I'd help, but I'm too apathetic and I'm just a bit misanthropic.
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Post by: Asmodean Prime on August 01, 2006, 11:20:10 PM
Gee, your life must be pretty bleak if you don't think there's a purpose.


Enjoy that lunch, anyway.

Man does not live by bread alone, though.
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Post by: Court on August 01, 2006, 11:22:19 PM
Quote from: "onlyme"Gee, your life must be pretty bleak if you don't think there's a purpose.


Enjoy that lunch, anyway.

Man does not live by bread alone, though.

Nope, he needs water and sex, too.   :D
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Post by: MikeyV on August 02, 2006, 01:06:19 AM
Quote from: "Court"Nope, he needs water and sex, too.   :D

 :lol:
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Post by: Big Mac on August 02, 2006, 05:04:12 AM
Quote from: "Court"
Quote from: "onlyme"Gee, your life must be pretty bleak if you don't think there's a purpose.


Enjoy that lunch, anyway.

Man does not live by bread alone, though.

Nope, he needs water and sex, too.   ;)
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Post by: Court on August 02, 2006, 02:27:13 PM
Quote from: "Big Mac"Can you spare me some? And I don't mean water.....:D
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Post by: Big Mac on August 02, 2006, 04:44:06 PM
Quote from: "Court"
Quote from: "Big Mac"Can you spare me some? And I don't mean water.....:D

Yeah, in more ways than one. :)
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Post by: Court on August 02, 2006, 08:50:54 PM
I was thinking, surely, he won't make a joke because I used the word "coming." Clearly, I was wrong :lol:
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Post by: Whitney on August 02, 2006, 08:53:29 PM
Big Mac....you really need to find a girlfriend (or have a one night stand)...something. :)
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Post by: imrational on August 02, 2006, 09:51:02 PM
I think it is a good idea, but it might be hard to direct such a thing.  How do you assign who researches what?

Still, some topics I think would be interesting (although not too charitable) would be to compile information on Nobel Prize winners.  I always thought it would make for an interesting television show to do a biography on a Nobel Prize Winner and also explain what their award-winning research was and how it impacts us today.

Another topic would be an explanation of the evolution of religions around the world... sort of like a memetic map.  Instead of biology's Family Tree of Life, we would make a tree of religions.  Example:  show how the egyptian's pantheon was later incorporated into the Greek & Roman pantheons (I'm pretty sure that some people HAVE to be working on this, but I have no idea who or where).
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Post by: Court on August 02, 2006, 10:42:02 PM
Ooh, I like imrational's second idea. A lot. :)
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Post by: Whitney on August 02, 2006, 11:16:59 PM
Quote from: "Court"Ooh, I like imrational's second idea. A lot. :)

I do too.  I think we'd have to get a lot of people involved who have access to a university library in order to research it though.  I've tried to find things similar to that online before, but couldn't.  So, we'd either have to find scholarly works (certainly some exist) or start completely from scratch.

I've worked on group research projects before...they are hard to organize.  What we have normally done is get everyone to try and develop a preliminary outline.  Complie each outline into one big outline...take out anything that doesn't see relevant...then distribute sub-topics to individuals for them to research.  That gets a lot of info together...then the research has to be compiled and reorganized....then each person looks through the research and writes on their topic.  Then someone would have to act as an editor and go through what everyone wrote to take out redundancy.

It would be a big project.  I like the idea but don't think I'll have much time to help out much (school is about to start).
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Post by: Squid on August 03, 2006, 12:41:25 AM
I have access to a lot of journals through my university, however not everyone has to be left out in the cold.  Many journals have content available after some length of time.  PNAS (http://www.pnas.org/) makes their content available after six months I believe.  Abstracts are usually available without any kind of special access.

Local libraries usually have some periodicals section with some journals.

Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com/) and Pubmed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed) can help in searches too.

Online there are a lot of open-access journals if you know where to look:

I have an ongoing thread at my forums for anyone people find - http://atheistcoalition.com/forums/posting.php?mode=editpost&p=2307

Here's what I have so far:

http://www.plos.org/

http://www.biomedcentral.com/

http://www.doaj.org/

http://www.aapsj.org/

http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/

http://egj.lib.uidaho.edu/

http://www.epress.com/w3jbio/

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/

http://palaeo-electronica.org/

http://www.molvis.org/molvis/

http://www.jasnh.com/

http://www.jetpress.org/

http://www.goertzel.org/dynapsyc/dynacon.html

http://www.cmbl.org.pl/

http://www.gjpsy.uni-goettingen.de/

http://psycprints.ecs.soton.ac.uk/

http://www.uv.es/psicologica/

http://human-nature.com/ep/

http://www.psyplexus.com/plexus/open_access.html

http://mundanebehavior.org/index2.htm

http://www.ihr.org/main/journal.shtml

http://puffin.creighton.edu/psy/journal/JPIhome.html

http://lifesciences.asu.edu/evolution/

http://www.neuroanatomy.org/

http://www.swgc.mun.ca/animus/

http://hiphi.ubbcluj.ro/JSRI/html%20version/homepage.htm

http://www.bsw.org/project/biblica/

http://www.americanpopularculture.com/journal/

http://www.jbmb.or.kr/

http://nnlm.gov/libinfo/ejournals/

http://www.biomed.cas.cz/physiolres/

http://www.cell-research.com/index.asp

http://www.neuroquantology.com/

http://www.aans.org/education/journal/neurosurgical/

http://www.ul.ie/~philos/

http://www.othervoices.org/index2.html

http://www.ncnpjournal.com/

http://www.cas.ucf.edu/philosophy/fpr/highend/index.php

http://www.jci.org/

http://theoryandscience.icaap.org/

http://www.psyplexus.com/plexus/open_access.html

http://www.warnercnr.colostate.edu/~jerrym/GeoJournalsOnline.htm

http://www.freemedicaljournals.com/
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Post by: Big Mac on August 03, 2006, 04:57:55 AM
Quote from: "laetusatheos"Big Mac....you really need to find a girlfriend (or have a one night stand)...something. :D