i was on digg and clicked on a link in a comment to come here.  i am trying to study and be open minded and listen to all facets of what is going on.

i notice an inconguity or at least it seems that way to me.  the intro on the home page says ar is not anti-religion, but right next to the intro is the graphic of 'thanks for not polluting your mind' featuring religious symbols in a (drinking) glass inside someone's head.  doesn't seem to be a tolerant or congruent message for first time viewers like me.  the visual got my attention and is clever, but verbally denying what is visually depicted is off imhho.  just a heads up.  anyone agree?  often i find atheists to be religion haters and would like to have the philosophy stand on its own merit - not just because it won the bully wars by beating other beliefs into submission (actually beating something results in oppression - submission is a free gift made by the giver).

i am usually an open-minded tolerant person i hope.  I try to hear everyone and make up my own mind.  I am pretty sure i don't agree with atheist worldviews, but i learn many things from those who claim 'no religion' or 'no God'.  i am open to hearing truth/wisdom wherever it resides.  and having my conscience pricked when it needs to be.  often this is done by those outside my so-called circle.  hopefully it can widen and be inclusive.

here's a link to a 1967 beatles video of "all you need is love"...enjoy if you'd like to:  http://events.yahoo.com/valentine08

no offense intended here, but i sign all my posts the same way...

Risen Lord Jesus' Peace!  e.t./sue  ><>":D (: +

Atheism is, IMHO, the belief that organized religion is bad for society.  It does not necessarily mean you don't believe in anything.  There are a lot of things that we do not have the answers to.  Atheists generally are open minded to new findings and prefer not to conclude that "God did it" when there is no evidence one way or the other. 

The opening content to this site is certainly up for debate and any members who wish to contribute changes are welcome.   

i understand that logic...and i would assume a group that values logic would not want something that is or appears to be illogical at the beginning of its homepage.  you do get my drift about the text and graphic not matching up, right?  i wonder which of the sentiments is the 'true' one...i have my thoughts/ideas about it, but would like to hear the administration's/members' views.  gee...an organized website...an organized group of folks who believe similar things...or don't believe similar things as the case may be...

hmmm so if religion is the problem/issue, why put down/attack/not support "organization"/group community efforts?  is it because sayinig just plain 'religion' is to blame ...for this that or the other thing smacks of discrimination?  how about disorganized religion then...is there some?  is that better or worse or same? 

i am serious about some of these questions i have because to me some of the posturing made/claimed doesn't make the best sense to me.  i try, but these brain cells of mine see loopholes in the logic and I understand the concept of faith.  do you?  i find religion/many people of faith to be very open to scientific discovery and empirical evidence and 'proof' per se.  I think some of us/we may be missing a bigger boat along the way here.  anyway...who do i mention this conflicted homepage to?  I think i could come up with a more positive slogan that accentuates the positives rather than putting down others' perceived negatives.  or others in general.  which is how it comes off to me.  I guess I am suggesting an improved slogan and graphic.  I will let you know if I come up with anything that might work.

I do try to see things from the point of view of someone who doesn't believe in the major and/or minor religions to try to understand and communicate as well as possible.  Bear with me here okay?  Thank you.  I am not as familiar with your worldview as some others.  I would hope you would be looking to educate folks like me and be willing to engage in discussion about why we believe or don't believe what we do or don't...

Risen Lord Jesus' Peace!  e.t./sue  ><>*:D (: +

I took a look at the home page and saw what Sue was talking about. There does seem to be a contradiction.

If we're claiming that atheism is "misunderstood" as being anti-religious, but then saying "Thank-you for not polluting your mind," that seems anti-religious to me. Do we want to be snarky and keep the cute little graphic  and  further  encourage the negative stereotype?  Or do we want to represent ourselves as being more open and tolerant?

If the graphic stays, I suggest rewording the "misunderstood" bit, cos frankly, we can't honestly claim that in light of what's there.  I understand the desire to offput any theists who may want to come trolling, but let's do it with integrity intact. That's my two cents anyway.

Oh, and there's a misspelling in this sentence on the homepage: "Atheist Relvolution is for all those who believe in freedom, reason and truth."

Um...one more thing...why is my picture showing up in the post from Sue from Feb. 20? Please take it out! I would never say Risen Lord Jesus' Peace! Except to say I wouldn't say it!!!! Blech!

Thanks for the input Karen, good stuff.  Any other ideas for a new image?  Other suggestions on copy changes?  I made some minor alterations already that may be more precise.

FYI, this forum has some bugs I am working out.  If you are logged in, a post may show your image, even if posted by someone else.  This seems to only occur for the member logged in, so others would never see your image by a post that isn't yours.  Hoping to have this fixed asap.