Can you guys help me out?

[Twoflower]

I am part of a atheist group on my campus called NAFFA and there was an article in the school newspaper about americans not being so religious. One of the people interviewed was an pastor for a church at my school. He said that we (NAFFA) shouldnt have a group because its not based on any belief, but around nothing. The pres Kirk asked the members to write to the newspaper responding to the quote from the pastor guy. I need some help putting my thoughts in words. I am hurt that this guy said that because NAFFA is the one place that I feel like I can be 100% me at school and in my real life. I feel like I belong there. So any help would be appreciated.

Here is the article.
he voices of America’s non-religious college students are being heard more than ever.
According to Secular Student Alliance, a national umbrella organization for the secular student movement, there are 159 campus groups affiliated with the nationwide organization as of Labor Day, up from 100 in 2008 and 80 in 2007.
Kirk Wilcox, president of the Non-Religious, Atheist, Free Thinker and Agnostic Alliance, a registered student organization he helped start last semester, said he is not surprised campuses across the county are seeing increasing numbers of non-religious students.
“Over the years, it’s become more acceptable — people should be proud of who they are,” the Royal Oak senior said. “If you want to be a Christian and go to church, that’s fine, but there should be institutions for people who aren’t religious.”
Wilcox said Christians also are becoming more accepting of non-religious individuals.
The reasons
Macomb senior Jake Barnett, NAFAA vice president, said there are various reasons for the increasing numbers of non-religious students, including education and the economy.
“When people are ethically and financially stable, it prevents them from exploring religious options and they tend to focus on themselves and others,” he said.
Barnett said he believes every minority in the county deserves to be represented, including those non-religious, such as atheists and agnostics.
“If we can influence elections, then we can show we have a voice,” he said. “Once we are visible, hopefully we can stop the negative stereotypes.”
The results of the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey parallel similar results regarding broader secular demographics.
Last year, 76 percent of American adults identified themselves as Christian, down from 86 percent in 1990, according to the study.
The study reports increases among the religiously unaffiliated especially prominent in people younger than 30.
A ‘belief around nothing’
Jeremy Priest, a pastoral associate at St. Mary’s University Parish, 1405 S. Washington St., finds it interesting that non-religious individuals are forming groups together.
“They’re forming a common belief around nothing,” Priest said. “I’d like to ask them what they’re community is founded upon. Christians get together to celebrate the Lord’s creation and resurrection on the eighth day. Why do atheists get together?”
Priest said the increasing numbers of people unaffiliated with religion could be partly to blame on Christians failing to live with a true spirit of joy and conviction.
The Non-Religious, Atheist, Free Thinker, and Agnostic Alliance meets at 7 p.m. every Tuesday in Moore Hall Room 116.

[Drewish]

SImply say that you're an Objectivist / Marxist cooperative that should cover the whole spectrum of Atheists,

[owtth]

If you want to be a Christian and go to church, that’s fine, but there should be institutions for people who aren’t religious.”

I'd have a little bit of an objection to that, A group for what? an institution to claim what? that we don't require institutions? Churches require their groups to make sure everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet (metaphorically, of course) those who don't buy that don't need to subscribe to such a group. Becoming an atheist is more of a personal journey regardless of being a former hindu, christian, jew etc., but you know all this, I've seen your posts. Perhaps, however, you don't really realise the significance of this. You don't need a group, you are a clever person, I say that without false praise, without trying to build you up to your face, because that's unnecessary, you are no idiot. Sure you could form a group of people that feel the same way you do towards religion but what would such a group be. It would be a religiously oriented group. Someone of your bent doesn't need to waste their time on a religious group. Go parachuting, bungee jumping, spelunking, whatever. If there comes a time on your campus that religious groups are insisting on you adhering to their way of doing things then go for it join up to those protests, but otherwise don't waste your time on other peoples fantasies. Unless they're cool and involve magic swords and killing dragons.

I have never given advice to anyone but there is one piece of advice I have been given that has never seen me wrong and that is that there is a time and a place for everything, and that's college. You will never have as much fun EVER in your life, don't waste it on fundies.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I agree with owtth. Religion is an "add-on". Normal life doesn't require it. So normal people don't need a replacement for churches, they need to get churches out of their faces.

[maiforpeace]

Priest said the increasing numbers of people unaffiliated with religion could be partly to blame on Christians failing to live with a true spirit of joy and conviction.
The Non-Religious, Atheist, Free Thinker, and Agnostic Alliance meets at 7 p.m. every Tuesday in Moore Hall Room 116.

I see. Atheists are just bad Christians. They aren't Atheists simply because it's the more logical choice.

I don't quite understand how it is that you need to justify why you want an Atheist group. I can't believe you even have to do this. I don't see how they can allow just about every other group I imagine must be on your campus, but you are required to justify why you want to have your own? Its a very simple answer in my mind. You want to share common interests and beliefs in community with others! That's the reason why religious groups meet, what gives them exclusive right to that?

Atheists believe in justice, truth, morality, ethics - pick any one of those subjects, make it a rally cry, and you have a group.

Do you attend a Christian College or something? How is it that this Pastor even has a say in this?

[Twoflower]

Priest said the increasing numbers of people unaffiliated with religion could be partly to blame on Christians failing to live with a true spirit of joy and conviction.
The Non-Religious, Atheist, Free Thinker, and Agnostic Alliance meets at 7 p.m. every Tuesday in Moore Hall Room 116.

I see. Atheists are just bad Christians. They aren't Atheists simply because it's the more logical choice.

I don't quite understand how it is that you need to justify why you want an Atheist group. I can't believe you even have to do this. I don't see how they can allow just about every other group I imagine must be on your campus, but you are required to justify why you want to have your own? Its a very simple answer in my mind. You want to share common interests and beliefs in community with others! That's the reason why religious groups meet, what gives them exclusive right to that?

Atheists believe in justice, truth, morality, ethics - pick any one of those subjects, make it a rally cry, and you have a group.

Do you attend a Christian College or something? How is it that this Pastor even has a say in this?

I attend a public university. I have no clue why the pastor is saying anything. But this is a way to get the groups name out a bit. It was just started last semester and we want more members. Thats the main reason to write to the editor about this, and to make the point that we want to make is we have a reason for meeting, but I am trying to figure out how to articulate that in a way that it will be published.

[owtth]

I attend a public university. I have no clue why the pastor is saying anything. But this is a way to get the groups name out a bit. It was just started last semester and we want more members. Thats the main reason to write to the editor about this, and to make the point that we want to make is we have a reason for meeting, but I am trying to figure out how to articulate that in a way that it will be published.

I would seriously not waste my time. I don't wish to disparage your thoughts on this issue. They are as valuable as anyone's, more so than mine. If you wish to get involved in a meaningful
issue, promote voting, just voting, there aren't enough people doing that. students should be more united about disenfranchisement than about any other single issue, be they wealthy, poor, black, white, straight, gay, male, female, democrat, republican, whatever, your country is trying to stop you having a say in how your country is run that's where your anger should be directed.

[Twoflower]

I dont have any anger. Also I signed people to vote last election so I already do that. I live in a super religious place and have had my car door bashed in, and the darwin fish on my car was snapped off. I just want to support a group that I am a part of and help my friends. Thats all. If more members join that would be great. A

[Rum]

I don't agree with the sentiment that atheists should not form interest groups or collect together. What should they not? They can do what they like.

In a world where religion was of little or no importance and had no influence them perhaps atheism would be seen for what we know it is - a kind of 'natural' position, but that isn't the case. Religion makes claims on all of us one way or another, whether it is by the influence it has on governments or the institutional influence it has on everyday life. Atheists have every right to gather in any way they wish - a club or a association or a loose network - whatever - to look at and discuss the implications for them or anything else for that matter. That is kind of what we do here after all!

As to whether on not some dweeb of a bureaucrat disapproves or not - feck him. Meet anyway! Formally or less formally.

[owtth]

I dont have any anger.

Bad choice of words on my part, energies would've been better, plus I was a bit sloshed when I wrote that which always makes me more cynical towards secular causes

[Trolldor]

It if were me I'd respond thusly:

"The pastor is, in fact, correct. We are not a group centred around a belief or ideology, we are a group centred around our absence of one. We are only together in this group because our society isolates us. When we can say we are atheists and have it mean as much to the people around us as a difference in our preference for the way our potatoes are cooked, then we will no longer feel the need to find people who don't look at us or treat us differently."

[FBM]

If group A says that Z exists, even though it's undetectable by either the senses or the most advanced technology, and group B isn't convinced by the mere assertion and (Bronze Age) tradition, the burden of proof is on group A to provide evidence for Z's existence. This is the way life is normally conducted in business or science or maritime navigation or farming or carpentry or any other real-life endeavor.

If we suspend all norms of discrimination on what is and isn't, then we have no basis upon which to reject any claim. You could say that you have an invisible, magical, fire-breathing dragon in your basement (Sagan) that for supernatural reasons only you can see and interact with, and no one would be able to doubt you. The same goes for the claims of Scientology, Raelians, UFO enthusiasts, astrologers, Chi Gongers or any other foil-hat group or individual. If there's no requirement for evidence, then anything goes.

Occam's Razor: Don't multiply entities unnecessarily and you'll wind up closer to the way things really are. If the entity isn't strictly required in order to explain the way things are, then leave it out. That is, if the same phenomena are explained equally well by simpler theories (those with fewer entities), then the 'lighter' explanation is the one to go with.

[CJ]

It if were me I'd respond thusly:

"The pastor is, in fact, correct. We are not a group centred around a belief or ideology, we are a group centred around our absence of one. We are only together in this group because our society isolates us. When we can say we are atheists and have it mean as much to the people around us as a difference in our preference for the way our potatoes are cooked, then we will no longer feel the need to find people who don't look at us or treat us differently."

+1!