Atheists meet in Melbourne to celebrate lack of faith

[Ahimsa]

More than 2,000 atheists from around the world are gathering in Melbourne, Australia, to celebrate their lack of religious belief.

It is thought to be the world’s largest gathering of atheist thinkers.

They plan to issue a statement on what they say are the negative effects of religion on society.

All 2,500 tickets were sold out earlier this year, but a religious gathering at the same venue in December attracted three times as many delegates.

The Global Atheist Convention is bringing together scientists, philosophers, writers and comedians, says the BBC’s religious affairs correspondent Christopher Landau.

They will be joined by bestselling author Richard Dawkins and discuss Islam and terrorism in a session titled The Cost of Delusion.

They will also hear a film proposal, exposing the amount taxpayers spend subsidising religion.

 

[mjs1987]

As much as atheists do not like Christianity, they are fearful of Islam. They do not reproduce in large numbers but the Muslims do. This means in places like Germany, France and Australia that Muslims are the fastest growing populations and may in the coming decades overtake the white Europeans for governance. They are simply complainers though since they are all big on multiculturalism yet are upset that the Muslims arent too receptive of it. Christianity is a tolerant religion while Islam is not very tolerant when it becomes the ruling government.

 

[Trishie]

The atheists are not just acting against Christianity, but “religion”, which includes Muslims.

I was sad this week to note that a relative who is a proclaimed atheist, and is going into politics, showed these two things on his website

Notices, The Rise of Atheism - Global Atheist Convention 2010 and proclaims himself a member of Revoke tax-exempt status from churches engaged in political action" And I wonder uneasily what is meant by “engaged in political action.” Any defence of anti-abortion laws, of resistance to gay marriages, or to euthanasia? I just checked the official website, and yes the atheists are determined and active.

David Nicholls, President of the Atheist Foundation of Australia said “We are thrilled with the support for the Convention, from the presenters, the attendees and the many people who have volunteered their time and expertise. With over 2,500 attendees, the Global Atheist Convention will be the largest gathering of freethinkers in Australia’s history, and may be the largest atheist convention ever! The Convention will be a celebration of global atheism, a wonderful opportunity to hear the thoughts of scientists, philosophers, writers, comedians and many others, and a statement to political leaders of our concern about the negative effects of religion on society.”

atheistfoundation.org.au/media-releases/global-atheist-convention-sold-out

I remember that a few years ago a man left 7 million dollars to promote atheism. Does anyone remember when people feared Communism.

May God help us. And I ask God to defend Himself to this world.

 

[aspirant]

2500? They need to work on their numbers. When World Youth Day was held in Sydney in 2008, Pope Benedict’s Mass drew hundreds of thousands. (Other WYDs have drawn millions.)

 

[abucs]

2500 freethinkers (sic) convincing eachother how dangerous religious people are to their society.

Yawn.

 

[Jehoshua]

I must say its disturbing the loss of faith in my country and others, of which this convention is only a symptom.

Of course i have no doubt that as time goes on,the faith will be renewed as the emptiness of relativism and atheism loses its sway, and the renewal of the church leads to a resurrection of Christendom in the West,as the young see the light of truth in religion and most specifically in the Holy Catholic Church. Lets hope the church leaders (particularly in Australia) do more to promote the new evangelism in the world (unfortunaltely many bishops in australia are remarkably liberal)

By the way the largest growing religion in Australia is Buddhism.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Ahimsa:
They’re right to point out their concerns about Islam. Between Christianity burgeoning in China and Africa, with the US being Catholicised by Latins, SE Asia remaining stubbornly Buddhist, India Hindu, and the Moslems being suicidally evangelical wherever they go, atheists are an endangered species. As yet they haven’t realised it, but I think events are going to prove there’s a spiritual war on, and everybody will have to make a decision.

With the brawl developing between God and the Devil as we move towards what appears to be a rather difficult future, atheists are going to find themselves being more and more ignored.