Scarlet A | Godless Blogger

Dec09 Scarlet A
Category: Ramblings

I really like this as a symbol for atheism. I’m sure many people have read The Scarlet Letter before. Basically, an adulterer is required to wear a giant red A to show they are an evil sinner. What could better symbolize atheism? We are a group that has been oppressed for centuries and classified as simply evil. Why not come out and proudly display it? Atheists should be proud to be heretics and so called sinners. I appreciate the irony of wearing a giant red A, because in my life I am able to be a sensible person without God. If anything, atheists need to make their prescence known to be recognized. Visit outcampaign.org for more information. Hopefully I can get an A on a necklace one day to wear… Is there a symbol that you think would better symbolize atheism? Christians have the crucifix, I think we need something to show us as an organized group. Then again atheism is different from a church, the only requirement is disbelief in the supernatural. What do you think?

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Tags: Christian, Out Campaign, Richard Dawkins, scarlet A

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Blakatak
Isn't there a site where you can have your Twitter profile picture overlaid with various things? It would be good to have a scarlet letter A available to let people see who the atheists are on Twitter.
The New Atheist
I wrestled with this myself. After a lot of back and forth I've deciced that I'm okay with the A. The Out Campaign is a great idea, and seems to be propagating, so why work against it?

I do think you are right though to hesitate, as symbols are used by theist groups to separate themselves from the 'other'. If atheist do too much of the same it will just give more fodder to the "atheism is just another religion" crowd. I am 100% against the "atheist church on Sunday" or "debaptism" for that reason.
jamescarmichael
I second your hesitation. Once you get a symbol, it's MUCH easier for anyone to use that symbol as a label to attach any kind of meaning to it. In the short term, it'd be good to have a symbol to represent atheists, but in the long run, I think it's not a good idea. Because in the end, atheism should not be about 'being part of a group of people'. It should be the exact opposite. I wouldn't wear a badge proclaiming I'm NOT a cheese producer, or I'm NOT a WWII veteran, or I'm NOT from Denmark. I'm not religious and I'm damn proud of it, but in my humble opinion a logo isn't a good way of expressing your values, morals, principles, and opinions.

I think the only symbol that would work would be for instance the FSM. It doesn't represent us, it represent someone else's ridiculous beliefs. It's much harder to trace it back to atheism to put a label on us.

That being said, I'm not opposed to having raptor jesus as a symbol.
godlessblogger
True. Although atheism is a religion like bald is a hair color or
health a type of disease. Many people just have trouble grasping that
concept.
Skreeran
Sounds good... I like it... :)