The British Broadcasting Corporation transmits regularly a brief THOUGHT FOR THE DAY. These thoughts purport to be related to the larger aspects of life and the ways in which it may be appropriate for people to guide their thinking and their actions. The idea is good; living somewhat frantically as we do, a daily pause for thought is valuable.
Inevitably these broadcasts are of variable quality ranging from the truly wise and stimulating to the banal and the bigoted. In fairness it has to be said that in recent years the quality has tended to improve but one general feature remains largely unchanged; almost all the thoughts are based explicitly upon religious belief.
Evidently there is an implicit assumption that religion, as ordinarily understood, is somehow essential to serious thinking about the larger aspects of life. This assumption is open to challenge; religion is one basis for serious thought - no informed person would deny that. But it remains true that equally serious thought is possible on a non-religious, god-free basis - on an atheist basis.
The word atheist - whether used as an adjective or as a noun - must be understood clearly; atheism is not a direct reversal of religious belief. While the believer asserts that "I am convinced that God really exists", the atheist does not assert the exact opposite, that "No such being as a god actually exists." The atheist says that "Belief in the existence of any god is not innate; it is a belief that we acquire only from other people. I see no sufficient reason to embrace such beliefs; people who urge such beliefs upon me have not, I consider, made their case."
So this net-site, ATHEIST THOUGHT, is godless rather than anti-god; it does not rest upon belief in any god but, equally, it is not intended merely to be dismissive of sincere, informed and tolerant persons who do think religiously.
The main part of this net feature is two-fold; there is a brief piece - that might take two or three minutes to read - and there is also an essay in which the brief thought is expanded perhaps by reference to background material. 'Back numbers' of both the short part and of the longer part will be 'archived' on this site for future reference.
ATHEIST THOUGHT is published on the personal responsibility of ERIC STOCKTON who is a long standing member of several humanist, rationalist and secularist organisations but it must be made clear that he writes for himself and not officially for any organised body.
ERIC STOCKTON is unlikely to seek to enforce any copyright he may have but, if anyone cares to use what appears under his name, the courtesy of acknowledgment would be appreciated.
Correspondence should be addressed to:
Eric Stockton, West Cott, Sanday, ORKNEY. KW17 2BW UK
or e-mail to stockton.sanday.orkney@zetnet.co.uk
Relevant magazines published in the UK include:
The FREETHINKER,
Bradlaugh House, 47 Theobalds Road LONDON WC1X 8SP
The NEW HUMANIST
(same address)
The ETHICAL RECORD
Conway Hall Humanist Centre,
25 Red Lion Square,
LONDON
WC1R 4RL
HUMANISM SCOTLAND,
A Atkinson, Flat 28 Waterside Gardens, 11 Sandbank
Crescent, GLASGOW G20 OP1
The ULSTER HUMANIST,
B McLinton, 25 Riverside Drive, LISBURN, N.Ireland
BT27 4HE
LADY GODIVA, on the Internet.
LADY GODIVA is also on The Shetland News
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