Difference between revisions of "Atheism symbols"

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'''Atheism symbols''' refer to the particular marks that represent [[atheism]]. Atheism has several different symbols it uses to represent itself.  
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[[File:American Atheists.jpg|alt=American Atheists|thumbnail|275px|right|[[Atheism|Atheist]] Nate Phelps spoke at the 2009 [[American Atheists]] convention.<ref>http://lifewithoutfaith.com/?p=183</ref> The atomic symbol/atomic whirl of the American Atheists organization is in the background.
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<small>(photo obtained from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martystone/3435459032 Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en  license agreement]), Title: Nate Phelps AAC00 (a very brave man)</small> ]]
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'''Atheism symbols''' refer to the particular marks that represent [[atheism]]. Atheism has several different symbols it uses to represent itself. Although atheist [[PZ Myers]] has argued that it is inevitable that a "designated symbol of some sort is eventually going to come up from grass roots and become popular..", atheist François Tremblay in his essay "Herding Cats:
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Why Atheism Will Lose" argues that concerted agreement/action is often very difficult to achieve in the atheist community which would argue against a designated and universal atheism symbol occurring over a long period of time.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/08/atheism_symbol.php Atheism Symbol]</ref><ref>[http://liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html Herding Cats: Why Atheism Will Lose]</ref>  In 2008, a list of 120 atheism symbols was compiled.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/20/a-collection-of-atheist-symbols/ A Collection of Atheist Symbols]</ref>
  
 
=== Darwin Fish ===
 
=== Darwin Fish ===
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One of the most frequently seen symbols that atheists use is the "Darwin fish". The Darwin fish is a perversion of the [[Ichthys]], a famous symbol associated with [[Christianity]] and [[Jesus]], and is often associated with [[evolution]] and ant-[[creationism]]. It is often seen as a cynical attack on Christianity and is considered blasphemous by many.
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One of the most frequently seen symbols that atheists use is the "Darwin fish". The Darwin fish is a perversion of the [[Ichthys]], a famous symbol associated with [[Christianity]] and [[Jesus]], and is often associated with [[evolution]] and anti-[[creationism]]. It is often seen as a cynical attack on Christianity.
  
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=== Atomic Symbol ===
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=== Atomic Symbol/Atomic whirl ===
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The Atomic symbol is probably the most widely known atheism symbol. It was developed by the ''[[American Atheists]]'' in 1963 and represents the belief that human progress can best be achieved through the [[scientific method]] and rational, open inquiry. The symbol is often associated with nuclear waste, danger, nuclear bombs, and hazardous radiation among other dangerous hazards. It has been criticized in the past for taking the atom, a creation of [[God]], and using it to represent an explicit denial of Him.
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The atomic symbol/atomic whirl was developed by the ''[[American Atheists]]'' in 1963 and represents the belief that human progress can best be achieved through the [[scientific method]] and rational, open inquiry. The symbol has not gained wide acceptance due to its association with hazardous nuclear waste, nuclear bombs and hazardous radiation.
  
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[[File:Richard Dawkins pic.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|260px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] ]]
 
 
=== "Empty Set" ===
 
=== "Empty Set" ===
 
The empty set symbol, ∅, was originally suggested by Wayne Otero and was derived from a letter in the Norwegian and Danish alphabet. It asserts the idea that there is no God and shows the obvious spiritual emptiness of atheists. A zero is another similar symbol that's been used.
 
The empty set symbol, ∅, was originally suggested by Wayne Otero and was derived from a letter in the Norwegian and Danish alphabet. It asserts the idea that there is no God and shows the obvious spiritual emptiness of atheists. A zero is another similar symbol that's been used.
  
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=== Invisible Pink Unicorn ===
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[[File:NY-style cheesecake.jpg|thumbnail|265px|right|Given the [[Atheism and obesity|significant number]] of prominent atheists who have weight issues and given the evidence indicating that atheism is a causal factor for obesity (see: [[Atheism and obesity]]), a contributor to [[Shockofgod]]'s blog quipped that cheesecake is an excellent symbol for atheism.<ref>[http://shockawenow.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-new-symbol-for-atheism.html A new symbol for atheism], post at Shockawenow blog</ref> ]]
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The Invisible Pink Unicorn is not an official symbol of atheism but many atheists use it. The originators of the invisible pink unicorn meant it as a parody of God and a clear attack on theists' beliefs. Atheists assert that both the "unicorn" and the "invisible pink" aspects of the symbol represent the non-existence of God. Specifically, the "invisible pink" represent ridiculous "contradictions" and "fallacies" atheists seem to find in God such as omnipotence, omniscience vs free will, and His benevolence vs the existence of evil. Similarly, atheists sometimes like to use the symbol of the ''Flying Spaghetti Monster'' because they think it shows the ridiculousness of God.  
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=== Scarlet Script "A" ===
 
=== Scarlet Script "A" ===
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This symbol, a red, italicized "A", is the symbol for [[atheism|atheist]] and [[evolution|evolutionist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]'s "OUT campaign." The campaign attempts to eliminate all religion in politics and school, attack the "religious agenda," and keep people from being intimidated by religion.
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This atheist symbol which is a red, italicized "A", is the symbol for [[atheism|atheist]] and [[evolution|evolutionist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]'s "OUT campaign" and was picked at the Atheist Alliance International convention in Washington DC as symbol for atheism for a poster.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/08/atheism_symbol.php Atheism Symbol]</ref> Christian apologist [[True Free Thinker|Ken Ammi]] writes: "Obviously, this "A" refers to atheism and yet, has been correlated with "the scarlet letter" in reference to the "A" that was placed on the front of the clothing of adulterers in Puritan communities in places such as Boston. The claim is that just as adultery, and hence the adulterer, were stigmatized atheists have been stigmatized."<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/atheism-symbols-atheist-symbols</ref> The atheist Dr. [[Sam Harris]] has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref>http://newsinitiative.org/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist</ref> The Scarlet Script "A" campaign attempts to eliminate religion in politics and schools.
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=== Invisible Pink Unicorn ===
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The Invisible Pink Unicorn is not an official symbol of atheism, but many atheists claim that the existence of God can be likened to the existence of invisible pink unicorns. Atheists engage in denialism and often try to suppress the abundant evidence for the existence of [[God]] and for [[Christianity]] (see: [[Arguments for the existence of God]] and [[Christian apologetics|Evidence for Christianity]] and [[Atheism and deception]]). 
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A strain of this, where Atheists bring up [[Santa Claus]] instead, has been noted by popular apologist, [[Shockofgod]], who coined the term [[Santa syndrome]] to describe this irrational behaviour.
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/atheism-symbols-atheist-symbols Atheism symbols] by [[True Free Thinker]]
 
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/atheism-symbols-atheist-symbols Atheism symbols] by [[True Free Thinker]]
 
*[http://www.cem.va.gov/hm/hmemb.asp Atheism and humanism symbols for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers] - United States Department of Veteran Affairs
 
*[http://www.cem.va.gov/hm/hmemb.asp Atheism and humanism symbols for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers] - United States Department of Veteran Affairs
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== Notes ==
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{{reflist|2}}
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[[Category: Atheism]]

Revision as of 19:52, August 31, 2015

American Atheists
Atheist Nate Phelps spoke at the 2009 American Atheists convention.[1] The atomic symbol/atomic whirl of the American Atheists organization is in the background.

(photo obtained from Flickr, see license agreement), Title: Nate Phelps AAC00 (a very brave man)

Atheism symbols refer to the particular marks that represent atheism. Atheism has several different symbols it uses to represent itself. Although atheist PZ Myers has argued that it is inevitable that a "designated symbol of some sort is eventually going to come up from grass roots and become popular..", atheist François Tremblay in his essay "Herding Cats: Why Atheism Will Lose" argues that concerted agreement/action is often very difficult to achieve in the atheist community which would argue against a designated and universal atheism symbol occurring over a long period of time.[2][3] In 2008, a list of 120 atheism symbols was compiled.[4]

Darwin Fish

One of the most frequently seen symbols that atheists use is the "Darwin fish". The Darwin fish is a perversion of the Ichthys, a famous symbol associated with Christianity and Jesus, and is often associated with evolution and anti-creationism. It is often seen as a cynical attack on Christianity.

Atomic Symbol/Atomic whirl

The atomic symbol/atomic whirl was developed by the American Atheists in 1963 and represents the belief that human progress can best be achieved through the scientific method and rational, open inquiry. The symbol has not gained wide acceptance due to its association with hazardous nuclear waste, nuclear bombs and hazardous radiation.

"Empty Set"

The empty set symbol, ∅, was originally suggested by Wayne Otero and was derived from a letter in the Norwegian and Danish alphabet. It asserts the idea that there is no God and shows the obvious spiritual emptiness of atheists. A zero is another similar symbol that's been used.

File:NY-style cheesecake.jpg
Given the significant number of prominent atheists who have weight issues and given the evidence indicating that atheism is a causal factor for obesity (see: Atheism and obesity), a contributor to Shockofgod's blog quipped that cheesecake is an excellent symbol for atheism.[5]

Scarlet Script "A"

This atheist symbol which is a red, italicized "A", is the symbol for atheist and evolutionist Richard Dawkins's "OUT campaign" and was picked at the Atheist Alliance International convention in Washington DC as symbol for atheism for a poster.[6] Christian apologist Ken Ammi writes: "Obviously, this "A" refers to atheism and yet, has been correlated with "the scarlet letter" in reference to the "A" that was placed on the front of the clothing of adulterers in Puritan communities in places such as Boston. The claim is that just as adultery, and hence the adulterer, were stigmatized atheists have been stigmatized."[7] The atheist Dr. Sam Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."[8] The Scarlet Script "A" campaign attempts to eliminate religion in politics and schools.

Invisible Pink Unicorn

The Invisible Pink Unicorn is not an official symbol of atheism, but many atheists claim that the existence of God can be likened to the existence of invisible pink unicorns. Atheists engage in denialism and often try to suppress the abundant evidence for the existence of God and for Christianity (see: Arguments for the existence of God and Evidence for Christianity and Atheism and deception).

A strain of this, where Atheists bring up Santa Claus instead, has been noted by popular apologist, Shockofgod, who coined the term Santa syndrome to describe this irrational behaviour.

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ http://lifewithoutfaith.com/?p=183
  2. ↑ Atheism Symbol
  3. ↑ Herding Cats: Why Atheism Will Lose
  4. ↑ A Collection of Atheist Symbols
  5. ↑ A new symbol for atheism, post at Shockawenow blog
  6. ↑ Atheism Symbol
  7. ↑ http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/atheism-symbols-atheist-symbols
  8. ↑ http://newsinitiative.org/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist
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