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Do we need a Universal Atheist Motto? e.g. "In Darwin we trust".

Aberingi's long-running topic entitled "Do we need a Universal Atheist Symbol?" leads me to ask "Do we need a Universal Atheist Motto?".

Well, perhaps we don't, or perhaps we could, but some theists might get deservedly irritated if we chose to use something like "In Darwin we trust" at appropriate moments.
These words, suitably translated into other languages, have a basic international atheist appeal with respect to truth and helpful anti-theist sabre-rattling and debating.
e.g. they might look good on the side of a bus/ coach.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Stephan Vladimir Bugaj on January 12, 2011 at 12:34pm

I don't trust Darwin in the same way theists trust God. I think he was an intelligent, insightful thinker who proposed an important theory that turned out to be true, but his work is subject to verification like any other. That evolution turned out to be a fact does not make Darwin its author, or me his acolyte. While the Darwin fish with feet is good to get a rise out of theists, I do not think Darwin (or anyone) deserves to be elevated to the status of pseudo-deity. A cult of personality is still a cult.

Permalink Reply by Dan Palka on January 17, 2011 at 6:41pm

I don't think "In Darwin we trust." is a good choice, as it gives primary attention on Darwin the man himself and secondary attention to evolution the the scientific theory itself, rather than the larger all-encompassing philosophy of skeptical inquiry and empirical evidence-based belief, which is much broader than Darwinian evolution.

My nomination: "By science we know."

Permalink Reply by Secular Atheist on January 20, 2011 at 12:31pm

Ha, ha! Not only Darwin, then it will be Einstein, Hawking, Dawkins, etc. we trust.

But no, we don't need any motto.

Permalink Reply by Bwambale Robert on January 20, 2011 at 11:17pm

I don't think we need an Atheist Motto because we are living in a dynamic world and the founding fathers in science deserve respect for they gave us a good foundation and as we continue promoting the scientific philosophy i hope an Atheist motto is not necessary now and in more times to come, if we claim to glorify Darwin, then we shall be no different from theists who glorify and worship a god, also Darwin is not alone for we have a lengthy list of scientists who have done alot in the name of science for example Albert Einstein, Galileo,Mendel ,........ etc.

Permalink Reply by John Jubinsky on January 21, 2011 at 3:43pm

Hello fellow Humanist! A motto would not have to honor a particular individual and could be consistent with Humanism in honoring science and reason. Consider the following simple three word possibility as a motto:

Dignity - Science - Reason

I believe it would be totally appropriate. Science comes before Reason in that reason is subsequently applied to scientific observations and Dignity comes first in that it is the mode in which science and reason should be pursued. Moreover, it would provide us with an Atheist Trinity and we could easily incorporate DSR into our Atheists products to help raise awareness about the Atheist/Humanist perspective.

Permalink Reply by Geoff Wakefield on January 23, 2011 at 6:06pm

There are lots of good and thoughtful comments here, just as I would expect from this site, where I am entering my first comment myself having just joined.

I like the idea of invoking Darwin, but like others, don't want to have anything to do with emulating religions and the horrors wrought on mankind in their names. We also don't need any beatification of singular people, and I doubt that most of them would have wanted that either.

Permalink Reply by Gregory Austin on January 25, 2011 at 3:02am

I'd like to throw a few classic Latin catch phrases out there:

"Dum vita est, spes est." - "While there is life, there is hope."

"Per aspera ad astra." - "Through difficulties to the stars." Or "For inspiration [look] to the stars."

I happen to like the second one for the wide range of meaning and almost universal connection to the atheist experience.

Permalink Reply by Mitch on January 26, 2011 at 12:13am

Hi everyone, I also feel that there is no need for a Universal atheist motto. My reason is that by putting forward a motto then atheism all of a sudden becomes an organized body of unbelief which is more or less analogous to organized religion, which I do not feel atheism is.

On the other hand, a majority of us atheists feel marginalized and downtrodden and we do need a way to speak out, encourage others or if we like, make fun of the theists. Like someone said earlier in the thread, if we were to start an ad campaign then it shouldn't be something that reeks of organization/organized atheism.