By Garrette Griffin
Atheists United is an organization that hosts debates that are open to students of all beliefs.
The organization was formed in 2012 with the intention of providing a safe environment for students of secular beliefs. By hosting frequent discussions and debates and through an active Facebook group, KSU Atheists United, the organization hopes to connect to the student body and share their ideas.
The organization has set up meetings with prominent members of the atheist community, one of which will feature the well-known atheist writer, Richard Dawkins. Dawkins agreed visit KSU in November, but Atheists United is still trying to fund this event, according to their post on Owlife.
With upwards of 25 members, as stated on their website, the organization is looking to grow through events like this to give more traction to the group.
Athiests United’s first debate of the semester was held Sept. 12 on the topic “Good without God.” The event brought out religious members, atheists, agnostics and even people who were not KSU students. During the debate, participants were given an opportunity to discuss their beliefs on the topic. This gave all attendants at the event a chance to see a wide range of their peer’s perspectives, ideas and conclusions.
Freshman, Jonathan Mann, who said he was a Messianic Jew, debated at length with the Atheist United president, Brian Clyne, about concepts of morality. Mann said he believes that through attending and joining this organization he can “show how a real follower of Jesus should present themselves,” and engage with discussion in a mature and professional manner within the organization.
Atheist United member, Freshman Andrew Pellom, said he liked the fact that “both sides were there and it was just a peaceful discussion”. With opening up dialogue between the Atheist community and the religious community at KSU, Atheists United seeks to bring about more mutual understanding and appreciation for other’s beliefs.
On their OwlLife page on the KSU website, in the “How to Join KSU Atheists United” the phrase “Beware of Trolls” stands out clearly. Also through the use of email, members of the group receive notices that state “Please know that the trolling of our group by certain people will stop,” and through this the organization hopes to combat negativity.
As the President of KSU Atheists United, I want to begin by saying how much I appreciate this article, the reporter’s time, hard work, and wonderful writing, as well as all The Sentinel’s staff taking their time to publish this fair and informative story on our group.
I suppose that over two years ago, had anyone said, “In just over a couple years, The Sentinel will be writing about how inclusive and respectful KSU Atheists United will become, and that even monotheists will join your group,” I would have thought them quite insane. When I and a few other students started this group, we did so with the intent to promote a more dogmatic atheism at KSU. But since then, KSU Atheists United has grown as a group, and our vision has matured to be as inclusive as possible to all students of all ideologies, as a university student group should ideally strive to be, in my opinion.
I look back at some of our debate footage on Youtube and think, “Why in the world would I say that, especially in that way?” But again, I suppose I have grown since then and matured as a rhetor, as well as a person. To be sure, I and most of our group are atheists. But if we want to be accepted as atheists, we need to be able to accept all other students’ belief systems as we wish them to accept ours. That is multiculturalism; that is what being a university-level atheists group is about: inclusion and acceptance, not dogmatic atheism.
Do all atheists share this opinion? No. But most have come to realize that inclusion gets us all further than exclusion in life. Saying, “I believe that atheists have a problem with authority,” would be an understatement, but funny. Therefore uniting atheists is harder than you may think, which is one reason there is not a more organized, nationwide movement of atheists. Atheists are everywhere. They go to church; they go to KSU, SPSU, and are in the grocery store with you. Most do not ever say they are atheists because there is no place to which they feel they can belong and identify. What is even sadder is that if they would unite and be respectful to other ideologies, they would be accepted as we have at KSU, without compromising who they are. Moreover, if there were more respectful atheists, theists would have a place to come and give their opinions on atheism, as Mr. Mann has done with us, in a respectful way, showing the true power of Christianity. (“Go ye into all the world…”) And when the Bible says, “Love thy neighbor,” it did not say, “unless your neighbor is an atheist.” Mr. Mann is the most amazing Christian I’ve ever met at KSU, and a shining example of his faith.
We will continue to grow this year and hope to do our best for our beloved university. I will graduate in May and hope to see our group carry on under these same principles. Either way, we have come a long way from getting our fliers sent to us painted in a red cross as we did over two years ago (see The Sentinel’s previous article on us “Vandalism Threatens Student Led Group”). It is most likely due to our desire to be more respectful, more inclusive that we do not get this kind of response to our group today.
Religion will always be a “touchy subject.” But the stereotypical atheist does not exist. If that atheist does exist, I’ve yet to see that atheist on campus. We are a group of atypical atheists, and we would not have it any other way!
Go Owls!!!