Making the atheist/skeptic communities more welcoming
OP - August 13, 2011, 08:34 PM
Could anyone help me with ideas on this?
I’m chairperson of Atheist Ireland. We hosted the recent World Atheist Convention in Dublin along with Atheist Alliance International.
I am preparing an online discussion document about how we can make the atheist / skeptical / freethinking / humanist communities equally welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable for all people who broadly share our self-identifications and goals. This is not about converting people to our points of view. It is about helping to get more people, who already share our points of view, actively involved in our groups and activities and discussions.
I would like to include some of your thoughts on the questions below. You don’t have to answer each question specifically: they are just triggers for whatever feedback that you feel might be most useful, to help shape an online discussion document for wider debate.
(a) Our groups and activities: How can we make these equally welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable for every interested person, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, disabilities, and civil, family or social status? How can we identify and tackle any prejudices we might have, or any discriminations we might enable? How can we respect each person as an individual rather than as a stereotype of either a minority or majority category? How can we empower each person to overcome fears and to participate confidently?
(b) Our internal discussions: How can we make these welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable, while also encouraging robust, objective, evidence-based debate? How can we critically address ideas using evidence, reason, skepticism, humor and even ridicule, while also showing empathy and respect for the people proposing the ideas? How can we work together to objectively examine our subjective opinions? How can we agree, or agree to differ, about how best to pursue broadly the same goals? How do online discussions differ from real life discussions?
I’d welcome general feedback and/or specific suggestions for actions. I hope this process will be constructive and forward-looking, and that it will help our communities to evolve in a positive way. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Topic: Making the atheist/skeptic communities more welcoming