St. Paul's atheists are coming out of the closet

[theHandpuppet]

Interesting article and encouraging for a change.

SCTimes
St. Paul's atheists are coming out of the closet
August 11, 2014

ST. PAUL – Do atheists get a seat at God's table? In St. Paul, they do now.

The Interfaith Conversation Cafe in St. Paul, which gathers people of many religions for a monthly discussion, is now open to nonreligions. The organizers have removed "faith" from the name, explaining that atheists felt excluded by it, and are calling it the "Interbelief Conversation Cafe."

"We are leaders in the field," said Frank Burton, a member of the Minneapolis branch of Circle of Reason, a group that includes atheists and believers and lobbied for the change.

Minnesota's atheists are coming out of the closet...

MORE at http://www.sctimes.com/story/life/2014/08/11/st-pauls-atheists-coming-closet/13883771/

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. They have lots of Scandinavian Socialists, too.

That's why they have strong public radio--St. Paul Sunday Morning and Minnesota Public Radio.
As well as a long history of union activism and support.

That wouldn't fly in Texas. They'd get excluded from public office (Oh, wait, I believe you can't be a public official and an atheist in Texas already).


In Texas you'd probably get firebombed, at least in the rural areas. You don't dare mention not going to church or not believing in the predominant flavor of Protestantism (usually either Baptist, conservative Methodists, or in your lower-educated types, Assembly of God, Pentacostal, or independent unaffiliated super-strict churches, where no fun is allowed).

[progressoid]

8. St. Paul Sunday Morning.

Man, I haven't listened to that for ages. Used to wake up to that show when I lived in Washington.

Now it's a smart phone alarm.

[intaglio]

2. And please remember the "Mr Paul Ain'ts"

St. Paul Saints losing their religion for a day

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Good for them.

I do hope that their conversations are more productive than discussions here in places where we are supposed to be all-inclusive.

I would bet it is more respectful though. Face to face conversations make it harder to be rude. The internet can be a place to dump on the world when you can't do it IRL.

[trotsky]

4. You betcha!

And of course it's more respectful. That's half the fun of being online, you don't have to hold back.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. What's wrong with me?

I still feel that being civil is important. Although I will sometimes get heated, here and IRL. I don't seem to get that online persona.

[trotsky]

6. Aw, don't feel bad.

It's not for you. Some of us have had to hold our tongues for so long, we just need to have a release.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. That could be true.

I don't hold my tongue, therefore, nothing builds up.

Well, I lie. One day I may explode at work....where I have to put up with some things that no one should have to put up with just for a paycheck. But at least they know I am an atheist, so that doesn't have to eat at me.

[defacto7]

9. "Interbelief Conversation Cafe"

I don't mean to be nit picky but I will be anyway. That name doesn't work any better.

[onager]

10. I had the same thought.

Not much difference. If they really want to attract non-believers, just leave the loaded words out of the title completely. Come up with some neutral term.

And yeah, I'll be That Persion - I wonder if it will work as well as another "Interfaith" group we all know about?