Where Do Atheists and Theists Find Common Ground?
On Friday, November 8th in Coatbridge Scotland, at Conforti Institute, atheists and theists will come together in a dialogue to find some common ground around ethics and values. For those who will attend, and those who cannot, we would like to hear from you on how you would like to see this dialogue go? What expectations would you have? What common ground do you see between theists and atheists and to what end? Please comment and tweet your concerns. We may read some of the dialogue on line in the conference.
As a humanist, I hope and expect we will find large areas of common ground on values and ethics.
ReplyDeleteBut I also hope that we will not be afraid to identify and acknowledge areas of difference, and to understand the underlying reasons.
To me it's essential not to paper over differences, but to be able to disagree while respecting the humanity of the other person (and in many cases knowing and liking them) and in the knowledge of shared core values.
I would also like to explore how that mindset and understanding could be extended beyond those present (who will I assume be liberally-minded)to the harder-line sections of the various communities, who generally do not engage in "interfaith" dialogue.
Thanks Jeremy, I think you are very much in line with what we hope to have during our conference. It would also be interesting to hear the life stories that brought us all to the different perspectives we have regarding faith and values.
ReplyDeleteBearing in mind some of the conversations this evening, I think George Holyoake's 3 principles of secularism may be of apt:
ReplyDelete(1) The improvement of this life by material means.
(2) That science is the available Providence of man.
(3) That it is good to do good. Whether there be other good or not, the good of the present life is good, and it is good to seek that good."