Come Out On Darwin Day!

Here's an interesting note I received from Will Davidson. Tomorrow, on Darwin Day, wear something yellow to indicate that you're an atheist/naturalist/freethinker etc. I'll be wearing my yellow!

I think it's going to be an interesting day tomorrow, trying to figure out who's really a fellow atheist, and who just likes to wear yellow!

Please pass this along to any Naturalists/ Atheists you might know.

Invisible
Unlike other discriminated against minority groups, naturalists (those people that do not believe in supernatural causes) are mainly invisible. As long as you keep your mouth shut, nobody need ever know that you are an atheist.

But, imagine if one morning every naturalist in the world woke up with the letter N stenciled permanently on their forehead. People would stare at you as you walked down the street knowing what you are and what you believe. Shopkeepers would follow you around their store because everyone knows that atheists can't be trusted. Your parents might disown you; your spouse might leave you. You might not get that promotion or even be fired from your job. In some countries you might be imprisoned or lynched. It is for these reasons that we remain invisible.

But we pay a price for this invisibility.

First, misconceptions about us abound because of this invisibility. People don't realize that we are their doctor, their teacher, their spouse or the nice guy that just held the door for them. The only face of naturalism a person is likely to see is a militant one. Is there any doubt that the image of naturalists would improve overnight if politicians, stars and athletes would come out?

Second, while we are thus engaged in being invisible to theists, we are also invisible to each other. Because of this, we do not enjoy the camaraderie, mutual support and social networking that other minorities enjoy and benefit from.

Third, most people learn by copying success. But because of the lack of Naturalism role models, many people with naturalistic leanings simply do not view naturalism as a viable lifestyle. By being invisible, we undermine the naturalistic movement and in doing so we may be undermining the future existence of humankind.

I understand the costs of fully coming out and so I am prepared to offer up a half-measure. What I propose is that on Darwin's birthday Feb 12, all naturalists wear something yellow as a sign of solidarity. The amount of yellow you wear would be up to your own discretion. You could wear a yellow shirt, a broach or yellow underwear.

If widely adopted, this initiative would start a slow coming out of the Naturalist community with little risk to the individual.
Will Davidson
Will_G_Davidson at yahoo dot com