Daily Nebraskan

Issue date: 3/20/07 Section: Faith & Spirituality

Media Credit: Teresa Prince Thomas Hurd, a senior music and political science major, draws chalk messages outside of the Nebraska Union to promote Thursday night's "Ask an Atheist" event at the union. [Click to enlarge]

The Greek word "atheos," from which the term "atheist" is derived, has a pretty straightforward meaning: without god. Godless. Not believing in a deity.

Jump ahead eight or nine centuries, and suddenly it's not so simple.

In very basic terms, there are atheists, nontheists and agnostics, and atheists can furthermore be broken into "strong" atheists and "weak" atheists. While generally not described as a religion or belief system, the realm of the religiously nonaffiliated still has developed its own denominations.

If you go: What: The Center for Inquiry on Campus' "Ask an Atheist" panel When: Thursday at 7 p.m. Where: Nebraska Union, room TBA How much: Free and open to the public

"The definition is very important because people frequently disagree," said Thomas Hurd, a senior music and political science major and member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center for Inquiry on Campus.

"I have no belief in God," he said. "I don't claim to know there isn't one … I'm waiting for a meaningful definition of God that's repeatable, and I don't think that's possible. But I could be wrong."

In popular culture, the term agnostic, or "without knowledge," refers to someone who doesn't believe in God but doesn't deny the idea of a deity.

Suggested questions for the panel: - How did you arrive at atheism? Were you ever religious? - How does your family view your beliefs? - What do you think happens after death? - Would you ever believe in a deity or higher power? What would change your mind? - What, if any, unique challenges do female atheists face? - Have you ever faced discrimination for being atheist?

In recent years, however, agnosticism has become more of a catchword for those with a belief in something undefined, where as "weak atheists" are those who don't believe in a higher power but accept the possibility of such.

On the other hand, strong atheists typically don't adhere to a specific deity and feel confident that such a deity simply doesn't exist.

The differences might seem minor, but Catholics and Protestants have fought several wars over distinctions that on the surface appear similarly trivial.

When it comes to atheism, a doctrine so different from the global mainstream, many theists have questions.

Thursday night, several UNL atheists will have answers.

The Center for Inquiry on Campus, formerly the Campus Freethought Alliance, is hosting an "Ask an Atheist" panel at the Nebraska Union on Thursday at 7 p.m.

"If you can't understand why we don't believe in God, you might want to show up," said Miguel Picanco, who helped restart the UNL group and has held various leadership positions with the Lincoln Secular Humanists.

The group said the event has three main purposes: to quell misconceptions about atheism, empower people with the tools to think rationally and combat discrimination against atheists.

"We want to promote a general understanding of atheism, understanding and tolerance," Hurd said. "We're willing to put our ideas out there …"

Panelists include Picanco; Ed Pearlstein, UNL professor emeritus of physics; Hillary Ostby, a senior French major; and Aaron Alai, a senior natural resource sciences major.

The Center for Inquiry on Campus, or CFI, is dedicated to the promotion of secular humanism, rationality and free thought, group members said.

"In general, it's the promotion of science and scientific inquiry into all aspects of life," Picanco said.

Additionally, the group serves as a community for atheists and agnostics at UNL, akin to youth group or Bible study. It can also function as a sort of support group. Several CFI members said they have faced discrimination for their beliefs, or better put, lack of.

"There is no other religious belief where you can't be elected a governor of a state," Hurd said. "I think that we experience discrimination every day."

According to ReligiousTolerance.org, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas, Tennessee, North and South Carolina and Pennsylvania all include language in their bills or declarations of rights or constitutions prohibiting citizens without a belief in a supreme god from holding office or testifying in court, or both.

"In a lot of ways, being atheist is very similar to being gay," Hurd said. "If you want approval from a particular person, you almost always either have to tell them what you believe and risk losing their friendship, or you have to stay in the closet, so to speak."

While Ostby said she hasn't experienced much discrimination in public or at the university, it's apparent at family functions.

Everyone prays at Thanksgiving or similar get-togethers, she said.

Except her.

"Even my parents, who are not really religious people … they still bow their heads and go along with it to be respectful because it doesn't bother them," she said. "But it does bother me."

Weddings and funerals bring similar conflict, she said. You need to be on your best behavior, and often not participating in religious aspects of such rites brings isolation.

"I feel rude, but I have good intentions," she said. "We're not monsters, I promise."

Alex Ramos, a junior music and religious studies major, vice president of CFI and secretary of Lincoln Secular Humanists, said such ostracism makes it difficult for atheists to declare themselves.

"I think if the atmosphere were more friendly toward atheists being open (about their beliefs)," he said, "a lot of people would come out of the woodwork."

CFI encouraged everyone to attend the panel, believers and non-believers alike.

"Hopefully we don't get too many extremists," Picanco joked.

"We'd love all of Campus Crusade for Christ to show up," Hurd said, adding, "You might leave being a stronger Christian."

And while the idea of being atheist might seem anti-theist, it's not, said Dillon Kapke, a sophomore psychology and biology major and member of CFI.

"For me, I really don't have a problem if Christians believe in Christianity because they have searched through every other religion and actually find proof to themselves," he said. "I don't think it's so much what you believe as why you believe it. … Obviously, there isn't evidence 100 percent for either way."

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