pointless discussion surely???, page-33

no worries lisking. I agree with you that atheism is not a religion but I would call it a philosophy.

Philosophy: "the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline"

one may ask why innocent children are allowed to suffer. One answer might be that god is a punitive god and rewards or punishes the children for the sins of the father.....that would qualify as "the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence". Another philosophy might be that becoming aware of ourselves can only be done through a reality of polar opposites. eg how can you know big without small, hot without cold or indeed joy without suffering. It might be argued that the point of existence is to become self aware rather than just to have an easy ride and therefore how could we ever become aware of joy if we did not also experience suffering. Another philosophy might be that reality springs from within us and when the day comes that we can control ego and wrong thoughts and negative emotions then we will create a world without suffering.

another philosophy may be that there is no god and stuff just randomly happens.....that would be atheism.

So as I said to CliveH, there should be no problem with atheists joining in the discussion as atheism is one point of view in "the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence". The only problem I see comes when extreme fundamental views, from either side, are forcibly pushed and a deliberate planned attack on the other side is launched. This is what Richard Dawkins is been doing in the video I posted......but plainly stating what you believe and why is all good in my opinion if done with respect for the belief of others.