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A Few Suggestions
For Those Who
Need a Symbol
Darrell

• Reference: Symbols, Acronyms, and Slogans letter with David and Will
• Reference: A Symbol to Make My Own Voice Heard? letter from Chris
• Perspective: To Symbolize That Which is Not? monthly column by Cliff Walker
• Perspective: Do Atheists Have a Symbol? letter with Joseph Thornhill (FAQ)
• Perspective: To Respond With That Unfazed 'No-I'm-Not' Look! letter with Kaydsss
• Perspective: License Plate Holder: 'I Am Atheist / I Am America' letter with Peter Hopp
• Perspective: Any Symbol Must Be Given its Meaning letter from Randy Cassingham
• Perspective: Which Symbol For Atheism Was On Your Front Page? Lyra Aitch
• Perspective: One More Proposed Symbol For Atheism letter with Sampo Syreeni
• Perspective: A Few Suggestions For Those Who Need a Symbol letter with Darrell
• Perspective: Symbolizing 'A Thing That Is Not A Thing' Zaphod Beeblebrox
• Perspective: A Funny-Shaped Cross With a Question Mark? Lenny Blottin

From: "Zaphod Beeblebrox"
To: "Positive Atheism Magazine"
Subject: A few suggestions for those who need a symbol
Date: July 16, 2003 16:41

Attempting to sum-up atheism in an icon, especially one that would be universally and immediately recognized, is an exercise in futility (in my opinion). This is because atheism itself is a "thing that is not a thing."

On top of that is the subjectivity of those whom we would be trying to influence or impress. For example, several years ago, not realizing that it was Ash Wednesday and that he had just returned from a Roman Catholic Mass, I tactfully pulled a co-worker aside to alert him to the fact that he had a smudge on his forehead.

Those and similar things notwithstanding, many atheists still wish to wear or display a symbol that might spark discussion toward atheism or otherwise identify them as atheists. This being the case, consider these ideas for such a symbol:

• 1. A question mark (we tend to question things rather than just accept them by faith)
• 2. A small mirror (this reflects what we can see, this is what we tend live by realistically and metaphorically)
• 3. A solid black lapel button, like we see with sayings on them, but this one without any writing: just solid black (implying that atheism is nothing)

One might even consider some combination of these things.

Thanks for your site,
I really enjoy it
Darrell

From: "Positive Atheism Magazine"
To: "Darrell"
Subject: (Finally) Posting Your Letter On PAM
Date: August 29, 2004 10:55

Darrell,

Thanks for your letter!

As Randy pointed out, any symbol that makes sense will work as long as we do the proper work to introduce it to our culture: the symbol needn't be intuitively identifiable as symbolizing atheism (but it sure helps).

Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
Entering our 10th year of service
    to people with no reason to believe