Flying the Banner of Non-Theistic Naturalism

"Religious belief of all kinds shares the same intellectual respectability, evidential base, and rationality as belief in the existence of fairies." AC Grayling

THEISM VS NON-THEISM

For too long, theism (and religion in general) hasn't had to deal with a strong vocal voice of atheism or anti-theism. It has certainly faced crises, the unbelievable incidence of Christian priests raping children being an obvious one. But there has been no high profile, consolidated front attacking the fundamental beliefs and, in particular, the existence of 'God'.

The closest in the 'West' would be the way in which science courses in schools teach evolution - no self-respecting education authority is going to let creationism into schools (and while the Christians would have you believe there is only one creationist account, there are in fact hundreds!). That side of the issue has been more or less accepted as part of the woodwork and, amazingly, chunks of the religious front have reduced the problem for them by accepting evolution as compatible with their God (giving in?)

The release over the last few years of several books on atheism, some of which hit the best seller lists, has caused a major upheaval for theists because these led to anti-God attitudes and anti-God arguments being popularised. It's in the bookshops, in the newspapers, on the television. It's being talked about.

And some of the precious concepts around God have been battered by the likes of Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennett and Harris; not to mention airing the dirty underwear of a number of religions. (I would also recommend the writings of Stephen Law, AC Grayling and Massimo Pigliucci.)

The theist defence against the onslaught often has the air of anxious, flustered reaction. This is where many theists are on shaky grounds, because they have never had to defend their beliefs against such criticism. And the result? Out come the tired old theistic arguments from Aristotle to medieval philosophers, to CS Lewis, to the more 'modern' WL Craig and Plantinga.

And how do many theists on YouTube deal with atheists making comments on their videos, criticising their position? Many of them censor comments, not letting anything they don't like through. Ever see 'Pending Approval'? Only on a theist's channel (in my experience so far).
And the theist argument generally comes down to a 'First Cause', and the claim that 'God is uncaused' or 'God is spiritual and doesn't need to be created'. Hypothesis yes, but evidence? No. So far, these are just unfounded assumptions.

Well, that's my position, just to show there is another position out there. Not only is personal credibility (and feelings) at stake, but the very nature of who we are and how we got here!
IS THERE AN ANSWER?Having said all of the above (making a statement for the 'other side'), and while we can discuss and debate (which is a good thing), we do all have our different beliefs (and not just about religion and God). And the bottom line is that we need to have secular, pluaristic societies, where everyone has the opportunity for equal rights.

The EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS says it all.