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Universal Interfaith symbol

#1 
A universal interfaith symbol, by definition will not include
atheists. They have no faith in a higher being at all.

It all depends what you mean in Faith - your definition seems pretty
narrow. I would say that most atheists have a deep faith in humanity,
in the power of mankind and in nature. Most of them have either made
up their minds that a ‘god’ does not exist (or is it one for each
different faith?) or that, on balance, the scientific evidence points
that way whilst agnostics simply can’t make up their minds at all but
feel it is probably best to hedge their bets. I must say that if I am
to be labelled at all (and this is one of the main concepts that I
reject) I am with the atheists and, if there does eventually turn
out to be a god, providing what I was taught at sunday school about
’him’ being a forgiving god is correct, then I’ll be Ok anyway.

As to a symbol, I would add my vote to a moebius strip, maybe even
bent into an infinity symbol - if only I could envisage how this
would be constructed so as to make it obvious what it was from a
distance.

The one question I do have in mind is - why would anyone want to buy
such a symbol? All the existing similar symbols have some type of
fund raising purpose or are displayed as ‘team colours’ such as the
fish symbol which we see on the back of cars (its only recently that
I discovered that this has something to do with christianity and is
not the badge of some type of bad drivers club!), why would we wish
to display a symbol saying that we are just members of humankind?

Best wishes,
Ian
Ian W. Wright
Sheffield UK

#2

"(its only recently that I discovered that this has something to do
with christianity and is not the badge of some type of bad drivers
club!), "

Well before Christianity, the fish symbol was known as “the Great
Mother,” a pointed oval sign, the “vesica piscis” or Vessel of the
Fish. “Fish” and “womb” were synonymous terms in ancient
Greek,“delphos.” http://www.atheists.org/church/fish.html

For a look at how the car bumper fish symbol has evolved see Fish
symbol taxonomy: http://www.meangene.com/darwin/taxonomy.html

#3

Lets not forget that there are many who believe in Wicca, Druidry,
Witchcraft, Santeria, Veaux Deaux, or Voo Doo, and Satanic
worshipers. Oh and lets not forget the Bahi faith, which endorses the
one world one people theory, or what about De`Colores.

Kenneth Ferrell
www.Shadras.com

#4 
    The one question I do have in mind is - why would anyone want
to buy such a symbol? <Snip> why would we wish to display a symbol
saying that we are just members of humankind?

Ian, I’m with you on this one. While I find this an interesting
thread for discussion and while I think it has definitely given us
cause to think more broadly, you are right on! Why indeed are we even
worrying about finding such a symbol. And where will it be used. If
we had an organization specifically functioning to nurture all
mankind then it would be nice to have a symbol for them to identify
themselves or their organization, but otherwise don’t think we will
use it. Unless you want to always affix it to the end of every
Orchid message? Kay

#5

Well I sure raised some eyebrows with my Atheist definition from
Websters! If I offended anyone- Sorry, not my intention. I like this
thread, its quite thought provoking!

Daniel Ballard