Richmond Reason and Naturalism Association president Bryan Tunnel wants to dispel some false rumors that exist about members of the atheist community.
Richmond Reason and Naturalism Association president Bryan Tunnel wants to dispel some false rumors that exist about members of the atheist community.
“The assumption is that you don’t have ethics…that you are a nihilist, which simply isn’t true,” he said.
In order to begin changing people’s perspectives on atheism, his organization will be hosting a lecture and discussion entitled “Living Without Religion” this Wednesday Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. The event will be held at the Tuckahoe branch of the Henrico Public Library.
Three lecturers will be on hand, including the club’s vice president, Tiffany Green, the programs coordinator for the Chrysalis Institute, Jennifer Clayton, and author and filmmaker Chris Johnson. The lectures will be followed by a question and answer session.
The event benefits both RRNA and the Chrysalis Institute in that it gains exposure at a time when both seek to expand, both in terms of their numbers and in the diversity of their membership. The lecture also offers attendees the opportunity to discuss meaning in a non-traditional way, while presenting a community to individuals who otherwise may feel left out by their disbelief or conflicts they may have with other organized religious groups.
Johnson, the author and filmmaker of “A Better Life: 100 Atheists Speak Out on Joy and Meaning in a World Without God,” said that he hopes the event will “dispel some of the nasty stereotypes about atheists out there, and let those who may be in the closet about their atheism know that there is a community of like-minded people out there.”
Tunnel related a similar story in which a person came to an event years ago “who was an atheist in her 50s, and she said she had never met another atheist…that in itself makes the group worthwhile.”
The RRNA came into existence in the Fall of 2004 and has met consistently, at least once a month, ever since. According to Tunnel, the group formed “to create and enhance in-person community for people in the Richmond area who have a naturalistic perspective.”
Green, who has been attending the group’s meetings since 2013, said she hopes that the upcoming event “will open the eyes of people who are religious to a set of experiences that they have not previously considered.” She continued, “I hope that they will see that while we may believe different things about how the world operates, we are still people worthy of respect.”
While similar to RRNA in that they offer an alternative to traditional religion, Clayton’s employer, the Chrysalis Institute differs in their execution.
“There is room in Chrysalis,” Clayton said. “We don’t poo-poo the idea of the supernatural. We’re open enough that people can pick and choose what they want to go to…If they want to go to the science and academic-oriented events we host, they can. If they want to go to the more experiential and mystical events, they can do that. Or they can go to both.”
According to Clayton, who happens to be an atheist who graduated from Christian seminary, there are things that religion has provided for humanity that are beneficial that the secular world does not appear to be providing. Things like community, and a place to turn when unexpected things happen and life changes.
“How do we find ways to be happy and content in this world that don’t involve buying stuff and taking a pill?” she asked.
Tunnel said people aren’t required to register or a become a member to come to the event. His only request was that people treat each other with respect.
“We want to be a diverse group…of course we all have our metaphysical perspective, but in terms of race, gender, orientation, we welcome diversity,” Tunnel said. “We don’t come with an old book set of ethics that would make us judge people because of who they are.”
So, if you share a naturalistic perspective, or you are looking for a community open to alternatives to traditional religious beliefs, this is the event for you.
The “Living Without Religion” event will take place tomorrow, Wed. Sept 30 at 6 p.m at the Tuckahoe branch of the Henrico Public Library. Free.
