Perhaps not, but they’ve certainly raised it to the level of high art.

I won’t argue with you there.

And atheist self-righteousness tends toward the smug, rather than the pious.

Indeed, which is why I left off “pious”.

Depending on the open-mindedness of the non-theist (and even theist) the emotional meaning is still apparent- which is my love for my mother, who happens to be a Christian, and how glad I still have her today. The poem is titled “For My Mother”, but almost anyone can appreciate the love that is expressed, esp if they can overlook the acknowledgement of her beliefs within the poem.

religious people don’t have the corner on “self-righteous pronouncements”.

Perhaps not, but they’ve certainly raised it to the level of high art. And atheist self-righteousness tends toward the smug, rather than the pious. (Yes, I was an English major!)

former humanities major

Ditto here!

I don’t mind well-written flowery language. But it seems that in this instance PZ Myers is just mimicking the Nicene creed in form and meter. A creed that might have come trippingly off the tongue in latin, but comes off as a bit of a shopping list in english, at least to my modern ears.

A formal statement of religious belief; a confession of faith.

Run away! Run away!

Okay, I suppose the other definition isn’t quite as bad…but still.

Does convey some good ideas though….

I had enough pious, self-righteous pronouncements from religion to last 3 lifetimes, I’m sure.

I think the atheist poster above, as well as Pritzlaff’s comment about it, demonstrate that religious people don’t have the corner on “self-righteous pronouncements”.

An atheist’s creed

I think that’s a great statement and even as Christian I can affirm about 85% of it.

And maybe as a former humanities major I don’t mind “airy-fairy” language as much as you do.

I think there’s a positive aspect to the fact that atheists can have a sense of humor about this stuff and don’t really have to take themselves so seriously every moment of the day.

Amen, brother! I had enough pious, self-righteous pronouncements from religion to last 3 lifetimes, I’m sure. Some religious people need to get over themselves already.

In one aspect, I like “An Atheist’s Creed” well enough. But on the other hand there’s something that really gets on my wick about such airy-fairy language such that if I had to hear it every day, or worse, had to recite it every day, I think I’d lose my lunch.

I wouldn’t want to recite it every day, but it might serve rather nicely as a standing statement that we could point people to who are always asking the questions about “what DO atheists believe” and asserting erroneously that we believe in “nothing.”

An atheist’s creed

I believe in time,
matter, and energy,
which make up the whole of the world.

I believe in reason, evidence and the human mind,
the only tools we have;
they are the product of natural forces
in a majestic but impersonal universe,
grander and richer than we can imagine,
a source of endless opportunities for discovery.

I believe in the power of doubt;
I do not seek out reassurances,
but embrace the question,
and strive to challenge my own beliefs.

I accept human mortality.

We have but one life,
brief and full of struggle,
leavened with love and community,
learning and exploration,
beauty and the creation of
new life, new art, and new ideas.

I rejoice in this life that I have,
and in the grandeur of a world that preceded me,
and an earth that will abide without me.

I don’t know if I like it better than “…the ass you may have to kiss tomorrow.”

I think there’s a positive aspect to the fact that atheists can have a sense of humor about this stuff and don’t really have to take themselves so seriously every moment of the day. In one aspect, I like “An Atheist’s Creed” well enough. But on the other hand there’s something that really gets on my wick about such airy-fairy language such that if I had to hear it every day, or worse, had to recite it every day, I think I’d lose my lunch.

Give me the Gospel According to Monty Python or Douglas Adams any day.