What we need are events that cater to this other side. There is definitely the market for it – there are sacreligeous artists everywhere, poets writing about vast voids of religious nothingnesses, social scientists writing about the psychology and philosophers wanting to hear about ethics. Not only do they fit into our mandates by being secular and asking questions but they are promoting and exercising freethought and more importantly freedom of expression!

Their art is breaking boundaries of the church and religion being infallible, and there is something to be said about the effectiveness of this controversy. Not only are people using their feelings about religion to create something with aesthetic value but they are also reaching out to the emotions of people who haven’t been able to do that.

There is also the possibility of bringing the two together so that even more people can find an emotional connection to the works. Personally when I see a picture or a painting or a complex biosphere or environment I am filled with awe. I am reminded that something so magnificent has developed over time. Something so complex is growing right in front of me, and I take advantage of it far too often. I connect emotionally.

The same (or similar thing) can be said for someone who sees a recreation of a galaxy or a cell. Atheistic humanism seriously needs this sense of value and allowance of these important and deep feelings. Reason has enabled us to work out in our minds what needs to be done and to devise strategies to follow through with these things. But feelings and passion give us impetus to act and keeps us from falling into that black never ending hold of emptiness. There is something to hold onto, the awe, wonder and beauty of the universe that can be expressed through a painting as a way to constantly remind us of what we’re actually living in and being a part of every day.

That’s enough fluff talk from me for like a century…. – I’ve had enough of all these scientists coming together and acting like they have all the answers to the world. The world wouldn’t be the same and would be a stone cold rock without art. So why aren’t we incorporating that into our movement more?

Here is my wish, want and challenge to all the students out there or people running little groups – do something for your artists! Hold an art gallery, do a poetry reading, start an arts and crafts night (okay, maybe not that one…) or do events that caters to this crowd! Enough of this BS about bringing women into the movement – we’re here. And more will come, you just have to give them time. But we’re not making it easy for the artists and social scientists, and I think this is a far more important task. It’s an entire culture and social world that we’re not including. By excluding them, we’re shutting a lot of possibilities off on ourselves.

Artistically challenged.