Reason #181 I Don’t Like Dawkins’ “A”

Posted by on Oct 10, 2007 in Images, Rants | 7 comments

Okay, well there aren’t 181 reasons; it just sounded funny to me. I can probably think of a few reasons I don’t like Richard Dawkins’ “A”, but this is just one. So many companies and people use a similar A for the logo, including Criss Angel.

These are my jeans that have this fancy A on both pockets (the other side is flipped).

I don’t like having a symbol. I dabbled in the idea that maybe it was good but I have come to the conclusion that we don’t need no stinkin’ symbol! We don’t need any type of symbol to declare non-belief. I’m not fully against a symbol, but I don’t think its necessary. I don’t care for anything that denotes a religion.

I don’t like the scarlet “A” for one reason and the “A”, in general, for a few. Other than the scarlet letter A is already taken, is signified an immoral act. While we are trying to emphasis our morality (at least in cases when accused of being immoral), I don’t like something that draws attention to an immoral act. I have heard sound arguments against this concerning our need to embrace what someone else doesn’t agree with or understand. In that case, I still don’t like the A for other reasons.

It says nothing. It means nothing. It’s just an A. Just a dainty cursive flowing A. I would think an atheist A would be a bolder block letter. Or even the word “atheist” below it to signify that one are proud to be an atheist. But just an A says “A” not “Atheist”.

My last reason is that it is basically Richard Dawkins’ branding. I was emailed by someone a when I first began my Coming Out Godless project, asking me to put the “A” on the blog without directly asking me. I thought he was just informing me of Dawkins’ Out Campaign. I had posted previously posted about the campaign which is how I came to the idea of coming out stories, godless style. The A t-shirts has Dawkins’ web address right below. It almost makes it seem that we atheists think of him as our god and follow the Church of Dawkins. I don’t like his symbol, nor do I think any atheist symbol (if there were one) should have his website address below it. I’m proud to be an atheist, but I’m not proud to be a corporate shill.

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  • tina

    I’m still not too sure I like it either. I do like the symbol on your blog though, the blue thingy..:)

  • Stacy

    My outward expression of heathenism is an American Atheists logo necklace. It’s kinda like that atom on your site, but the bottom is cut off and there’s an A in the middle.

    My ex husband (aka Jesus in the flesh) asked if it was a Jimmy Neutron necklace. :)

  • MorseCode

    How do you feel about the atom? Take out the A and it become international!

  • Intergalactic Hussy

    I do like the atom symbol a whole lot better. It’s what we’re made of!

    Does the “A” on the atomic symbol stand for “American”, “Atheist”, or both?

  • Shadowhelm

    Hi. New to your blog.

    I read your post about the Dawkins Scarlet Letter. You may have a good point and it is something to consider. What I think on the subject is that atheism needs some kind of rallying symbol whatever that might be. If anything it would allow atheists to identify each other. Kind of like a secret handshake I guess, but not so secret.

    The atom symbol may serve this purpose but it needs to be adapted for international use.

  • DocMike

    I have mixed feelings about the “A”, but nice ass!

  • Staks

    I see your point and I agree with much of it. I don’t think atheists “need” a symbol because as I often point out, not all atheists are humanistic. I have met quite a few racist and homophobic atheists who aren’t really “people of reason.” But a large number of atheists are trying to form communities. I think it would be better served if we called those communities “Humanist” or “Freethought” communities instead of atheist communities.

    I’m okay with the “A” because I see the practical purpose of it. To me the Scarlet A represents people who were unjustly persecuted. So I get that. I also think that the “out” campaign helps other people to come out and denounce deities. There are people in the Church who don’t believe, but are afraid to come out and this campaign may change that.
    -Staks
    DangerousTalk.net