Infidel Mentors?

[amaradulcis_nyx]

I was at my local library last night (returning my copy of The Problem Of The Soul (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0465024610/internetinfidels)) and browsing the movie section. At a table near that, I could overhear a young man and older man talking about god. So, I hang around a bit and listen while looking through all the DVDs. Another man comes up and says to the young man "You've got a great mentor there - he's seen it all, done it all and he's a great man of god." They talk for awhile about "passing on the torch", etc. He leaves and the other two continue on, reading from a bible and talking about it and what they think about god.

This gets me thinking - if there are mentors for teaching, supporting and spreading religions, why not mentors for extracting people from them? I would have found it very helpful in my deconversion process to talk to someone about what I was thinking and going through.

Does anyone know of something like this in their area? Or does your local FreeThought group provide mentors?

[Morethancaffine]

The idea of an atheist or infidel mentor sounds like a good one, but they would need to be a person who would show someone who was questioning their faith/religion, as opposed to simply teaching.

The setting aside of faith/religion is an intensely personal endeavor, and a person must come to their own conclusions on the matter. Otherwise, they might feel that they are being indoctrinated, much as religions indoctrinate.

However, I think that someone who taught critical thinking would be ideal in this situation. When a person thinks critically, they evaluate and reevaluate everything based on the evidence in the given situation. If a person is intellectually honest, critical thinking has but one logical conclusion.

[amaradulcis_nyx]

Thanks for the thoughts. I agree - it couldn't be anything that would come across as a (de)conversion process or indoctrination.

I guess was thinking of it as a Stephen's Minister type of thing. That's where you have a person (SM) who you can go talk to, who isn't involved in the current situations you're having issues with, who isn't supposed to judge you or offer easy solutions. They're supposed to be there to ask you questions and help you examine what you want and how to get to that point and provide a listening ear and resources along the way. It's also confidential.

Obviously the SM is religious and works with you via bible and faith based tenets. But the system/procedure could be a good resource for people questioning their faith and belief systems. It could be done as a free thought or critical thinking exercise - while allowing people to work their thoughts out in a non-judgemental environment at their own pace. The SM was all about small steps and process in a "safe" way.

I don't know how, if it came to be, that people would know where to go and who they could talk to. FreeThought groups, I guess.

[Never]

I would think this fits just a little more into Positive Atheism & Secular Activism forum. I'm going to send it there.

[EverLastingGodStopper]

A few years ago, a California activist started the Garrison-Martineau Project (http://www.garrison-martineau.com/), dedicated to hosting polite discussions between a pair of atheists and a pair of Christians or other theists. The project never really took off, but the idea is a good one. Check the site for details.

I would guess that there would be people involved in atheist/freethought groups who might be open to being "mentors" of some sort, in the way described in the OP. I know that if my freethought group received a request for a person to gently lead a discussion or workshop on atheism, theism, and deconversion, we'd have volunteers. I'd do it, if I had the chance.

Try getting involved with your local group and suggest the idea.

[spamandham]

Hmmm. This does sound like an unfilled need, but at the same time, those most fit to be freethought mentors are probably sickened by the idea of doing it! Perhaps a support group for the questioning is more in order. In a group such as this, a brilliant freethinker could simply let his ideas be put to public forum...something he is likely more comfortable with than the role of "mentor", which sounds a bit too much like an indoctrination role.

[amaradulcis_nyx]

A few years ago, a California activist started the Garrison-Martineau Project (http://www.garrison-martineau.com/), dedicated to hosting polite discussions between a pair of atheists and a pair of Christians or other theists. The project never really took off, but the idea is a good one. Check the site for details.

I would guess that there would be people involved in atheist/freethought groups who might be open to being "mentors" of some sort, in the way described in the OP. I know that if my freethought group received a request for a person to gently lead a discussion or workshop on atheism, theism, and deconversion, we'd have volunteers. I'd do it, if I had the chance.

Try getting involved with your local group and suggest the idea.

Thanks for the link! Interesting group. I bookmarked the site.

I do need to attend the local FreeThinker group more. I've only been to one meeting so far. I did enjoy it, but it'd be good to get more involved.

[amaradulcis_nyx]

Hmmm. This does sound like an unfilled need, but at the same time, those most fit to be freethought mentors are probably sickened by the idea of doing it! Perhaps a support group for the questioning is more in order. In a group such as this, a brilliant freethinker could simply let his ideas be put to public forum...something he is likely more comfortable with than the role of "mentor", which sounds a bit too much like an indoctrination role.

I think that instead of using the word "mentor" I should have used a different term. I understand what you mean and I like the idea of a support group.

I just would have liked to have had someone to talk to (one-on-one in a casual atmosphere) during the early stages of my deconversion, which is still on-going.

I have an aunt and uncle who are very liberal and are helping me in this. I also had a friend point me to this board (for which I'll always be grateful) and who I can talk openly with. But, if I didn't have that, I don't know how I'd have come this far in the process. I didn't know there was such a thing as the local FreeThought group until my friend told me about it.

Hmm... I will ponder this more. Thanks for the thoughts!

[phrog]

I belong to so many local groups and attend meetings it would be easy for me to have an affair, my wife just assumes I'm at one of my numerous infidel chat groups. None of them offer the mentor thing but there are several members in each of them I know would be glad to do so should the occasion arise. I certainly would love to mentor a youngster myself. My father was my Atheist mentor growing up. It would be nice to "Pass the torch."