Volume 2 Research JumpStart

Use the following questions to develop story ideas. Some of the suggestions have characters or organizations associated with them that can be used as starting points.

- Fundamentalism: Are fundamentalist Atheists a contradiction? Are they effective evangelicals? What’s the point?

- Politics: Can an Atheist be elected to public office? Find one. Are Atheists driven to one political party over another? Does being an Atheist also mean that the person is pro choice, pro stem cell research, pro homosexuality - is this some sort of a political alignment?

- Coming Out: Is it difficult to come out as an Atheist? What makes it a controversy? Is it frivolous to say you are ‘coming out’ when you decide to be an Atheist?


- New Atheism: Are New Atheists driven by politics, faith or revelation? Is it rational to embrace Atheism because of government policies? Are George Bush’s policy’s driving people towards Atheism? Is it just fashionable?

- Reverse Osmosis: Is Atheism a dead-end for spirituality? Do many Atheists later turn into believers?

- Faith: Is faith in science different from faith in religion?

- Organizing: Is it a contradiction to be an organized Atheist? What is unifying the Atheists?

- Spirituality: Can you be a good person and be an Atheist? Is there a moral sacrifice you make in choosing Atheism?

- Rituals: What does an Atheist Wedding look like? Funeral?

- Taxonomy: Brights, Freethinkers, Nonbelievers, Agnostics…what’s the difference? Why differentiate?

- Daily Life: What is it like for Atheists to survive in a society that is filled with rituals that are symbolic of religion? Is being Atheist somehow unnatural? Do Atheists live longer? How many Atheists are there?

- Public Perception: What do people think of Atheists? Are they evil? Do they shower? Conduct a “Man on the Street” Survey

- War: Are there ever any Atheists in Foxholes? Find one.

- Make your own religion: What kinds of religions are people making for themselves? Paganism? Infidel? Are people shopping for a religion?

- Technology: How are Atheists using cable TV and the internet? Is it a forum for discussion or is it an evangelical tool?

You don't have to dig too deep to find story ideas here. Looking forward to your feedback.

(Thanks to Sheherzad)