Atheism is, in the broadest sense, an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. We usually don't have churches. Some argue that atheism is personal, and it should not follow the same route as religions do in terms of becoming organized within itself.

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I strongly oppose this mindset. My 10+ years of experience in the Middle East as an atheist activist taught me that atheism needs the same sense of community and solidarity in terms of building reflexes and support mechanisms. Especially in societies where atheists are suppressed/alienated.

The progress an individual atheist activist can achieve is usually not comparable with the progress that could be achieved through class action movements. It is easier to make your voice be heard if you are an organization. You will have legal grounds to initiate campaigns, fundraisers, petitions, protests or to take legal actions. It is easier to unite free-thinkers in solidarity in order to build a community if you are a legal entity. This way, atheists can have their voices be heard, and represents its supporters in legislating bodies, and in the court of law. It is easier to make a change if you have a legal entity. Most accomplishments and services require funds. It is more trustworthy for potential supporters to donate their time, effort and money to a non-profit Non-Governmental Organization which has to give an account to its members.

Did you know that one out of every three nonbeliever asylum seekers is left with no other option but to pretend as a Jew, Muslim or Christian or seek help in that sort of religious organizations when they immigrate or receive asylum? This is due to the lack of such legal organizations and support mechanisms in our communities for the secular, skeptic, humanist and/or atheist people.

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United we stand, divided we fall!