You should glance at Jonathon Edward’s sermons to remind yourself of how harsh Christians can get. I also remember Christians saying extremely harsh and hateful things about my sexual orientation when I was an undergrad. I doubt atheist say anything comparably vile.

I’ve seen atheists calling for outright persecution and even extermination of religious people more than once, not here at HA, but it can be found. I absolutely believe that a lot evangelical atheism is largely driven by raw hatred of the same breed as BDS, often with overlap.

It might just be impotent tools lashing out where they feel they can do so without retribution online, but I wonder about it, when a movement seems to be built on that level of hatred, I have to believe it’ll fizzle in the US. I hope it will, being atheist is one thing, but you don’t create that large a reservoir of hatred and not have the dam burst.

And yeah, I’ve seen religious do the same to gays and atheists, but I don’t roll with them and condemn them immediately, as do most religious, more than anything, I just hate pricks.

As for my description of benign, I’m not talking squish relativist liberal religion, you can be solidly faithful and not be a belligerent jackass who antagonizes people, I know plenty of people who easily reconcile the two, I’m just not sure atheists are capable of it, I realize I’m blanketing there, but honestly, there are few and far between from what I’ve seen.

I prefer a thousand times over Ann Coulter to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

I can’t stand either, quite frankly.

Besides that, I don’t think the gay rights movement and Evangelical Atheism are analogous. The gay movement has always been about acceptance as far as I can tell, whereas Evangelical Atheism as far as I can tell is not about acceptance at all, but the cruelest of mockery, hatred and rejection of religion, even the most benign practitioners of religious faith.
Bad Candy on October 11, 2007 at 10:20 PM

I agree with you about the limits of the analogy of the gay rights movement and atheism.

On the other hand, you appear to exaggerate the harshness of atheist versus Christian criticism. You should glance at Jonathon Edward’s sermons to remind yourself of how harsh Christians can get. I also remember Christians saying extremely harsh and hateful things about my sexual orientation when I was an undergrad. I doubt atheist say anything comparably vile.

But let me get to the reason I felt compelled to reply to you. It’s your expression “the most benign practitioners of religious faith.” I’m extremely skeptical about what gets construed as most benign. Usually, I see liberal Christianity, Unitarianism, reform Judaism and the ever elusive and probably mythological non-political, non-Jihadist Islam as examples of the benign. In this alleged den of benignity, I see socialism and habitual appeasement of evil. To be extremely clear, I think that Unitarianism is unambiguously evil–a hotbed of traitors who spit on our flag. I have other strong reservations about liberal religion of the type we atheists are supposed to find ok, but I don’t wish to be responsible for Hotair’s longest post ever. I hope at least the thrust of my arugment is clear. There is no particular reason for an atheist to prefer a religionists who pretends to be benign over the more sinewy statement of religious belief. In fact, I prefer a thousand times over Ann Coulter to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

I suspect that the same could be true for atheism.

thuja on October 11, 2007 at 8:34 PM

I doubt it, so much of the Evangelical Atheism movement is built on not mere disagreement with religious, but outright hatred of religion, as far as I can tell.

Besides that, I don’t think the gay rights movement and Evangelical Atheism are analogous. The gay movement has always been about acceptance as far as I can tell, whereas Evangelical Atheism as far as I can tell is not about acceptance at all, but the cruelest of mockery, hatred and rejection of religion, even the most benign practitioners of religious faith.

Only coz of the ghey agenda ;-)

Ochlan on October 11, 2007 at 7:58 PM

No, it’s just because Larry Craig is in the next stall… And as we know he “isn’t gay. never has been gay.”

How much overlap on the people buying them? I’ll bet people buy books like Unhinged and other assorted books about crazy lefties, too.

As for the other half, I doubt it, honestly, most evangelical atheists are bastards of the highest order, being likable eventually becomes part of successful movement…

i’m sort of in the mood to say really mean things to christians just to cheese them off, so i’m going to leave it alone.

jummy on October 11, 2007 at 6:32 PM

Here’s why. You might do well with antisocial pricks online, but eventually that pool dries up, atheism might rise, but at some point decent atheists and religious are gonna get damn sick of the evangelical godless.

Bad Candy on October 11, 2007 at 6:52 PM

Bad Candy, I get what you are saying, but let’s look at the other side. The people who start movements are often stubborn people–perhaps it is fair to say they are pricks. When I think of how stubborn one must have been to be an early gay rights activists, I’m amazed anyone would have such nerve, such Malkins. Now the mainstream gay activist is cuddly and cute and perhaps a little too vapid. I suspect that the same could be true for atheism.

Yes, it’s always a bit harsh to tell people that beliefs are silly. Am I a harsh person when I mock astrology to my astrological friends? Probably so, but you know there is much societaly support for my position. People can even think my mocking of astrology is ok. Perhaps, someday I’ll be a cuddly and cute and perhaps a little vapid atheist.

I honestly and seriously did not realize that atheists were such a fractious group.

Our backs are against the wall!

Only coz of the ghey agenda ;-)

And thus will our final victory be secure. Take that, Christians!

Lol. Our backs are against the wall!

any messages on flag certificates are personal between and are between a Member of Congress and his or hers constituents.

Oops!

How is “God” not appearing on this certificate hindering this kid’s freedom of speech?

Constant Parrhesia on October 11, 2007 at 7:34 PM

it is inappropriate and beyond the scope of this Agency’s responsibilities to censor messages from Members … any messages on flag certificates are personal between and are between a Member of Congress and his or hers constituents.

Now you, I, and even Allah can get one with/without god mentioned and free speech reaches divine balance for all the universe to receive.

How is “God” not appearing on this certificate hindering this kid’s freedom of speech?

Constant Parrhesia on October 11, 2007 at 7:34 PM

It’s what he requested be on the certificate. The “Architect” not putting it there hinders the kid’s freedom of speech. There was absolutely no reason not to put “God” on a privately requested document.

Imagine the uproar if Ellison sent out Korans and the architech had wanted to edit the word “sharia” from any reference

1) A shadowy figure known as “The Architect” censors the word “God” on a teenage Eagle Scout’s Congressional certificate meant to honor his grandfather, a member of the Greatest Generation
2) The Democrat House Speaker agrees with The Architect’s censorship citing separation of church and state
3) Republican and Christians are energized enough to logically defend the teenage Eagle Scout’s rights of expression and religious freedom
4) The unseen “Architect” sends out a press release reversing his censorship; Democrat House Speaker must publicly backtrack

Wait, this is all because of “The Architect?” The Effin’ Architect?!

Karl Rove, you magnificent bastard!

That’s why I rarely find myself needing Valu-Rite Vodka. But I digress…

Sultry Beauty on October 11, 2007 at 6:49 PM

Heh! Shaken not stirred of course

this will catch you up in three minutes.

The power of saying, “Ayaan Hirsi Ali” for three minutes!

Is atheism a belief?

I’d argue its a counter belief.

Is atheism a belief?

…or an absence of one?

Dang it I ought to use the preview button once in a while…

doriangrey on October 11, 2007 at 6:49 PM

Yeah, I also always forget to use it.

I think the capitulation has something to do with Yousef converting to Christianity.

Being an atheist means never having to say your sorry ?

William Amos on October 11, 2007 at 6:59 PM

No atheist means never having to say..I was wrong…now I’m sorry.