The New Hardline Atheist
Although it is generally acknowledged that the once interesting and insightful Wired Magazine has become gadget porn, I did read the new cover article entitled The Crusade Against Religion by Gary Wolf, based on the recent publications of Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett. It provides an overview of the current hyper-polarized religious world in which we live, mostly centering on the so-called New Atheism movement. I was expecting a Rah Rah science article, but instead discovered that I have Atheist guilt.
New Atheism is basically the same as old Atheism, the condemning of beliefs not based on science or reason, but also condemning respect of these beliefs. It is not a movement directed at believers, but is instead directed at the moderates, non-practicing, and most of all at the silent Atheists of the world. It asks us to come out of the closet, so to speak.
From the Wired Article:
"I'm quite keen on the politics of persuading people of the virtues of atheism," Dawkins says, after we get settled in one of the high-ceilinged, ground-floor rooms. He asks me to keep an eye on his bike, which sits just behind him, on the other side of a window overlooking the street. "The number of nonreligious people in the U.S. is something nearer to 30 million than 20 million," he says. "That's more than all the Jews in the world put together. I think we're in the same position the gay movement was in a few decades ago. There was a need for people to come out. The more people who came out, the more people had the courage to come out. I think that's the case with atheists. They are more numerous than anybody realizes."
Anyway, I suggest reading it. It left me with the feeling that I wasn't doing enough for the cause, a cause I believe in. It made me feel like I was right in high school when I wanted to confront religion head on and got caught up in a number of late night arguments that went nowhere. People don't like having their beliefs shit upon. People don't like to be called foolish or stupid, and often these discussions would come up between friends. Looking back these discussions seem pretty juvenile, naive and most of all impolite.
However, high school for me and most of my friends took place in a pre-George W/Osama Bin world.
So this is the question I pose to you, Thats Plenty. Should we continue being polite with other people's beliefs?
well there was that south park starring Dawkins, but instead I submit this
door to door atheism in a mormon neighborhood
The issue of religion vs. reason, science vs. faith, is a false divide. The real divide is literal vs. metaphorical interpretations of ones chosen religious reading material. Liberalism vs. Fundamentalism. Besides, atheists don't have any fun rituals... except for eating puppies.
Atheism is its own religion; the example here beautifully underscores that fact. This "New Atheism" could just as well be called an "Atheist Revival". What's described in the article is--any way you cut it--nothing more or less than an atheistic form of evangelism.
Why isn't there a religion around Douglas Adams yet?
This is a great Blog!