Atheists are people, too

[james_davis_nicoll]

Unfortunately that means some of them are terrible people.

I’ve been writing about atheism for about 10 years now. What has driven me is a combination of awe at the amazing insights produced by science, so much deeper and more substantial than any collection of myths, and a furious rage at the lies and injustice and corruption of humanity by religion. For a while there, in the middle, there was also an ebullience at the growing success of atheism, and hope that someday we would be able to cast aside the follies of faith. The awe is still here, the rage is still burning, but the optimism is fading and is being consumed by a new anger at the incompetence and betrayal of the self-appointed atheist leadership.

Comments

[seth ellis (from livejournal.com)]

I had no idea organized atheism existed until I started to hear about its various fuck-ups, and it's still a weird idea to me. We are united by the lack of an organizing principle!

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Hmm. PZ isn't always the most reliable source.

[drcuriosity]

It's times like this that I'm glad I live in a place that has low general levels of religiosity, and high levels of "religion is a personal matter" even among the people who do think religion is an important part of their daily lives.

We still have plenty of jerks, of course, just fewer people being jerks by reason of religion (or lack thereof).

[neonchameleon.livejournal.com]

I've been saying for a while variants on the theme of "I am an atheist. So was Ayn Rand. When I agree with Ayn Rand about anything I check my assumptions. Fred Clark is a Christian. When I disagree with him about anything not relating to the existence of God I check my assumptions. Atheism says something about what I don't believe rather than something about what I do."

[w. dow rieder (from livejournal.com)]

Religious labels are often used as tribal markers, with associated baggage. 'Atheism' can also be used as a tribal marker, as Myers does, and his point seems to be that the baggage associated with it is becoming increasingly negative, even among people who aren't religious.

[david wilford (from livejournal.com)]

What has driven me is a combination of awe at the amazing insights produced by science, so much deeper and more substantial than any collection of myths, and a furious rage at the lies and injustice and corruption of humanity by religion.

Christ, what an asshole.