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

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

I don't see anything especially odd about it. It's certainly no odder than associations for unschoolers or free-love advocates. Anyone whose ideas are out of the mainstream can benefit from a community for emotional support and exchange of ideas about how to exist in a world that is inclined to look askance at you. Also, there's a difference between atheists who see at least some forms of religion as essentially harmless and those who think all belief in the supernatural is harmful and should be fought against. The latter are naturally going to be more inclined to be evangelical, and evangelicalism generally requires some organization.

[seth ellis (from livejournal.com)]

Perhaps it's the phrase "atheist movement" that gives me a problem, since I don't see organized atheism moving in any particular direction. I agree with the difference you mention, but I haven't seen these folks actively moving to destroy this or that religion, or even get out there and make converts one by one, so much as get together to talk about their common interests. Not every community based on shared themes is an organization.