Militant atheism has become a religion

[gcomeau]

4. Remains an incredibly stupid article on re-post

So I'll just re-post my original response...


First of all, his definition of "militant" appears to be anyone who forcefully *verbally* defends their positions in discussion or argument... rendering the term "militant" damn near meaningless. Militant *religious* people use things like guns and bombs, not words... so yes let's please draw some kind of absurd false equivalency between the "militancy" of atheists and religious fundamentalists.

"What does atheism have to offer that’s worth fighting for?"

Keeping in mind here that the "fighting" he is talking about is what people call in other areas of society *DISCUSSION* or *ARGUMENT". In that sense there is the same thing "in it" worth fighting for as any othe position you would defend in debate. Establishing which claim is correct and true. Which always matters. Particularly on a subject that people on one side of the issue insist on constantly trying to base the laws that govern the nation on!!!! (And then of course there's just the little added bonus of dealing with irritating morons who, oh let's say, drive up to your house and then start pestering you out of nowhere about "saving your soul".)

"But the elephant also defines them, because what would be the point of atheism in the absence of religion?"

Another mind numbingly idiotic statement. Atheism is the lack of belief in a deity. What would be the point of not believing in a deity if nobody else did? The same point as not believing in one when lots of other people do... IT DOESN'T EXIST SO YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN IT.

"All I get out of such exchanges is the confirmation that believers will say anything to defend their faith and that some atheists have turned evangelical. Nothing new about the first, but atheists’ zeal keeps surprising me. Why “sleep furiously” unless there are inner demons to be kept at bay?"

Gosh, what an amazingly insightful question! I wonder if I will be able to ever dig up an answer no matter how far and wide I search...

Oh wait, there's one right over there... IN THIS FREAKING ARTICLE TWO PARAGRAPHS BEFORE HE SAID THIS.

"Religion looms as large as an elephant in the United States, to the point that being nonreligious is about the biggest handicap a politician running for office can have, bigger than being gay, unmarried, thrice married, or black. This is upsetting, of course, and explains why atheists have become so vocal in demanding their place at the table. "

Apparently he lacks the ability to remember words he wrote himself for more than a few minutes. And the idiocy goes on and on and on from there but I'm simply going to stop here.