Difference between revisions of "Atheist factions"

From Conservapedia
Jump to: navigation, search
(clean up & uniformity)
(→‎Atheist blogger David Smalley on the fractured atheist movement)
(13 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 18: Line 18:
 
== Blair Scott about atheist infighting with the atheist movement ==
 
== Blair Scott about atheist infighting with the atheist movement ==
 
[[File:David Silverman Reason Rally.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|[[David Silverman]] is the president of the [[American Atheists]] organization.]]
 
[[File:David Silverman Reason Rally.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|[[David Silverman]] is the president of the [[American Atheists]] organization.]]
−
''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and anger]] and  and [[Atheism and bitterness]]
+
''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]
  
 
[[Blair Scott]]  served on the [[American Atheists]] board of directors. Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the [[American Atheists]] organization in the state of [[Alabama]]. On December 1, 2012 he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheist due to infighting within the American [[atheist movement]].<ref name="An Open Letter from Blair Scott">[http://news.atheists.org/2012/12/01/an-open-letter-from-blair-scott/ An Open Letter from Blair Scott]</ref>  
 
[[Blair Scott]]  served on the [[American Atheists]] board of directors. Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the [[American Atheists]] organization in the state of [[Alabama]]. On December 1, 2012 he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheist due to infighting within the American [[atheist movement]].<ref name="An Open Letter from Blair Scott">[http://news.atheists.org/2012/12/01/an-open-letter-from-blair-scott/ An Open Letter from Blair Scott]</ref>  
Line 41: Line 41:
  
 
One of the reasons for the disharmony within the atheist community is the inability of most atheists to keep together for a uniform belief. While there are differences within other religions, such as Christianity, other religions' adherents all share a common belief. In the case of [[Christianity]], some of the basic beliefs Christians share is the deity of [[Jesus Christ]], the [[resurrection of Jesus Christ]] and the [[trinity]].  However, atheists are unable to even create a coherent definition of their beliefs.<ref>http://atheism.about.com/od/definitionofatheism/Definition_of_Atheism_Dictionaries_Atheists_Others_Define_Atheism.htm</ref> See: [[Definition of atheism]].
 
One of the reasons for the disharmony within the atheist community is the inability of most atheists to keep together for a uniform belief. While there are differences within other religions, such as Christianity, other religions' adherents all share a common belief. In the case of [[Christianity]], some of the basic beliefs Christians share is the deity of [[Jesus Christ]], the [[resurrection of Jesus Christ]] and the [[trinity]].  However, atheists are unable to even create a coherent definition of their beliefs.<ref>http://atheism.about.com/od/definitionofatheism/Definition_of_Atheism_Dictionaries_Atheists_Others_Define_Atheism.htm</ref> See: [[Definition of atheism]].
 +
 +
The atheist and [[secular left]]ist [[PZ Myers]], who frequently champions  [[feminism]] (see also: [[atheist feminism]]), wrote: "We are fractured because there are deep disagreements about how to address serious social issues. Worse, because some people won’t even accept the dehumanization of fellow human beings as something more substantial than ridiculousness."<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/08/21/what-if-the-atheist-movement-needs-to-die/ What if the atheist movement needs to die] by PZ Myers</ref>
  
 
=== Journal of Contemporary Religion on schisms within U.S. atheism ===
 
=== Journal of Contemporary Religion on schisms within U.S. atheism ===
Line 47: Line 49:
  
 
The ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'' says about schisms within atheism:
 
The ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'' says about schisms within atheism:
−
{{Cquote|The persistence of internal schisms and regular outbreaks of in-fighting within the atheist movement also ensure that much energy is effectively wasted on parochial concerns and further undermine attempts to establish a genuine sense of group cohesion.<ref name="tandfonline.com">[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13537903.2014.945722 Divided We Stand: The Politics of the Atheist Movement in the United States] by Steven Kettell]''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', Volume 29, Issue 3, 2014</ref>}}
+
{{Cquote|The persistence of internal schisms and regular outbreaks of in-fighting within the atheist movement also ensure that much energy is effectively wasted on parochial concerns and further undermine attempts to establish a genuine sense of group cohesion.<ref name="tandfonline.com">[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13537903.2014.945722 Divided We Stand: The Politics of the Atheist Movement in the United States] by Steven Kettell''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', Volume 29, Issue 3, 2014</ref>}}
  
−
The ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'' say that internal divisions withing the American atheist movement have to do with:
+
The ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'' say that internal divisions within the American atheist movement have to do with:
−
{{Cquote|internal divisions within the movement around issues relating to goals, strategies, and direction. These can be seen most notably in debates about the formation of a collective ‘atheist’ identity, in disputes about the effectiveness of confrontationalism and accommodationism, and in concerns about the movement’s ethnic, racial, and gender profile.<ref name="tandfonline.com">[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13537903.2014.945722 Divided We Stand: The Politics of the Atheist Movement in the United States] by Steven Kettell]''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', Volume 29, Issue 3, 2014</ref>}}
+
{{Cquote|internal divisions within the movement around issues relating to goals, strategies, and direction. These can be seen most notably in debates about the formation of a collective ‘atheist’ identity, in disputes about the effectiveness of confrontationalism and accommodationism, and in concerns about the movement’s ethnic, racial, and gender profile.<ref name="tandfonline.com">[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13537903.2014.945722 Divided We Stand: The Politics of the Atheist Movement in the United States] by Steven Kettell ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', Volume 29, Issue 3, 2014</ref>}}
  
 
See also: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Western atheism and race]]
 
See also: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Western atheism and race]]
Line 56: Line 58:
 
=== Atheist Tremblay on lack of atheist unity and the apathy of many atheists ===
 
=== Atheist Tremblay on lack of atheist unity and the apathy of many atheists ===
  
−
''See also:'' [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheism and apathy]] and [[Atheist movement]]
+
''See also:'' [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheism and apathy]]
 
[[File:512px-Collage of Six Cats-01.jpg|thumbnail|left|150px|In his essay ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose'', the atheist Francois Tremblay compared unifying atheists to herding cats.<ref name="liberator.net">[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html  ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose''] by Francois Tremblay</ref>]]
 
[[File:512px-Collage of Six Cats-01.jpg|thumbnail|left|150px|In his essay ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose'', the atheist Francois Tremblay compared unifying atheists to herding cats.<ref name="liberator.net">[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html  ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose''] by Francois Tremblay</ref>]]
 
The atheist Francois Tremblay wrote in his essay ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose'':
 
The atheist Francois Tremblay wrote in his essay ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose'':
−
{{cquote|Atheism, as [[Definition of atheism|commonly defined]] by atheists, expresses a lack of belief, or disbelief, in deities. It is not a positive belief in anything, but a negative concept. That is why atheists, inasmuch as they are atheists, are nothing like a coherent or concerted group. Organizations like [[American Atheists]] serve a role of broadcasting information more than anything else, because there cannot be concerted action when nobody agrees on what to do (except of course on direct concerns like the rights of atheists or separation of church and state). Most atheists disagree strongly on whenever atheism should be propagated, or promoted, and on the matter of doing so.  
+
{{cquote|Atheism, as [[Definition of atheism|commonly defined]] by atheists, expresses a lack of belief, or disbelief, in deities. It is not a positive belief in anything, but a negative concept. That is why atheists, inasmuch as they are atheists, are nothing like a coherent or concerted group. Organizations like American Atheists serve a role of broadcasting information more than anything else, because there cannot be concerted action when nobody agrees on what to do (except of course on direct concerns like the rights of atheists or separation of church and state). Most atheists disagree strongly on whenever atheism should be propagated, or promoted, and on the matter of doing so.  
  
 
Another problem of atheism qua atheism is that it does not contain its own basis. What I mean by this is that atheism is a punctual, [[ontological]] belief, which is itself the implicit or explicit result of [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] and [[Atheism and epistemology|epistemological deductions]]. Any reply to an attack on this basis cannot come directly from atheism. Concentrating oneself only on being an atheist is like trying to build a house from the second floor up. It may look less costly on paper, and for people who only build houses in their imagination this may be a good way of seeing it, but it's not good enough for a serious endeavour. And most importantly, it's too fragile. I see too many religionists attacking atheism from the bottom and atheists being unable to adequately reply to the arguments. If the atheist cannot answer to his most fundamental beliefs on the nature of reality and cognition, then his atheism is worthless in terms of validation. It is nothing more than a big paper tiger, made from the finest cardboard.
 
Another problem of atheism qua atheism is that it does not contain its own basis. What I mean by this is that atheism is a punctual, [[ontological]] belief, which is itself the implicit or explicit result of [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] and [[Atheism and epistemology|epistemological deductions]]. Any reply to an attack on this basis cannot come directly from atheism. Concentrating oneself only on being an atheist is like trying to build a house from the second floor up. It may look less costly on paper, and for people who only build houses in their imagination this may be a good way of seeing it, but it's not good enough for a serious endeavour. And most importantly, it's too fragile. I see too many religionists attacking atheism from the bottom and atheists being unable to adequately reply to the arguments. If the atheist cannot answer to his most fundamental beliefs on the nature of reality and cognition, then his atheism is worthless in terms of validation. It is nothing more than a big paper tiger, made from the finest cardboard.
Line 70: Line 72:
 
[[File:PZ Myers.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[PZ Myers]] ]]
 
[[File:PZ Myers.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[PZ Myers]] ]]
 
Atheist [[PZ Myers]] wrote:  
 
Atheist [[PZ Myers]] wrote:  
−
{{cquote|But see, this is why the atheist movement can’t have leaders. The [[Atheism and leadership|ones we’ve got]], informally, all seem to think they’re like gods and popes, infallible and unquestionable, and that normal, healthy, productive criticism within the movement is all a conspiracy to dethrone them."<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/01/16/the-delicate-ego-of-mr-michael-shermer/ The delicate ego of Mr Michael Shermer] by [[PZ Myers]], 16 January 2013</ref>}}
+
{{cquote|But see, this is why the atheist movement can’t have leaders. The [[Atheism and leadership|ones we’ve got]], informally, all seem to think they’re like gods and popes, infallible and unquestionable, and that normal, healthy, productive criticism within the movement is all a conspiracy to dethrone them."<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/01/16/the-delicate-ego-of-mr-michael-shermer/ The delicate ego of Mr Michael Shermer] by PZ Myers, 16 January 2013</ref>}}
  
−
John W. Loftus, one of the more prominent atheists in the atheist community, cites John Draper (a Canadian atheist blogger), saying about prominent atheist [[PZ Myers]]: "According to PZ you either agree with him or you are the scum of the earth. If anyone is giving atheists a bad reputation it's PZ - he shows no tolerance or respect for anyone other than himself."<ref>[http://debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com/2012/07/can-pz-myers-change-his-ways-should-he.html Can PZ Myers Change His Ways? Should He?] By John W. Loftus at 7/30/2012</ref>  
+
John W. Loftus, one of the more prominent atheists in the atheist community, cites John Draper (a Canadian atheist blogger), saying about prominent atheist PZ Myers: "According to PZ you either agree with him or you are the scum of the earth. If anyone is giving atheists a bad reputation it's PZ - he shows no tolerance or respect for anyone other than himself."<ref>[http://debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com/2012/07/can-pz-myers-change-his-ways-should-he.html Can PZ Myers Change His Ways? Should He?] By John W. Loftus at 7/30/2012</ref>  
  
 
=== Prominent atheists, misogyny and narcissism ===
 
=== Prominent atheists, misogyny and narcissism ===
Line 118: Line 120:
 
None of this is a reflection on the worth of the many contributions that both of these people have made to the atheist cause. I hope and am confident that they will both continue to offer a lot of good things to this community.<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/2012/07/01/major-changes-at-freethought-blogs/ Major changes at freethoughtblogs - Ed Brayton]</ref>}}
 
None of this is a reflection on the worth of the many contributions that both of these people have made to the atheist cause. I hope and am confident that they will both continue to offer a lot of good things to this community.<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/2012/07/01/major-changes-at-freethought-blogs/ Major changes at freethoughtblogs - Ed Brayton]</ref>}}
 
[[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|right|170px|[[Vox Day]] ]]  
 
[[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|right|170px|[[Vox Day]] ]]  
−
The matter which appeared to spark the contention was how to properly deal with the significant amount of [[misogny]] within the atheist community (see: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Elevatorgate]] and [[Women's views of Richard Dawkins]] and [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships|Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]).<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/07/01/thunderf00t-check-your-email/ Thunderf00t, check your email - PZ Myers]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuKH3trPpgY&list=UUmb8hO2ilV9vRa8cilis88A&index=1&feature=plcp Thunderf00t on how to handle misogny in the atheist community]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/thunderf00t/2012/07/01/skepchickcon-and-the-harassment-lol-icy/ SkepchickCON and the Harassment LOL-icy]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/thunderf00t/2012/06/29/is-it-freethoughtblogs-or-group-think-blogs/ Is it ‘Freethoughtblogs’ or ‘Group-think-blogs’?]</ref>
+
The matter which appeared to spark the contention was how to properly deal with the significant amount of [[misogny]] within the atheist community (see: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Women's views of Richard Dawkins]] and [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships|Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]).<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/07/01/thunderf00t-check-your-email/ Thunderf00t, check your email - PZ Myers]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuKH3trPpgY&list=UUmb8hO2ilV9vRa8cilis88A&index=1&feature=plcp Thunderf00t on how to handle misogny in the atheist community]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/thunderf00t/2012/07/01/skepchickcon-and-the-harassment-lol-icy/ SkepchickCON and the Harassment LOL-icy]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/thunderf00t/2012/06/29/is-it-freethoughtblogs-or-group-think-blogs/ Is it ‘Freethoughtblogs’ or ‘Group-think-blogs’?]</ref>
  
 
[[Vox Day]] wrote that Thunderf00t's removal from Freethoughtblogs exemplified [[PZ Myers]]'s unwillingness to intellectually engage his opponents and his lack of integrity.<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/07/free-fascistthoughtblogs.html Vox Fay on Freethoughtblogs]</ref>
 
[[Vox Day]] wrote that Thunderf00t's removal from Freethoughtblogs exemplified [[PZ Myers]]'s unwillingness to intellectually engage his opponents and his lack of integrity.<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/07/free-fascistthoughtblogs.html Vox Fay on Freethoughtblogs]</ref>
Line 126: Line 128:
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Rebecca Watson and Thunderf00t factions of atheism]]  
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Rebecca Watson and Thunderf00t factions of atheism]]  
  
−
On July 1, 2012 [[Rebecca Watson]] wrote post [[Elevatorgate]] controversy:
+
On July 1, 2012 [[Rebecca Watson]] wrote post Elevatorgate controversy:
 
{{cquote|[[Skepchick]] has been exposed for what it is: a totalitarian [[Nazi]] clique who created an anti-harassment policy specifically so that men could harass women in bars and [[Muslim]] could force us to wear burqas. I know it’s true because noted atheist intellectuals Paula Kirby and [[Thunderf00t]] said so!
 
{{cquote|[[Skepchick]] has been exposed for what it is: a totalitarian [[Nazi]] clique who created an anti-harassment policy specifically so that men could harass women in bars and [[Muslim]] could force us to wear burqas. I know it’s true because noted atheist intellectuals Paula Kirby and [[Thunderf00t]] said so!
  
Line 140: Line 142:
 
In October 2014, the popular YouTube atheist [[Thunderf00t]] indicated that the bloggers at [[Freethoughtblogs]] (Freethoughtblogs is the most popular atheist blogging community) accidentally put him on their email list and that they spend a considerable amount of time emailing each other engaging in petty matters. In fact, he indicated that they spent more time emailing each other than engaged in actual blogging. He also questioned the impact of the bloggers of Freethoughtblogs on social justice.<ref name="youtube.com">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqcLXNlEes Atheism+ Stream: How SJWs pushed their way into Atheism]</ref> Furthermore, he indicated that their attempt to make him a pariah within the atheist community had virtually no impact.<ref name="youtube.com"/>  
 
In October 2014, the popular YouTube atheist [[Thunderf00t]] indicated that the bloggers at [[Freethoughtblogs]] (Freethoughtblogs is the most popular atheist blogging community) accidentally put him on their email list and that they spend a considerable amount of time emailing each other engaging in petty matters. In fact, he indicated that they spent more time emailing each other than engaged in actual blogging. He also questioned the impact of the bloggers of Freethoughtblogs on social justice.<ref name="youtube.com">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqcLXNlEes Atheism+ Stream: How SJWs pushed their way into Atheism]</ref> Furthermore, he indicated that their attempt to make him a pariah within the atheist community had virtually no impact.<ref name="youtube.com"/>  
  
−
He also indicated that the accomplishments of [[Rebecca Watson]] are very thin and that she promotes feminism in an offensive manner.<ref name="youtube.com"/>  
+
He also indicated that the accomplishments of Rebecca Watson are very thin and that she promotes feminism in an offensive manner.<ref name="youtube.com"/>  
  
 
In addition, Thunderf00t commented on how [[Jen McCreight]], the founder of the atheist feminist movement [[Atheism plus]] abandoned her movement within two weeks. And how [[Richard Carrier]] "the intellectual artillery" of the movement, quit promoting the movement within a month.<ref name="youtube.com"/>
 
In addition, Thunderf00t commented on how [[Jen McCreight]], the founder of the atheist feminist movement [[Atheism plus]] abandoned her movement within two weeks. And how [[Richard Carrier]] "the intellectual artillery" of the movement, quit promoting the movement within a month.<ref name="youtube.com"/>
Line 146: Line 148:
 
== Progressive atheists vs. non-progressive atheists ==
 
== Progressive atheists vs. non-progressive atheists ==
  
−
Post Elevatorgate, there has been increased conflict between atheists who espouse political [[progressivism]] (feminism, [[identity politics]], [[multiculturalism]]) and atheists who disagree with with all or part of political progressivism.
+
Post Elevatorgate, there has been increased conflict between atheists who espouse political [[progressivism]] (feminism, [[identity politics]], [[multiculturalism]]) and atheists who disagree with all or part of political progressivism.
  
 
The sociologist Stephen LeDrew declared about the new atheists:
 
The sociologist Stephen LeDrew declared about the new atheists:
Line 157: Line 159:
 
In 2015, the atheist author Joshua Kelly wrote:
 
In 2015, the atheist author Joshua Kelly wrote:
 
{{cquote|...since the death of [[Christopher Hitchens|Hitchens]]: angry atheism lost its most charismatic champion.  Call it what you like: New Atheism, fire-brand atheism, etc., had a surge with the Four Horsemen in the middle of the last decade and in the last four years has generally peetered out to a kind that is more docile, [[Political correctness|politically correct]], and even apologetic.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2015/12/uproar-against-dawkins-is-sign-of-new-atheism-retrogression/ Uproar Against Dawkins Is Sign of New Atheism Retrogression] by Joshua Kelly</ref>}}
 
{{cquote|...since the death of [[Christopher Hitchens|Hitchens]]: angry atheism lost its most charismatic champion.  Call it what you like: New Atheism, fire-brand atheism, etc., had a surge with the Four Horsemen in the middle of the last decade and in the last four years has generally peetered out to a kind that is more docile, [[Political correctness|politically correct]], and even apologetic.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2015/12/uproar-against-dawkins-is-sign-of-new-atheism-retrogression/ Uproar Against Dawkins Is Sign of New Atheism Retrogression] by Joshua Kelly</ref>}}
 +
 +
=== Atheist video entitled Questions White Men Have For SJWs ===
 +
 +
''See also:'' [[YouTube atheism]]
 +
 +
On July 11, 2016, the white, male, atheist YouTube channels [[TheAmazingAtheist]], Sargon of Akkad, Undoomed, Armoured Skeptic, Atheism is Unstoppable, Kraut and Tea, Chris Ray Run, Anthony Fantano, Mr. Repzion, Cult of Dusty came out with a video entitled ''Questions White Men Have For SJWs''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4lFSq_Efzk Questions White Men Have For SJWs] which obtained over 700,000 views at YouTube by September of 2016.</ref>
 +
 +
In response to the video, PZ Myers wrote a dissenting response blog post at [[Freethoughtblogs]].<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/07/14/what-if-the-atheist-assweasels-of-youtube-got-together-and-made-a-video/ What if the atheist a**weasels of YouTube got together and made a video?] by PZ Myers</ref>
  
 
== Infighting within the Secular Humanism faction of atheism ==
 
== Infighting within the Secular Humanism faction of atheism ==
Line 164: Line 174:
 
[[Paul Kurtz]] was an [[atheism|atheist]] [[philosophy|philosopher]] who formerly taught at the State University of NY at Buffalo. Kurtz is considered by some to be the founder the [[secular humanism]] movement.<ref>[http://www.pointofinquiry.org/paul_kurtz_the_new_atheism_and_secular_humanism/ The New Atheism and Secular Humanism]. Center for Inquiry]. 19 October 2009. "Paul Kurtz, considered by many the father of the secular humanist movement, is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo."</ref>  In addition, he also founded the organization the [[Center for Inquiry]] which focuses on promoting secular humanism. In 2009, Dr. Kurtz experienced the humiliation of being stripped of his leadership position at the Center for Inquiry.<ref name="godless">[http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/04/18/1023513/redirecting-a-long-life-of-godlessness.html Redirecting a Long Life of Godlessness]</ref>  
 
[[Paul Kurtz]] was an [[atheism|atheist]] [[philosophy|philosopher]] who formerly taught at the State University of NY at Buffalo. Kurtz is considered by some to be the founder the [[secular humanism]] movement.<ref>[http://www.pointofinquiry.org/paul_kurtz_the_new_atheism_and_secular_humanism/ The New Atheism and Secular Humanism]. Center for Inquiry]. 19 October 2009. "Paul Kurtz, considered by many the father of the secular humanist movement, is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo."</ref>  In addition, he also founded the organization the [[Center for Inquiry]] which focuses on promoting secular humanism. In 2009, Dr. Kurtz experienced the humiliation of being stripped of his leadership position at the Center for Inquiry.<ref name="godless">[http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/04/18/1023513/redirecting-a-long-life-of-godlessness.html Redirecting a Long Life of Godlessness]</ref>  
 
[[File:Paul Kurtz.jpg|thumbnail|right|180px|[[Paul Kurtz]] ]]
 
[[File:Paul Kurtz.jpg|thumbnail|right|180px|[[Paul Kurtz]] ]]
−
In 2009 and a few years afterward, there was an ideological struggle within the secular humanism faction of atheism concerning how militant the movement should be which primarily arose post [[New Atheism]] movement which is a more militant form of atheism. (see also: [[Militant atheism]]).  Paul Kurtz was against the secular humanism movement becoming more militant but some newer followers of secular humanism disagree with Kurtz.<ref name="godless"/>   
+
In 2009 and a few years afterward, there was an ideological struggle within the secular humanism faction of atheism concerning how militant the movement should be which primarily arose post New Atheism movement which is a more militant form of atheism. (see also: [[Militant atheism]]).  Paul Kurtz was against the secular humanism movement becoming more militant but some newer followers of secular humanism disagree with Kurtz.<ref name="godless"/>   
 
   
 
   
 
[[Richard Dawkins]] is a prominent new atheist.  In 2015, the [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science]] and Center for Inquiry merged (The black atheist [[Sikivu Hutchinson]] indicated that the boards of both organization were all white and the new organization is not committed to racial diversity).<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sikivu-hutchinson/atheismsowhite-atheists-o_b_9078736.html #AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of Color Rock Social Justice] by Sikivu Hutchinson</ref>  
 
[[Richard Dawkins]] is a prominent new atheist.  In 2015, the [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science]] and Center for Inquiry merged (The black atheist [[Sikivu Hutchinson]] indicated that the boards of both organization were all white and the new organization is not committed to racial diversity).<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sikivu-hutchinson/atheismsowhite-atheists-o_b_9078736.html #AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of Color Rock Social Justice] by Sikivu Hutchinson</ref>  
Line 179: Line 189:
 
The Sunday Assembly atheist church movement was founded in 2013 by the secular humanists and comedians Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones.<ref name="ReferenceB">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/atheist-church-split_n_4550456.html Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm'], Huffington Post, 2014</ref>  In 2014, it was reported that there was a schism in the movement as far as whether or not they should use the word "atheist" in their movement and/or whether they should just cater to atheists.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
 
The Sunday Assembly atheist church movement was founded in 2013 by the secular humanists and comedians Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones.<ref name="ReferenceB">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/atheist-church-split_n_4550456.html Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm'], Huffington Post, 2014</ref>  In 2014, it was reported that there was a schism in the movement as far as whether or not they should use the word "atheist" in their movement and/or whether they should just cater to atheists.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
  
−
Dr. [[Sam Harris]] is one of the founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement. [[Sam Harris]] is quite aware of the stigma surrounding [[atheism]] and has even advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007).  [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"].  News21.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/><ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-poll-90-believe-god-97611 NEWSWEEK Poll: 90% Believe in God], ''Newsweek'' 2007</ref>
+
Dr. [[Sam Harris]] is one of the founders of the New Atheism movement. [[Sam Harris]] is quite aware of the stigma surrounding [[atheism]] and has even advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007).  [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"].  News21.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/><ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-poll-90-believe-god-97611 NEWSWEEK Poll: 90% Believe in God], ''Newsweek'' 2007</ref>
  
 
== Racial minority atheists vs. prominent, white atheist lead organizations ==
 
== Racial minority atheists vs. prominent, white atheist lead organizations ==
Line 190: Line 200:
 
Meanwhile, atheists and humanists of color have been going against the white grain to address issues that [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sikivu-hutchinson/atheismsowhite-atheists-o_b_9078736.html much] of organized atheism and humanism are [http://thedailybanter.com/2014/10/atheists-dont-owe-your-social-justice-agenda-a-damn-thing/ resistant if not outright hostile to].<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sikivu-hutchinson/atheismsowhite-atheists-o_b_9078736.html #AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of Color Rock Social Justice] by Sikivu Hutchinson</ref>}}
 
Meanwhile, atheists and humanists of color have been going against the white grain to address issues that [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sikivu-hutchinson/atheismsowhite-atheists-o_b_9078736.html much] of organized atheism and humanism are [http://thedailybanter.com/2014/10/atheists-dont-owe-your-social-justice-agenda-a-damn-thing/ resistant if not outright hostile to].<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sikivu-hutchinson/atheismsowhite-atheists-o_b_9078736.html #AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of Color Rock Social Justice] by Sikivu Hutchinson</ref>}}
  
−
The [[secular humanism|secular humanist]] document Human Manifesto II, which was written in 1973 by [[Paul Kurtz]] and Edwin H. Wilson, decried racism and it declared:
+
The [[secular humanism|secular humanist]] document Human Manifesto II, which was written in 1973 by Paul Kurtz and Edwin H. Wilson, decried racism and it declared:
 
{{cquote|The beginnings of police states, even in democratic societies, widespread government espionage, and other abuses of power by military, political, and industrial elites, and the continuance of unyielding racism, all present a different and difficult social outlook. In various societies, the demands of women and minority groups for equal rights effectively challenge our generation.<ref>[http://americanhumanist.org/humanism/humanist_manifesto_ii Humanist Manifesto II]</ref>}}
 
{{cquote|The beginnings of police states, even in democratic societies, widespread government espionage, and other abuses of power by military, political, and industrial elites, and the continuance of unyielding racism, all present a different and difficult social outlook. In various societies, the demands of women and minority groups for equal rights effectively challenge our generation.<ref>[http://americanhumanist.org/humanism/humanist_manifesto_ii Humanist Manifesto II]</ref>}}
  
Line 199: Line 209:
 
[[Postmodernism]] is an [[antichristian]],<ref>[http://books.google.ca/books?id=TLHM6mM1KkYC John F. MacArthur, "Think Biblically!"]</ref> far-left, 20th century [[worldview]] and [[academic]] movement characterized by denial of [[objective]] truth, and which [[stolen concept|asserts]] that assertions of objective knowledge are essentially impossible.  
 
[[Postmodernism]] is an [[antichristian]],<ref>[http://books.google.ca/books?id=TLHM6mM1KkYC John F. MacArthur, "Think Biblically!"]</ref> far-left, 20th century [[worldview]] and [[academic]] movement characterized by denial of [[objective]] truth, and which [[stolen concept|asserts]] that assertions of objective knowledge are essentially impossible.  
  
−
The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Norman Geisler]] wrote about postmodernism: "In short, the root of Post-modernism is [[atheism]] and the fruit of it is [[relativism]] — relativism in every area of life and thought."<ref>[http://normangeisler.com/a-response-to-philosophical-postmodernism-2/ A Response to Philosophical Postmodernism] by [[Norman Geisler|Norman L. Geisler]]</ref> Furthermore, Jeff Myers and David A. Noebel note in their book ''Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews'' that "The [[British Broadcasting Corporation]] actually lists postmodernism as a subset of atheism."<ref>Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews By Jeff Myers and David A. Noebel, page 192 (endnote section)</ref>  
+
The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Norman Geisler]] wrote about postmodernism: "In short, the root of Post-modernism is atheism and the fruit of it is [[relativism]] — relativism in every area of life and thought."<ref>[http://normangeisler.com/a-response-to-philosophical-postmodernism-2/ A Response to Philosophical Postmodernism] by [[Norman Geisler|Norman L. Geisler]]</ref> Furthermore, Jeff Myers and David A. Noebel note in their book ''Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews'' that "The [[British Broadcasting Corporation]] actually lists postmodernism as a subset of atheism."<ref>Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews By Jeff Myers and David A. Noebel, page 192 (endnote section)</ref>  
  
 
As far as [[schools of atheist thought]], there are atheists who subscribe to [[modernism]] and atheists who subscribe to postmodernism.<ref>[https://www.mdc.edu/wolfson/Academic/ArtsLetters/art_philosophy/Humanities/history_of_modernism.htm History of Modernism], Miami Dade College</ref>  Atheists such as Richard Dawkins and [[Steven Novella]], are critical of postmodernism.<ref>[http://www.physics.nyu.edu/sokal/dawkins.html Postmodernism disrobed] by Richard Dawkins</ref><ref>[http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/postmodernism-sophisticated-nonsense/ Postmodernism – Sophisticated Nonsense] by Steven Novella</ref>
 
As far as [[schools of atheist thought]], there are atheists who subscribe to [[modernism]] and atheists who subscribe to postmodernism.<ref>[https://www.mdc.edu/wolfson/Academic/ArtsLetters/art_philosophy/Humanities/history_of_modernism.htm History of Modernism], Miami Dade College</ref>  Atheists such as Richard Dawkins and [[Steven Novella]], are critical of postmodernism.<ref>[http://www.physics.nyu.edu/sokal/dawkins.html Postmodernism disrobed] by Richard Dawkins</ref><ref>[http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/postmodernism-sophisticated-nonsense/ Postmodernism – Sophisticated Nonsense] by Steven Novella</ref>
Line 218: Line 228:
  
 
*[[Antitheism and antisocial behavior]]
 
*[[Antitheism and antisocial behavior]]
 +
 +
== Atheist blogger David Smalley on the fractured atheist movement ==
 +
 +
The atheist blogger David Smalley wrote in post entitled ''What's killing the atheist movement'':
 +
{{Cquote|When our “friends” on Facebook or Twitter make a comment that we find offensive or absurd, we are so quick to disown them and “take a public stand” immediately, that we’re fracturing our movement into a thousand tiny micro groups that will be useless against the larger powers we’re collectively fighting...
 +
 +
...where’s our [[Secular humanism|Humanism]]? Where are the private and personal phone calls to work things out? Where’s our love for humanity,,
 +
 +
when you don’t like someone’s opinion of a certain issue,,,you decide to attack his or her appearance, disability, weight, or anything else that may be a struggle for them, you’re being a bully, even if you think they were a bully first.
 +
 +
You may justify it that way. But the rest of us still see that as bullying, when you had the power to do something productive.
 +
 +
And that doesn’t lead to progress. It only leads to more fighting, smaller groups, and a more ineffective atheist movement for the greater good.,,,
 +
 +
Why are we so quick to look for signs, to see what side of an issue a person is on so that we know whether or not to publicly disavow him or her? What happened to looking at the humans behind the comments to see what’s fueling the rage, or misinformation?<ref>[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2016/09/atheist-blogger-were-fracturing-our.html Atheist blogger: We’re fracturing our movement into a thousand tiny micro groups that will be useless] by David Smalley</ref>}}
  
 
== Lack of sound atheist leadership ==
 
== Lack of sound atheist leadership ==
Line 223: Line 248:
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and leadership]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and leadership]]
  
−
[[File:2402173645 c8e6168fe7.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]]
+
[[File:2402173645 c8e6168fe7.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|200px|right|Richard Dawkins  
  
 
<small>(photo by Shane Pope, Title: Richard Dawkins, obtained from [http://flickr.com/photos/shanepope/2402173645/ Flickr, see license agreement)]</small>]]
 
<small>(photo by Shane Pope, Title: Richard Dawkins, obtained from [http://flickr.com/photos/shanepope/2402173645/ Flickr, see license agreement)]</small>]]
  
−
The leadership status of prominent [[atheism|atheists]]/[[Agnosticism|agnostics]] in the secular community at this present juncture is increasingly transient due to atheist infighting, the significant amount of unpleasant personalities within the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]], the [[New Atheism]] failing, the decline of [[liberal media]] market share, a loss of confidence within the atheist community, the decline of [[global atheism]] and the secularization rate being zero in former areas of influence such as Protestant Europe and [[France]]. (see: [[Decline of atheism]]).<ref name="blogs.telegraph.co.uk"/>   
+
The leadership status of prominent atheists/[[Agnosticism|agnostics]] in the secular community at this present juncture is increasingly transient due to atheist infighting, the significant amount of unpleasant personalities within the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]], the New Atheism failing, the decline of [[liberal media]] market share, a loss of confidence within the atheist community, the decline of [[global atheism]] and the secularization rate being zero in former areas of influence such as Protestant Europe and [[France]]. (see: [[Decline of atheism]]).<ref name="blogs.telegraph.co.uk"/>   
  
−
A recent example of the atheist movement lacking sound leadership is [[Richard Dawkins]]' loss of influence in the atheist community post subsequent to the [[Elevatorgate]] controversy (see: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]). Another example of this is [[Paul Kurtz]], the father of [[secular humanism]], who left no legacy.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/09/paul-kurtz-another-atheist-failure.html Paul Kurtz: Another atheist failure who left no legacy]</ref>  
+
A recent example of the atheist movement lacking sound leadership is Richard Dawkins' loss of influence in the atheist community post subsequent to the Elevatorgate controversy (see: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]). Another example of this is [[Paul Kurtz]], the father of [[secular humanism]], who left no legacy.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/09/paul-kurtz-another-atheist-failure.html Paul Kurtz: Another atheist failure who left no legacy]</ref>  
  
 
A significant portion of atheists believe an atheist movement and atheist leadership is pointless. In short, they see no point to organized atheism or organized religion.
 
A significant portion of atheists believe an atheist movement and atheist leadership is pointless. In short, they see no point to organized atheism or organized religion.
Line 253: Line 278:
 
== UK study finds atheists widely distrusted - even among themselves ==
 
== UK study finds atheists widely distrusted - even among themselves ==
  
−
''See also:'' [[Distrust of atheists]] and [[Views on atheists]] and [[Atheism and culture]]
+
''See also:'' [[Distrust of atheists]] and [[Atheism and culture]]
  
 
In 2015, the ''Christian Post'' reported in a story entitled ''Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds'':
 
In 2015, the ''Christian Post'' reported in a story entitled ''Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds'':

Revision as of 15:22, September 30, 2016

Richard Dawkins
The new atheist Richard Dawkins was at the center of the Elevatorgate controversy. [1]

Jacques Rousseau wrote in the Daily Maverick: "Elevatorgate..has resulted in three weeks of infighting in the secular community. Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently."[2]

An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of Atheist positions, but there exists an actual battle between certain Atheist factions."[3]

See also:

Contents

Blair Scott about atheist infighting with the atheist movement

David Silverman is the president of the American Atheists organization.

See also: Atheist movement and Atheism and anger and Atheism and bitterness

Blair Scott served on the American Atheists board of directors. Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the American Atheists organization in the state of Alabama. On December 1, 2012 he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheist due to infighting within the American atheist movement.[4]

Mr. Blair wrote:

“ I have spent the last week mulling over what I want to do at this point in the movement. I’m tired of the in-fighting: at every level. I am especially tired of allowing myself to get sucked into it and engaging in the very behavior that is irritating..me.[4] ”

Atheist Neil Carter on the biting and critical nature of atheists

The atheist Neil Carter wrote:

“ Friends of mine have noted lately how biting and critical the atheist community can be, not only toward outsiders, but even toward its own members. Has there ever been a subculture more prone to eating its own than this one? I really don’t know.[5] ”

Atheist Eddie Tabash on atheist cantankerousness

See also: Atheism and social skills and Atheism and emotional intelligence and Views on atheists

The American atheist activist Eddie Tabash said in a speech to the Michigan Atheists State Convention, "Since we are a bit of a cantankerous, opinionated lot...".[6]

Atheist infighting and differences in ideology

See also: Definition of atheism and Atheism and love and Atheism and intolerance

One of the reasons for the disharmony within the atheist community is the inability of most atheists to keep together for a uniform belief. While there are differences within other religions, such as Christianity, other religions' adherents all share a common belief. In the case of Christianity, some of the basic beliefs Christians share is the deity of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the trinity. However, atheists are unable to even create a coherent definition of their beliefs.[7] See: Definition of atheism.

The atheist and secular leftist PZ Myers, who frequently champions feminism (see also: atheist feminism), wrote: "We are fractured because there are deep disagreements about how to address serious social issues. Worse, because some people won’t even accept the dehumanization of fellow human beings as something more substantial than ridiculousness."[8]

Journal of Contemporary Religion on schisms within U.S. atheism

See also: American atheism

The Journal of Contemporary Religion says about schisms within atheism:

“ The persistence of internal schisms and regular outbreaks of in-fighting within the atheist movement also ensure that much energy is effectively wasted on parochial concerns and further undermine attempts to establish a genuine sense of group cohesion.[9] ”

The Journal of Contemporary Religion say that internal divisions within the American atheist movement have to do with:

“ internal divisions within the movement around issues relating to goals, strategies, and direction. These can be seen most notably in debates about the formation of a collective ‘atheist’ identity, in disputes about the effectiveness of confrontationalism and accommodationism, and in concerns about the movement’s ethnic, racial, and gender profile.[9] ”

See also: Atheism and women and Western atheism and race

Atheist Tremblay on lack of atheist unity and the apathy of many atheists

See also: Schools of atheist thought and Atheism and apathy

In his essay Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose, the atheist Francois Tremblay compared unifying atheists to herding cats.[10]

The atheist Francois Tremblay wrote in his essay Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose:

“ Atheism, as commonly defined by atheists, expresses a lack of belief, or disbelief, in deities. It is not a positive belief in anything, but a negative concept. That is why atheists, inasmuch as they are atheists, are nothing like a coherent or concerted group. Organizations like American Atheists serve a role of broadcasting information more than anything else, because there cannot be concerted action when nobody agrees on what to do (except of course on direct concerns like the rights of atheists or separation of church and state). Most atheists disagree strongly on whenever atheism should be propagated, or promoted, and on the matter of doing so.

Another problem of atheism qua atheism is that it does not contain its own basis. What I mean by this is that atheism is a punctual, ontological belief, which is itself the implicit or explicit result of metaphysical and epistemological deductions. Any reply to an attack on this basis cannot come directly from atheism. Concentrating oneself only on being an atheist is like trying to build a house from the second floor up. It may look less costly on paper, and for people who only build houses in their imagination this may be a good way of seeing it, but it's not good enough for a serious endeavour. And most importantly, it's too fragile. I see too many religionists attacking atheism from the bottom and atheists being unable to adequately reply to the arguments. If the atheist cannot answer to his most fundamental beliefs on the nature of reality and cognition, then his atheism is worthless in terms of validation. It is nothing more than a big paper tiger, made from the finest cardboard.

One last problem that undermines any propagation of atheism is inspiration. Let's be honest here, "there is no god!" is not a very motivating call for most people.[10]

”

Prominent atheists and arrogance

See also: Atheism and arrogance and Atheism and leadership and Atheism and intolerance

PZ Myers

Atheist PZ Myers wrote:

“ But see, this is why the atheist movement can’t have leaders. The ones we’ve got, informally, all seem to think they’re like gods and popes, infallible and unquestionable, and that normal, healthy, productive criticism within the movement is all a conspiracy to dethrone them."[11] ”

John W. Loftus, one of the more prominent atheists in the atheist community, cites John Draper (a Canadian atheist blogger), saying about prominent atheist PZ Myers: "According to PZ you either agree with him or you are the scum of the earth. If anyone is giving atheists a bad reputation it's PZ - he shows no tolerance or respect for anyone other than himself."[12]

Prominent atheists, misogyny and narcissism

See also: Atheism and women and Atheism and sexism and Atheism and rape

James Randi

James Randi is a leader within the atheist community. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:

“ But I no longer identify with this community of benevolent know-it-alls, because not all of them are the best folks in the world. In fact, a good percentage of the top ten worst humans I’ve ever met are prominent members of the skeptics’ club. They’re dishonest, mean-spirited, narcissistic, misogynistic. Pick a personality flaw, and I can probably point you to someone who epitomizes it. And that person has probably had a speaking slot at a major skeptical conference.

I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued.[13]

”

Elevatorgate, feminism and conflict between atheist men and women

See also: Atheism and women and Atheism and love

Rebecca Watson

Elevatorgate is a term commonly used to describe a scandal involving new atheist Richard Dawkins' inappropriate comments made to fellow atheist Rebecca Watson. In July 2011, Richard Dawkins was widely criticized within the atheist community and in various press outlets for his insensitive comments made to atheist Rebecca Watson about an incident which occurred in an elevator (see: Richard Dawkins' Elevatorgate comments).[14]

According to Watson atheist women are often punished for being outspoken - particularly when they speak about feminism.[15] In August 2013, Watson said the harassment she received from male atheists skyrocketed after Elevatorgate.[15] Furthermore, she said she still receives harassment from male fans of Richard Dawkins.[15]

Rebecca Watson declares she gets regular rape threats post Elevatorgate

See also: Atheism and rape

Rebecca Watson claimed:

“ Hundreds of atheists have informed me that either they wanted to rape me, someone should rape me so that I will loosen up or that no one would ever rape me because I am so ugly".[16] ”

In addition, Watson declared: "It get regular rape threats. I get regular rape and murder threats".[17]

For more information please see: Atheism and rape

Greg Laden and Thunderf00t's removal from freethoughtblogs.com

The atheist Thunderf00t is the most popular evolutionist at YouTube.

On July 1, 2012, atheist Ed Brayton wrote about Thunderf00t's banning from Freethoughtblogs:

“ As many of you are no doubt aware, there’s been a lot of strife in this community lately. Some of it has been in public, some of it was in private and some of it may well go from being private to public as a result of all of this. So let me give you the news and clear the air:

We are parting company with two of our bloggers: Thunderf00t and Greg Laden. We wish them both the best but, unfortunately, their behavior towards other members of the community has made it impossible to keep them as part of our network. This is not a matter of a disagreement or difference of opinion, but of behavior that we cannot condone or support.

None of this is a reflection on the worth of the many contributions that both of these people have made to the atheist cause. I hope and am confident that they will both continue to offer a lot of good things to this community.[18]

”
Vox Day

The matter which appeared to spark the contention was how to properly deal with the significant amount of misogny within the atheist community (see: Atheism and women and Women's views of Richard Dawkins and Atheist leaders and immoral relationships).[19][20][21][22]

Vox Day wrote that Thunderf00t's removal from Freethoughtblogs exemplified PZ Myers's unwillingness to intellectually engage his opponents and his lack of integrity.[23]

Rebecca Watson response to Thunderf00t and his fans

See also: Atheism and women and Rebecca Watson and Thunderf00t factions of atheism

On July 1, 2012 Rebecca Watson wrote post Elevatorgate controversy:

“ Skepchick has been exposed for what it is: a totalitarian Nazi clique who created an anti-harassment policy specifically so that men could harass women in bars and Muslim could force us to wear burqas. I know it’s true because noted atheist intellectuals Paula Kirby and Thunderf00t said so!

I debated whether or not to write about this because the recent insults about Skepchick have been so self-evidently ignorant and wrong that I felt it would look like we were picking on tiny, angry babies. And no one likes to see that. I’m relenting only because the sheer amount and absurdity of the insults have reached a level that cannot be ignored, like a large mob of angry babies brandishing pacifiers and blankies as weapons.[24]

”

Matt Dillahunty on the events surrounding Thunderf00t's removal from FreeThoughtblogs

According to the atheist Matt Dillahunty Thunderf00t acted dishonestly and inappropriately subsequent to his removal from Freethoughtblogs and he had "gone off the deep end".[25]

Thunderf00t's October 2014 commentary on Freethoughtblogs

Richard Carrier

In October 2014, the popular YouTube atheist Thunderf00t indicated that the bloggers at Freethoughtblogs (Freethoughtblogs is the most popular atheist blogging community) accidentally put him on their email list and that they spend a considerable amount of time emailing each other engaging in petty matters. In fact, he indicated that they spent more time emailing each other than engaged in actual blogging. He also questioned the impact of the bloggers of Freethoughtblogs on social justice.[26] Furthermore, he indicated that their attempt to make him a pariah within the atheist community had virtually no impact.[26]

He also indicated that the accomplishments of Rebecca Watson are very thin and that she promotes feminism in an offensive manner.[26]

In addition, Thunderf00t commented on how Jen McCreight, the founder of the atheist feminist movement Atheism plus abandoned her movement within two weeks. And how Richard Carrier "the intellectual artillery" of the movement, quit promoting the movement within a month.[26]

Progressive atheists vs. non-progressive atheists

Post Elevatorgate, there has been increased conflict between atheists who espouse political progressivism (feminism, identity politics, multiculturalism) and atheists who disagree with all or part of political progressivism.

The sociologist Stephen LeDrew declared about the new atheists:

“ As I got to know these thinkers better, I began to see some of their ideas as quite dangerous—such as the intolerance they have for cultural diversity and some seeds of social Darwinism. So part of the motivation for it was that I think atheism can do much better than people like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris.[27] ”

The new atheist Richard Dawkins and other new atheists are criticized by feminists or those who accuse them of Islamophobia (see: Richard Dawkins and Islamophobia accusations and Atheism vs. Islam).

Christopher Hitchens was one of the founders of the New Atheism movement.

Thunderf00t maintains that atheist feminists killed the New Atheism movement.[28] In addition, he maintains that social progressives control the agenda at atheist conferences/events and as a result the events are sparsely attended.[28][29] YouTube atheist TheAmazingAtheist is also very critical of feminists/progressives.

In 2015, the atheist author Joshua Kelly wrote:

“ ...since the death of Hitchens: angry atheism lost its most charismatic champion. Call it what you like: New Atheism, fire-brand atheism, etc., had a surge with the Four Horsemen in the middle of the last decade and in the last four years has generally peetered out to a kind that is more docile, politically correct, and even apologetic.[30] ”

Atheist video entitled Questions White Men Have For SJWs

See also: YouTube atheism

On July 11, 2016, the white, male, atheist YouTube channels TheAmazingAtheist, Sargon of Akkad, Undoomed, Armoured Skeptic, Atheism is Unstoppable, Kraut and Tea, Chris Ray Run, Anthony Fantano, Mr. Repzion, Cult of Dusty came out with a video entitled Questions White Men Have For SJWs.[31]

In response to the video, PZ Myers wrote a dissenting response blog post at Freethoughtblogs.[32]

Infighting within the Secular Humanism faction of atheism

See also: Atheism, social justice and hypocrisy

Paul Kurtz was an atheist philosopher who formerly taught at the State University of NY at Buffalo. Kurtz is considered by some to be the founder the secular humanism movement.[33] In addition, he also founded the organization the Center for Inquiry which focuses on promoting secular humanism. In 2009, Dr. Kurtz experienced the humiliation of being stripped of his leadership position at the Center for Inquiry.[34]

Paul Kurtz

In 2009 and a few years afterward, there was an ideological struggle within the secular humanism faction of atheism concerning how militant the movement should be which primarily arose post New Atheism movement which is a more militant form of atheism. (see also: Militant atheism). Paul Kurtz was against the secular humanism movement becoming more militant but some newer followers of secular humanism disagree with Kurtz.[34]

Richard Dawkins is a prominent new atheist. In 2015, the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science and Center for Inquiry merged (The black atheist Sikivu Hutchinson indicated that the boards of both organization were all white and the new organization is not committed to racial diversity).[35]

Kurtz's ouster from the Center of Inquiry leadership position

On October 10, 2010, a contentious exchange between members of the Secular Humanism faction of atheism founded by Paul Kurtz and the atheist Ron Lindsay was caught on tape.Video - Part oneVideo - Part 2 During the exchange Ron Lindsay said that infighting has been occurring within the Secular Humanism faction of atheism for years.[36] A Paul Kurtz supporter said that Kurtz was censored by Ron Lindsay and his supporters and Kurtz was driven out of the organization that he founded (Center for Inquiry).[37] Lindsay claimed, however, that Kurtz voluntarily resigned from the organization he founded and Kurtz was never censored. Furthermore, Lindsay said that Kurtz's idea of a "planetary federation" was impractical.[37] Kurtz countered that he was never allowed to publish why he resigned from the organization and that he was censored by the organization that he founded.[37]

Dr. Kurtz described the events surrounding the loss of his leadership position as a "shattering blow".[34]

Schism within the Sunday Assembly atheist church movement

British atheist Sanderson Jones

See also: American atheists and church attendance

The Sunday Assembly atheist church movement was founded in 2013 by the secular humanists and comedians Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones.[38] In 2014, it was reported that there was a schism in the movement as far as whether or not they should use the word "atheist" in their movement and/or whether they should just cater to atheists.[38]

Dr. Sam Harris is one of the founders of the New Atheism movement. Sam Harris is quite aware of the stigma surrounding atheism and has even advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.[39] In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."[39][40]

Racial minority atheists vs. prominent, white atheist lead organizations

See also: Western atheism and race and Atheism and leadership

Sikivu Hutchinson speaking ath the Center for Inquiry.

Atheist Sikivu Hutchinson wrote:

“ The recent merger of the secular organization Center for Inquiry (CFI) and the Richard Dawkins Foundation (RDF) has been dubbed atheism's supergroup moment. Acknowledging the two organizations' outsized presence in the atheist world, Religion News Service acidly declared it a "royal wedding". The partnership, which gives Richard Dawkins a seat on the CFI board, smacks of a vindication of Dawkins' toxic, reactionary brand of damn-all-them-culturally-backward-Western-values-hating- Muslims New Atheism. As one of the most prominent global secular organizations, CFI's all-white board looks right at home with RDF's lily white board and staff.

Meanwhile, atheists and humanists of color have been going against the white grain to address issues that much of organized atheism and humanism are resistant if not outright hostile to.[35]

”

The secular humanist document Human Manifesto II, which was written in 1973 by Paul Kurtz and Edwin H. Wilson, decried racism and it declared:

“ The beginnings of police states, even in democratic societies, widespread government espionage, and other abuses of power by military, political, and industrial elites, and the continuance of unyielding racism, all present a different and difficult social outlook. In various societies, the demands of women and minority groups for equal rights effectively challenge our generation.[41] ”

Atheist modernists vs. atheist postmodernists

See also: Atheism and postmodernism

Postmodernism is an antichristian,[42] far-left, 20th century worldview and academic movement characterized by denial of objective truth, and which asserts that assertions of objective knowledge are essentially impossible.

The Christian apologist Norman Geisler wrote about postmodernism: "In short, the root of Post-modernism is atheism and the fruit of it is relativism — relativism in every area of life and thought."[43] Furthermore, Jeff Myers and David A. Noebel note in their book Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews that "The British Broadcasting Corporation actually lists postmodernism as a subset of atheism."[44]

As far as schools of atheist thought, there are atheists who subscribe to modernism and atheists who subscribe to postmodernism.[45] Atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Steven Novella, are critical of postmodernism.[46][47]

Atheists infighting is making the atheist community unappealing to many

The significant amount of unpleasant personalities within the atheist population and the resulting amount of atheist infighting has made atheist community unattractive to many people who are looking for a sense of community and/or a common cause (see: Views on atheists and Atheism and morality).[48][49]

For more information please see: Unattractiveness of atheism and Hopelessness of atheism

Atheists as a population filled with many socially challenged individuals

See:

Atheist blogger David Smalley on the fractured atheist movement

The atheist blogger David Smalley wrote in post entitled What's killing the atheist movement:

“ When our “friends” on Facebook or Twitter make a comment that we find offensive or absurd, we are so quick to disown them and “take a public stand” immediately, that we’re fracturing our movement into a thousand tiny micro groups that will be useless against the larger powers we’re collectively fighting...

...where’s our Humanism? Where are the private and personal phone calls to work things out? Where’s our love for humanity,,

when you don’t like someone’s opinion of a certain issue,,,you decide to attack his or her appearance, disability, weight, or anything else that may be a struggle for them, you’re being a bully, even if you think they were a bully first.

You may justify it that way. But the rest of us still see that as bullying, when you had the power to do something productive.

And that doesn’t lead to progress. It only leads to more fighting, smaller groups, and a more ineffective atheist movement for the greater good.,,,

Why are we so quick to look for signs, to see what side of an issue a person is on so that we know whether or not to publicly disavow him or her? What happened to looking at the humans behind the comments to see what’s fueling the rage, or misinformation?[50]

”

Lack of sound atheist leadership

See also: Atheism and leadership

Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins (photo by Shane Pope, Title: Richard Dawkins, obtained from Flickr, see license agreement)

The leadership status of prominent atheists/agnostics in the secular community at this present juncture is increasingly transient due to atheist infighting, the significant amount of unpleasant personalities within the atheist population, the New Atheism failing, the decline of liberal media market share, a loss of confidence within the atheist community, the decline of global atheism and the secularization rate being zero in former areas of influence such as Protestant Europe and France. (see: Decline of atheism).[48]

A recent example of the atheist movement lacking sound leadership is Richard Dawkins' loss of influence in the atheist community post subsequent to the Elevatorgate controversy (see: Richard Dawkins' loss of influence). Another example of this is Paul Kurtz, the father of secular humanism, who left no legacy.[51]

A significant portion of atheists believe an atheist movement and atheist leadership is pointless. In short, they see no point to organized atheism or organized religion.

The British academic and agnostic Eric Kaufmann recently wrote, "Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence."[52]

Using academic studies, survey data and other information, supporters of the Question evolution! campaign maintain that there is a lack of sound leadership within the agnostic/atheist and evolutionist communities in dealing with the global decline of atheism and agnosticism.

See:

Cultish characteristics of the New Atheism movement and other atheist movements

Please see:

UK study finds atheists widely distrusted - even among themselves

See also: Distrust of atheists and Atheism and culture

In 2015, the Christian Post reported in a story entitled Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds:

“ Distrust of atheists is "deeply and culturally ingrained" among people, and even many atheists are not able to trust each other, according to a new study carried out by the psychology department at Nottingham Trent University in England.

Published in the International Journal for The Psychology of Religion, the study, "The Robustness of Anti-Atheist Prejudice as Measured by Way of Cognitive Errors," was conducted with 100 participants from the U.K. ....

The study shows that "anti-atheist prejudice is not confined either to dominantly religious countries or to religious individuals, but rather appears to be a robust judgment about atheists."[53]

”

The Independent reports about the participants of the study:

“ Professor Leah Giddings and Thomas Dunn led the study with 100 online participants from the United Kingdom, 70 of whom were women and whose average age was 21.

A total of 43 per cent of the contributors were atheist, 33 per cent were Christian and the remainder belonged to other faiths.[54]

”

Global decline of atheism and the resurgence of religion

See also: Global atheism and Decline of atheism and Global Christianity

Populations which have a lot contentious individuals and disharmony often see a decline or little growth and an unpromising future. In addition, they often have low morale (see: Atheism movement's dampened expectations).

On July 24, 2013, CNS News reported:

“ Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."[55] ”

In 2009, the book A sceptics guide to atheism indicated: "A worldwide poll taken in 1991 put the global figure for atheists at just 4.4% of the population. By 2006 it was estimated that only 2% of the world population were atheists."[56]

Watoto Children's Choir, Uganda. In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were Western World Christians.[57] See: Global Christianity

On December 23, 2012, Professor Eric Kaufmann who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote:

“ I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.

On the other hand, the secular West and East Asia has very low fertility and a rapidly aging population... In the coming decades, the developed world's demand for workers to pay its pensions and work in its service sector will soar alongside the booming supply of young people in the third world. Ergo, we can expect significant immigration to the secular West which will import religious revival on the back of ethnic change. In addition, those with religious beliefs tend to have higher birth rates than the secular population, with fundamentalists having far larger families. The epicentre of these trends will be in immigration gateway cities like New York (a third white), Amsterdam (half Dutch), Los Angeles (28% white), and London, 45% white British. [58]

”

Atheist infighting, pessimism and the atheist movement

Frequently, when organizations face challenges that they fail to prevail over, bickering/disharmony occurs within them.

The atheist movement saw a number of setbacks during the latter portion of the 20th century and beyond in terms of historical events/trends. As a result, it has lost a considerable amount of confidence (see: Atheists and the endurance of religion and Atheist pessimism about the atheist movement).

See also

Essays:

External links

Notes

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul
  3. ↑ The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 An Open Letter from Blair Scott
  5. ↑ It’s Past Time for Atheism to Grow Up by Neil Carter
  6. ↑ Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash - Part 2 of 4
  7. ↑ http://atheism.about.com/od/definitionofatheism/Definition_of_Atheism_Dictionaries_Atheists_Others_Define_Atheism.htm
  8. ↑ What if the atheist movement needs to die by PZ Myers
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Divided We Stand: The Politics of the Atheist Movement in the United States by Steven KettellJournal of Contemporary Religion, Volume 29, Issue 3, 2014
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose by Francois Tremblay
  11. ↑ The delicate ego of Mr Michael Shermer by PZ Myers, 16 January 2013
  12. ↑ Can PZ Myers Change His Ways? Should He? By John W. Loftus at 7/30/2012
  13. ↑ Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014). "When will this situation improve?". Freethoughtblogs.com/Pharyngula.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Calling All Female Atheists - Huffington Post - video
  16. ↑ PZ Myers and the Art of Shameless Dishonesty
  17. ↑ FreeThoughtBlogs and PZ Myers
  18. ↑ Major changes at freethoughtblogs - Ed Brayton
  19. ↑ Thunderf00t, check your email - PZ Myers
  20. ↑ Thunderf00t on how to handle misogny in the atheist community
  21. ↑ SkepchickCON and the Harassment LOL-icy
  22. ↑ Is it ‘Freethoughtblogs’ or ‘Group-think-blogs’?
  23. ↑ Vox Fay on Freethoughtblogs
  24. ↑ Hot Gossip: We’re All Burqa-wearing Nazis
  25. ↑ Regarding Thunderf00t, FTB, harassment and privacy
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Atheism+ Stream: How SJWs pushed their way into Atheism
  27. ↑ Sociologist Stephen LeDrew on the Rift in the Atheism Movement
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 How Feminism destroyed New Atheism! by Thunderf00t
  29. ↑ #ReasonRally Crash n burn. Thanks SJWs!
  30. ↑ Uproar Against Dawkins Is Sign of New Atheism Retrogression by Joshua Kelly
  31. ↑ Questions White Men Have For SJWs which obtained over 700,000 views at YouTube by September of 2016.
  32. ↑ What if the atheist a**weasels of YouTube got together and made a video? by PZ Myers
  33. ↑ The New Atheism and Secular Humanism. Center for Inquiry]. 19 October 2009. "Paul Kurtz, considered by many the father of the secular humanist movement, is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo."
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Redirecting a Long Life of Godlessness
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 #AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of Color Rock Social Justice by Sikivu Hutchinson
  36. ↑ Kurtz and Ron Lindsay Argument Audio Part Two
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Kurtz and Ron Lindsay Argument Audio Part Two
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm', Huffington Post, 2014
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007). "Interview with an atheist". News21. Retrieved on July 30, 2014.
  40. ↑ NEWSWEEK Poll: 90% Believe in God, Newsweek 2007
  41. ↑ Humanist Manifesto II
  42. ↑ John F. MacArthur, "Think Biblically!"
  43. ↑ A Response to Philosophical Postmodernism by Norman L. Geisler
  44. ↑ Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews By Jeff Myers and David A. Noebel, page 192 (endnote section)
  45. ↑ History of Modernism, Miami Dade College
  46. ↑ Postmodernism disrobed by Richard Dawkins
  47. ↑ Postmodernism – Sophisticated Nonsense by Steven Novella
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Brendan O'Neill, The Telegraph, How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet, August 14th, 2013
  49. ↑ Atheism cannot replace religion
  50. ↑ Atheist blogger: We’re fracturing our movement into a thousand tiny micro groups that will be useless by David Smalley
  51. ↑ Paul Kurtz: Another atheist failure who left no legacy
  52. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth
  53. ↑ Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds, Christian Post, 2015
  54. ↑ Anti-atheist distrust ‘deeply and culturally ingrained’, study finds, The Independent, 2015
  55. ↑ Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020
  56. ↑ A sceptics guide to atheism, page 4
  57. ↑ Is Christianity taking over the planet?
  58. ↑ 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious, Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Retrieved from "https://conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Atheist_factions&oldid=1281340"