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Line 128: − + − Most atheists in the Western World are [[leftist]]s (see: [[Atheism and politics]]). Leftists commonly advocate [[feminism]]. Yet, the leadership of the [[New Atheism]] movement consists solely of white males. Furthermore, atheist leadership in the West is predominately made up of men who have poor leadership skills (See: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and leadership]]}.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/07/29/five_reasons_there_arent_more_women_in_atheism/ 5 reasons there aren't more women in atheism - Salon]</ref> + − [[File:Richard Dawkins pic.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|[[Richard Dawkins]] ]]+ − In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists: − {{cquote|From the smallest local meetings to the largest conferences, the vast majority of speakers and attendees are almost always white men. Leading figures of the atheist movement - [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Sam Harris]], [[Christopher Hitchens]] and [[Daniel Dennett]] -- are all white men. − − But making atheism more diverse is proving to be no easy task. − − Surveys suggest most atheists are white men. A recent survey of 4,000 members of the Freedom from Religion Foundation found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.<ref>http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php</ref>}} − − === Elevatorgate and rape threats === − − [[Elevatorgate]] is a term commonly used to describe a scandal involving [[Atheism|atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]' inappropriate comments made to fellow atheist [[Rebecca Watson]]. In July of 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]]).<ref> − *[http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/07/08/atheist_flirting Richard Dawkins: Skeptic of women? - Salon, July 8, 2011] − *[http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2011/07/richard-dawkins-chewing-gum Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins by David Allen Green - New Stateman - 06 July 2011] − *[http://gawker.com/5818993/richard-dawkins-torn-limb-from-limbby-atheists Richard Dawkins Torn Limb From Limb—By Atheists - Gawker] − *[http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-15/atheist-sexism-women/50416454/1 Atheists address sexism issues - USA Today]</ref> Specifically, Watson was invited for coffee and a conversation late at night by a man who was a fellow atheist. Watson was upset by this and subsequently blogged about it. Following this, Richard Dawkins wrote an open letter to a fictitious Muslim woman, satirically equating Rebecca's plight with that of abused Muslim women. Watson has written about perceived widespread [[misogny]] within the atheist community and she has received threats of rape (see also: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]]).<ref>[http://skepchick.org/2011/07/the-privilege-delusion/ The Privilege Delusion by Rebecca Watson - Skepchick]</ref>. − [[File:Rebecca-watson.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Atheist [[Rebecca Watson]] − <br /> − <br /> − <small>(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rebecca_watson_geek.jpg Wikimedia commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]] − Post Elevatorgate controversy, at an atheist convention, [[Rebecca Watson]] claimed: − {{cquote|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".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1mLHdTsmPc PZ Myers and the Art of Shameless Dishonesty]</ref>}} − − In July of 2012, Watson declared: "It get regular rape threats. I get regular rape and murder threats".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96FtpDLi_Vw FreeThoughtBlogs and PZ Myers]</ref> Furthermore, in August of 2013, [[Rebecca Watson]] said that post [[Elevatorgate]] she received a flood of rape threats and she continues to receive rape threats (see: [[Atheism and rape]]).<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/08/06/sikivu-ophelia-and-rebecca-who-says-atheism-lacks-women-stars/ Sikivu, Ophelia, and Rebecca — who says atheism lacks women stars?]</ref> − According to Rebecca Watson atheist women are often punished for being outspoken - particularly when they speak about [[feminism]].<ref>[http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/women-are-afraid-of-atheism/51fae2acfe344467f2000596 Calling All Female Atheists - Huffington Post - video]</ref> In August of 2013, Watson said the harassment she received from male atheists skyrocketed after Elevatorgate. <ref>[http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/women-are-afraid-of-atheism/51fae2acfe344467f2000596 Calling All Female Atheists - Huffington Post - video]</ref> Furthermore, she said she still receives harassment from male fans of Richard Dawkins.<ref>[http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/women-are-afraid-of-atheism/51fae2acfe344467f2000596 Calling All Female Atheists - Huffington Post - video]</ref> The atheist feminist Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson concurs with Watson and says that sexual harassment has been institutionalized within the atheist movement and that atheist men have an investment in censoring, controlling and policing women and also have an investment in "male privilege".<ref>[http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/women-are-afraid-of-atheism/51fae2acfe344467f2000596 Calling All Female Atheists - Huffington Post - video]</ref>+ − === New Statesman reporter and skeptic David Allen said Richard Dawkins is a misoginist === − − The ''New Statesman'' reporter and fellow [[Philosophical skepticism|skeptic]] [[David Allen Green]] said he believed Dawkins was a [[sexism|mysoginist]] and a racist.<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2011/07/richard-dawkins-chewing-gum Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins by David Allen Green - New Stateman - 06 July 2011]</ref> In addition, Green wrote: "Can Richard Dawkins still credibly pose as a champion of rational thinking and an evidence-based approach? In my opinion, he certainly cannot, at least not in the way he did before."<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2011/07/richard-dawkins-chewing-gum Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins by David Allen Green - New Stateman - 06 July 2011]</ref> − − === Atheism, rape and religious involvement is associated with less domestic abuse === − − Also, an abstract for a 2007 [[Baylor University]] study entitled ''Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence'' declares: "religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence."<ref>[ http://vaw.sagepub.com/content/13/11/1094.abstract Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence]</ref><ref>[http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/55373.pdf ''Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence'']</ref> − − A September 9, 2012 article at ''Atlantic Wire'' wrote about the noted atheist [[John Lennon]]: − {{cquote|But people have mostly forgotten that Lennon was also physically abusive towards women. "I used to be cruel to my woman," he said, citing the lyrics to "Getting Better" in a Playboy interview near the end of his life. "Physically—any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women." In his biography The Lives of John Lennon, Albert Goldman also maintains that Lennon was guilty of spousal abuse.<ref>[http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/09/john-lennon-and-chris-brown-have-something-common/57040/ John Lennon and Chris Brown Have Something in Common]</ref>}} − − === Western atheism and race === − − ''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]] − − In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists: − {{cquote|From the smallest local meetings to the largest conferences, the vast majority of speakers and attendees are almost always white men. Leading figures of the atheist movement - [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Sam Harris]], [[Christopher Hitchens]] and [[Daniel Dennett]] -- are all white men. − − But making atheism more diverse is proving to be no easy task. − − Surveys suggest most atheists are white men. A recent survey of 4,000 members of the Freedom from Religion Foundation found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.<ref>http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php</ref>}} − − Secular leftists in the West often decry [[racism]], yet the atheist leadership is made up predominantly of white males and racial minorities are underreprentated in atheist community in the Western World (see: [[Western atheism and race]]). − − In addition, since WWII atheists/agnostics have been the most vocal proponents of Darwinism.<ref> − * Dr. Don Batten, [http://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists] ''Creation'' 20(1):32, December 1997. − * [[Jonathan Sarfati]], Ph.D.,F.M., [http://www.creation.com/content/view/3830 ''Refuting Evolution'', Chapter 1, Facts and Bias] − </ref> [[Evolutionary racism]] may partly explain the lack of atheists in minority populations in the West (see: [[Western atheism and race]]). − − Historically, there has been a lack of atheist outreach to minority communities in the Western World and a lack of atheist evangelism in [[Africa]] and [[Latin America]]. Christendom has made extensive evangelism efforts in Africa and Latin America and continues to do so (see: [[Global Christianity]]). Also, according to a video posted at [[Freethoughtblogs]] storefront churches provide assistance to local residents including women and this partly explains the dearth of Hispanic and African-American women atheists in America (Atheists give less to charity than Christians. See: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]).<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/08/06/sikivu-ophelia-and-rebecca-who-says-atheism-lacks-women-stars/ Sikivu, Ophelia, and Rebecca — who says atheism lacks women stars?]</ref>
→Atheism, leftism, feminism and racism
This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>}}
This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>}}
== Atheism, leftism, feminism and racism ==
== Atheism. left and racism ==
As note above, most atheists skew politically to the left (see: [[Atheism and politics]]).
Historically, there has been a lack of atheist outreach to minority communities in the Western World and a lack of atheist evangelism in [[Africa]] and [[Latin America]]. Christendom has made extensive evangelism efforts in Africa and Latin America and continues to do so (see: [[Global Christianity]]). Also, according to a video posted at [[Freethoughtblogs]] storefront churches provide assistance to local residents including women and this partly explains the dearth of Hispanic and African-American women atheists in America (Atheists give less to charity than Christians. See: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]).<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/08/06/sikivu-ophelia-and-rebecca-who-says-atheism-lacks-women-stars/ Sikivu, Ophelia, and Rebecca — who says atheism lacks women stars?]</ref>
Furthermore, atheists get prickly when the subject of [[[evolutionary racism]] is brought up.
[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|251px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving.]]
[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|251px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving.]]