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Line 1: − [[File:Temple of Reason.jpg|thumbnail|180px|The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg was turned into a Temple of Reason by the [[Cult of Reason]]. ]]+ − Within the [[Atheism is a religion|atheist religion]], there are and have been a number of [[atheism|atheist]] [[cult]]s and atheist groups which have had a cultish following. Some of these cults/groups still exist today. − − The atheist cults or atheist groups which have had a cultish following which have formed in history or exist today are often a result of factors such as: [[utopia]]n thinking, fanatical devolution to various atheistic ideologies, a poor understanding of science/technology (or a penchant for materialist [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] thinking) and wishful thinking. − − Also, although some of the groups listed below, which were founded by atheists/non-religious individuals are not entirely made up of atheists, they do have sizable atheist populations within them. − − == Cult of Reason == − − [[Cult of Reason]] during the [[French Revolution]]: The [[France|French]] atheist Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of [[Reason]]".<ref>Pierre Gaspard Chaumette was an atheist, see: ''The English Heiress, Book 1'' By Roberta Gellis, page 211</ref><ref>Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of Reason", see: Benjamin Rush's Lectures on the Mind, Volume 144 By Benjamin Rush. page 170</ref> − − == Creativity Movement == − − [[File:Jim Jones.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|"I was an atheist even then, and at that funeral parlor they held me up to look at her, and when I got down, I was bitter." - [[Jim Jones]] <ref>[http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=13143 An untitled collection of reminiscences by Jim Jones]</ref>]] − The [[Creativity Movement]], formerly known as the ''World Church Of The Creator'', is an [[atheistic]], [[white supremacist]] organization.<ref name="Ideology">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=RonIunZ521sC&pg=PA247&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=u_OOTaGaM6Xi0gHJztygCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q&f=false|title =Contemporary voices of white nationalism in America|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]|quote=World Church of the Creator, an organization that espouses an atheistic and white supremacist religious philosophy known as Creativity.|accessdate = 2011–03–27}}</ref><ref name="Atheistic">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=HB1wyFPRGm4C&pg=PA23&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=Re-OTfbHHuuD0QHOycm1Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=atheistic&f=false|title =The new white nationalism in America: its challenge to integration|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]|quote=For instance, Ben Klassen, founder of the atheistic World Church of the Creator and the author of ''The White Man's Bible'', discusses Christianity extensively in his writings and denounces religion that has brought untold horror into the world and divided the white race.|accessdate = 2011–03–27}}</ref><ref name="Atheism">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=rBgn3xB75ZcC&pg=PA493&dq=competing+atheistic+white+racist+movement&hl=en&ei=5uWOTeSkCamw0QH7m92bCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=competing%20atheistic%20white%20racist%20movement&f=false|title =The World's Religions: Continuities and Transformations|publisher = Taylor & Francis|quote=A competing atheistic or panthestic white racist movement also appeared, which included the Church of the Creator/ Creativity (Gardell 2003: 129–134).|accessdate = 2011–03–27}}</ref> The movement has denounced [[Christianity]],<ref name="Atheistic">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=HB1wyFPRGm4C&pg=PA23&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=Re-OTfbHHuuD0QHOycm1Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=atheistic&f=false|title =The new white nationalism in America: its challenge to integration|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]|quote=For instance, Ben Klassen, founder of the atheistic World Church of the Creator and the author of ''The White Man's Bible, discusses Christianity extensively in his writings and denounces religion that has brought untold horror into the world and divided the white race.|accessdate = 2011–03–27}}</ref> and purports to promote [[Agape|love]] for all of mankind.<ref name="Ludwig Feuerbach">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=GTEKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA266&dq=christianity+love+for+mankind&hl=en&ei=CFSbTbyAJcrUgQekjsCSBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEEQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=christianity%20love%20for%20mankind&f=false|title =The Essence of Christianity |author=Ludwig Feuerbach|publisher = John Chapman|quote=Christ loved men: he wished to bless and unite them all without distinction of sex, age, rank or nationality. Christ is the love of mankind to itself embodied in an image–in accordance with the nature of religion as we have developed it–or contemplated as a person, but a person who (we mean, of course, as a religious object) has only the significance of an image, who is only ideal. For this reason love is pronounced to be the characteristic mark of the disciples.|accessdate = 2011–03–27}}</ref> It denounces religion for bringing horror into the world by dividing the white race.<ref name="Atheistic">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=HB1wyFPRGm4C&pg=PA23&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=Re-OTfbHHuuD0QHOycm1Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=atheistic&f=false|title =The new white nationalism in America: its challenge to integration|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]|quote=For instance, Ben Klassen, founder of the atheistic World Church of the Creator and the author of ''The White Man's Bible'', discusses Christianity extensively in his writings and denounces religion that has brought untold horror into the world and divided the white race.|accessdate = 2011–03–27}}</ref> Adherents of the Creativity Movement are [[evolution]]ists.<ref>[http://creativitymovement.net/books/introduction.pdf What you should know about the Creativity Movement - Creativity Movement website]</ref> − − Ben Klassen, the founder of the Creativity Movement, described the organizational structure of the movement as "monolithic and... authoritarian".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmymHdG3Ndo Ben Klassen PM on Race & Reason - Part 2 of 3 - YouTube video]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJeMUbMV8X0 Tom Metzger's Race & Reason with Ben Klassen PM]</ref> − − == Jim Jones == − − [[Jim Jones]] - [[Marxism|Marxist]], atheist cult leader. Jim Jones' The Peoples Temple became a place where atheism was blended with seeing Jones as a [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]-like figure.<ref>''Raven: The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People'' by Tim Reiterman</ref> Under his direction, his followers committed mass suicide (see: [[Atheism and suicide]]). − − "I was an atheist even then, and at that funeral parlor they held me up to look at her, and when I got down, I was bitter." - Jim Jones <ref>[http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=13143 An untitled collection of reminiscences by Jim Jones]</ref> − − "So on down the road, I became even more alienated by that event. I decided, how can I demonstrate my Marxism? The thought was, infiltrate the church." - Jim Jones − − == Raelism == − − See: [[Raelism]] − − == Cult of personality following atheistic communist leaders == − − Cult of personality surrounding [[Communism|communist]], atheist leaders or thought leaders such as [[Mao Zedong]], [[Vladimir Lenin]], [[Karl Marx]], [[Joseph Stalin]], [[Kim Il-sung]] and [[Kim Jong-un]] − − == Objectivism has a cult like following == − − [[Objectivism]] ([[Ayn Rand]]) - Has a cult like following of atheist narcissists who generally subscribe to the political ideology of [[libertarianism]]. <ref> − *[http://www.2think.org/02_2_she.shtml THE UNLIKELIEST CULT IN HISTORY] by [[Michael Shermer]] − *[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/11/09/091109fa_fact_mallon?currentPage=all POSSESSED: Did Ayn Rand’s cult outstrip her canon? BY THOMAS MALLON], ''The New Yorker'', NOVEMBER 9, 2009 − *''The Ayn Rand Cult'' by Jeff Walker</ref> − − == Fervent, atheist evolutionists == − − As far as atheistic/[[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic]] [[Darwinism]], since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been [[Atheism|atheists]] and [[agnosticism|agnostics]] (see also: [[Causes of evolutionary belief]])<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> − − In his book ''Rivals: Conflict as the fuel of science'', Michael White wrote: "Of course today, for biologists, [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]] is second only to [[God]], and for many he may rank still higher." The atheist [[Michael Ruse]], an evolutionist science philosopher, admitted, “Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today.” − − Ardent followers of [[Charles Darwin]] have Darwin Day celebrations and repeatedly endeavor to get government imposed Charles Darwin holidays. − − Evolutionists primarily spread their religion via public school indoctrination and via [[Suppression of alternatives to evolution|censorship of opposing views]]. They rarely engage in public debates and when they did more widely debate in the 1970s, they generally lost their debates (see: [[Creation scientists tend to win debates with evolutionists]]). − [[File:Richard Dawkins pic.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|260px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] ]] − − == Cultish following of Richard Dawkins == − − Small cultish following of the [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] (See: [[Richard Dawkins' cult of personality]]). − − On August 16, 2014, Andrew Brown wrote an article for The Spectator entitled ''The bizarre – and costly – cult of Richard Dawkins'' which declared: − {{cquote|...the Richard Dawkins website offers followers the chance to join the ‘Reason Circle’, which, like [[Dante]]’s [[Hell]], is arranged in concentric circles. For $85 a month, you get discounts on his merchandise, and the chance to meet ‘Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science personalities’. Obviously that’s not enough to meet the man himself. For that you pay $210 a month — or $5,000 a year — for the chance to attend an event where he will speak... − − But the $85 a month just touches the hem of rationality. After the neophyte passes through the successively more expensive ‘Darwin Circle’ and then the ‘Evolution Circle’, he attains the innermost circle, where for $100,000 a year or more he gets to have a private breakfast or lunch with Richard Dawkins, and a reserved table at an invitation-only circle event with ‘Richard’ as well as ‘all the benefits listed above’, so he still gets a discount on his Richard Dawkins T-shirt saying ‘Religion — together we can find a cure.’ − − The website suggests that donations of up to $500,000 a year will be accepted for the privilege of eating with him once a year: at this level of contribution you become a member of something called ‘The Magic of Reality Circle’. I don’t think any irony is intended. − − At this point it is obvious to everyone except the participants that what we have here is a religion without the good bits.<ref>[http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9286682/the-bizarre-and-costly-cult-of-richard-dawkins/ The bizarre – and costly – cult of Richard Dawkins], The Spectator, Andrew Brown 16 August 2014</ref>}} − [[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|left|130px|[[Vox Day]] ]] − [[Vox Day]] noted that the Richard Dawkins cult has some similarity to the cult of [[Scientology]].<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-cult-of-dicky-dawk.html The Cult of Dicky Dawkins]</ref> Dawkins is a leading figure in the [[New Atheism]] movement. The [[New Atheism]] movement, which has waned in recent years, was called a cult by the [[agnosticism|agnostic]], journalist Bryan Appleyard in a 2012 article in the ''New Statesman'' in which he describes the abusive behavior of New Atheists.<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2012/02/neo-atheism-atheists-dawkins ''The God wars'' by Bryan Appleyard], ''New Statesman''</ref> Although the New Atheism movement does not perfectly fit the various characteristics of a cult, it does fit some of the characteristics.<ref>[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/how-cultish-is-new-atheism/ How cultish is the New Atheism?]</ref> − − The number of Dawkian atheists has significantly diminished post [[Elevatorgate]] and due to his generally [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins|abrasive manner]]. Dawkins does retain a small cult following though (See: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]). The Dawkian atheists have been able to to retain Richard Dawkins being labeled as an atheist in his [[Wikipedia]] article despite Dawkins repeatedly and adamantly declaring that he is an agnostic and/or flip-flopping his public persona between atheism and [[agnosticism]] (See: [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]]). − − Richard Dawkins wrote a book entitled ''The Selfish Gene'' and Dawkins' fans tend to be arrogant, socially challenged, naive men (see: [[Richard Dawkins and pseudoscience]] and [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|Richard Dawkins and historical revisionism]] and [[Richard Dawkins and women]]).<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7322177/Richard-Dawkins-in-bitter-web-censorship-row-with-fellow-atheists.html Richard Dawkins is in a bitter censorship row with fellow atheist - The Telegraph]</ref><ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/01/mailvox-distribution-of-atheist.html MailVox: The distribution of atheist intelligence]</ref><ref>[http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/women-are-afraid-of-atheism/51fae2acfe344467f2000596 Calling All Female Atheists - Huffington Post - video]</ref> In February of 2010, the news organization ''The Telegraph'' reported Richard Dawkins was "embroiled in a bitter online battle over plans to rid his popular internet forum for atheists of foul language, insults and 'frivolous gossip'."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7322177/Richard-Dawkins-in-bitter-web-censorship-row-with-fellow-atheists.html Richard Dawkins is in a bitter censorship row with fellow atheist - The Telegraph]</ref> In 2013, [[Rebecca Watson]] 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> − [[Image:freud-thumb.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Sigmund Freud]] in his study]] − − == Freudian psychoanalysis devotees == − − [[Sigmund Freud]] and the atheistic and pseudoscientific [[Sigmund Freud|Freudian]] [[psychoanalysis]] has had a cultish following.<ref>[http://www.csulb.edu/~kmacd/paper-CrewsFreud.html The Freudian psychoanalysis cult] by Kevin MacDonald, Ph.D.</ref><ref>[http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/5th-october-1985/32/the-pretensions-of-the-freudian-cult The pretensions of the Freudian cult by Thomas Szasz, ''The Spectator'', 4 OCTOBER 1985, Page 32]</ref> Freud maintained that belief in God fostered an unhealthy and dysfunctional frame of mind, but the social sciences now have an extensive collection of studies showing that theistic religion is a positive factor in relation to mental and physical well-being <ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/march/21.36.html The Twilight of Atheism] by Alister McGrath, ''Christianity Today''</ref> (See: [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and health]] and [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism]]). − − As far as Freud's and other anti-religious or non-religious individuals influence on the present day makeup of the present community of psychologists, in 2009 it was reported that psychologists are the least religious professors.<ref>[http://epiphenom.fieldofscience.com/2009/05/psychologists-are-least-religious-of.html Psychologists are the least religious of American Professors]</ref> − − == LaVeyan Satanism == − − [[LaVeyan Satanism]] is a form of atheism which extolls the values of [[Satan]] which are described in the [[Bible]]. It is a very [[pride|prideful]] and [[hedonism|hedonistic]] worldview. Some specific characteristics of Leveyan Satanism is that it incorporates egoism, self-deification, the [[occult]]/magic, [[Social Darwinism]] and [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]]. − − == Atheists and the cryonics movement == − − ''See also:'' [[Atheism and cryonics]] − − [[File:Cryonics.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The adherents of [[Atheism and cryonics|cryonics]] put the deceased person in cryonic suspension via cooling and perfusing the corpse with cryoprotective solutions.<ref>[http://www.transtime.com/cryintro/cryproto.htm Cryonic Suspension Protocol]</ref><ref>[http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/winter-2012/cryogenesis-a-review#.VDHE0RYy5l4 Cryogenesis: A Review], Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science, In Winter 2012/ March 11, 2012</ref>]] − [[Cryonics]] is a [[pseudoscience]] that tries to extend life or achieve immortality in a non-theistic way after a person is legally declared dead.<ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/cold-reality-versus-the-wishful-thinking-of-cryonics/ Cold reality versus the wishful thinking of cryonics] by David Gorski, August 2, 2014</ref><ref>[http://thehumanist.com/july-august-2011/heaven-for-atheists/ Heaven for atheists - TheHumanist.com]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and cryonics]] and [[Atheism and death]] − − [[Robert Ettinger]] was an atheist and American academic who some consider to be "the father of cryonics" because of the impact of his 1962 book ''The Prospect of Immortality''.<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/science-obituaries/8658435/Robert-Ettinger.html Robert Ettinger]". The Telegraph. July 24, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2013. "Despite his Jewish roots, he grew up a determined atheist."</ref><ref>Klein, Bruce (August 13, 2004). "[http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/4112-the-father-of-cryonics-robert-c-w-ettinger/ The Father of Cryonics], Robert C. W. Ettinger, Interview with Bruce Klein". Immortality Institute. Retrieved May 24, 2009.</ref> Evan Cooper was also a founding father of cryonics movement.<ref>[http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=23124 Evan Cooper and the cryonics movement]</ref> Cooper was a very private man and and there may be no record of his [[worldview]] as far as it whether he was an atheist, [[agnosticism|agnostic]] or [[theism|theist]].<ref>[http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=23124 Evan Cooper and the cryonics movement]</ref> Evan Cooper abandoned the cryonics movement after he felt that the extension of life through cryonics would not be achievable in his lifetime.<ref>[http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=23124 Evan Cooper and the cryonics movement]</ref> − − According to The Cryonics Society: − {{cquote|Ettinger's reflections on the work of Rostand and other scientists led him to collect his ideas on cryonics into a book. Doubleday, the publishers, sent a review copy to Mensan [[Isaac Asimov]], who gave it a clean scientific bill of health. The book appeared in nine languages, four editions, and became the bible of the cryonics movement. Ettinger found himself appearing on Time and Newsweek and nationwide TV.<ref>[http://www.cryonicssociety.org/articles_mensajournal.html A Brain Is A Terrible Thing To Waste Mensans, Cryonics, and The Fight To Extend Human Life] by David Pascal, Published in the November/December 2005 issue of Mensa Bulletin</ref>}} − − Isaac Asimov was a popular American [[science fiction]] writer and a professor of biochemistry at [[Boston University]]. He was also an atheist.<ref>[http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/219935-i-am-an-atheist-out-and-out-it-took-me Isaac Asimov quote]</ref> According to The Cryonics Society, Asimov said of cryonics, "Though no one can quantify the probability of cryonics working, I estimate it is at least 90%..."<ref>[http://www.cryonicssociety.org/aboutcryonics_critics.html Cryonics and critics], The Cryonics Society</ref> − [[Image:1129056602970-LarryKing sq.JPG|thumbnail|left|200px|right|[[Larry King]] ]] − The atheist and American cognitive scientist Marvin Minsky was one of 63 scientists who signed an open letter endorsing the concept of [[cryonics]].<ref>Source that says he is an atheist: Leon M. Lederman, Judith A. Scheppler (2001). "Marvin Minsky: Mind Maker". Portraits of Great American Scientists. Prometheus Books. p. 74. ISBN 9781573929325. "Another area where he "goes against the flow" is in his spiritual beliefs. As far as religion is concerned, he's a confirmed atheist. "I think it [religion] is a contagious mental disease. . . . The brain has a need to believe it knows a reason for things."</ref><ref>"[http://www.evidencebasedcryonics.org/scientists-open-letter-on-cryonics/ Scientists Open Letter on Cryonics]"</ref> − − [[Larry King]] is an atheist.<ref name="normlive">{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpKgXcDNuo4&feature=youtu.be&t=47m20s|title=Norm Macdonald & Larry King - Norm Macdonald Live - Video Podcast Network |publisher=[[YouTube]]|date=April 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://ppsimmons.blogspot.com/2014/05/howard-stern-and-larry-king-on-atheism.html Howard Stern and Larry King on Atheism and Homosexuality] by Michael Shoesmith, Wednesday, May 7, 2014</ref> In 2011, ''The Telegraph'' in an article entitled ''On Larry King and an atheist's fear of death'' reported about the atheist Larry King, "Larry King, the former [[CNN]] broadcaster, made the news this morning after saying he wants to be frozen after his death, so that he can be revived when medical technology improves.<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100122576/on-larry-king-and-an-atheists-fear-of-death/ On Larry King and an atheist's fear of death]</ref> − − Today, the atheist/agnostic community is largely skeptical of the cryonics movement. For example, in 2001, the atheist/agnostic [[Michael Shermer]] said of cryonics, "Is it? That depends on how much time, effort and money ($120,000 for a full-body freeze or $50,000 for just the head) you are willing to invest for odds of success only slightly higher than zero... I want to believe the cryonicists. Really I do. I gave up on religion in college, but I often slip back into my former evangelical fervor, now directed toward the wonders of science and nature."<ref>[http://www.michaelshermer.com/2001/09/nano-nonsense-and-cryonics/ Nano Nonsense & Cryonics], Michael Shermer, published September 2001</ref> − − == Tranhumanism movement which seeks posthumanism and immortality through technology == − − ''See also:'' [[Atheism and transhumanism]] − − According to the [[Oxford University]] philosopher Nick Bostrum, [[transhumanism]] has its roots in an [[atheism|atheistic]]/[[secular humanism]]/[[evolution]]ary worldview.<ref>[http://www.nickbostrom.com/papers/history.pdf A HISTORY OF TRANSHUMANIST THOUGHT, Nick Bostrom, Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University]</ref> The atheist, [[evolution]]ist and [[eugenics|eugenicist]] [[Julian Huxley]] coined the term transhumanism.<ref>[http://www.nickbostrom.com/papers/history.pdf A HISTORY OF TRANSHUMANIST THOUGHT, Nick Bostrom, Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University]</ref> − [[File:Raymond Kurzweil.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Ray Kurzweil]] is endeavoring to achieve an atheistic version of heaven.<ref>[http://www.superscholar.org/features/influential-atheists/ ''The 25 Most Influential Living Atheists'']</ref> − <br /> − <br /> − <small>(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raymond_Kurzweil_Fantastic_Voyage.jpg Wikimedia Commons], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/1.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]] − Julian Huxley wrote: − {{cquote|The human species can, if it wishes, transcend itself – not just sporadically, an individual here in one way, an individual there in another way – but in its entirety, as humanity. We need a name for this new belief. Perhaps transhumanism will serve: man remaining man, but transcending himself, by realizing new possibilities of and for his human nature.<ref>[http://www.nickbostrom.com/papers/history.pdf A HISTORY OF TRANSHUMANIST THOUGHT, Nick Bostrom, Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University]</ref>}} − − The [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] [[transhumanism]] movement which desires to transcend being human through technology and become posthuman in order achieve a type of non-theistic immortality is completely unrealistic and is engaging in wishful thinking.<ref> − *[http://hplusmagazine.com/2011/05/06/against-naive-uploadism-memory-consciousness-and-synaptic-homeostasis/ Against Naive Uploadism: Memory, Consciousness, and Synaptic Homeostasis], Seth Weisberg, ''H+ Magazine'', May 6, 2011 − *[http://futurisms.thenewatlantis.com/2010/06/why-transhumanism-wont-work.html Why Transhumanism Won't Work], ''The New Atlantis'', June 10, 2010 − *[http://neurologism.com/2013/12/11/will-we-ever-be-able-to-upload-our-minds-to-a-computer/ Will we ever be able to upload our minds to a computer?] − *[http://io9.com/you-ll-probably-never-upload-your-mind-into-a-computer-474941498 You Might Never Upload Your Brain Into a Computer] by George Dvorsky posted at 4/17/13 12:02pm at io9.com − *[http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/06/24/whats-the-likelihood-of-the-singularity-part-two-uploading-the-brain/ What's the Likelihood of the Singularity? Part Two: Uploading the Brain] by Alex Knapp, Forbes, 6/24/2011</ref> See: [http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism_and_irrationality#Existence_of_consciousness Consciousness and barriers to mind uploading] − − The article ''Top 10 atheist inconsistencies'' declares: − {{cquote|Some atheists like [[Ray Kurzweil]] advocate transhumanist doctrines that prophesy of a near future - in as few as 20 years, according to him - in which a singularity event will occur. With the singularity event, humans will be able to use science to achieve immortality. Kurzweil speaks of this singularity event with the same fervor in which the proverbial [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]] minister raves about the [[Rapture]]. Fantasizing about post-singularity humanity, Kurzweil proclaims that, being able to live for eternity, we will eventually be able to know everything that can possibly be known. − − But does he believe it's possible that there just might be another being in this vast universe who has achieved all knowledge before he has? No, that is ludicrous.<ref>[http://grayknight.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Atheist-Inconsistencies ''Top 10 atheist inconsistencies''</ref>}} − − One of the segments of the population that is more prone to adopt transhumanism is computer geeks and the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] has a very sizable segment of geeks/nerds. See: [[Atheist nerds]] − − == Cults, social outcasts and atheism == − − People who join cults are prepared to be social outcasts.<ref>''The Manipulated Mind: Brainwashing, Conditioning, and Indoctrination'' by Denise Winn, page 34</ref> Within theistic societies such as the United States, social outcasts are more likely to be the types of individuals who become atheists (see: [[Atheism and social outcasts]]). In addition, in the [[United States]] and other religious countries, atheists have a bad reputation and are often social outcasts (see: [[Views on Atheists|Views on atheists]]). − − 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">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> − − == Atheism and state indoctrination == − − ''See also:'' [[Atheist indoctrination]] and [[State atheism]] and [[Causes of atheism]] and [[Atheism and communism]] − [[File:Dennis Prager.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Dennis Prager]] ]] − [[Judaism|Jewish]] columnist [[Dennis Prager]] has stated that a causal factor of atheism is the "secular indoctrination of a generation."<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=43734</ref> Prager stated that "From elementary school through graduate school, only one way of looking at the world – the secular – is presented. The typical individual in the [[Western World|Western world]] receives as secular an indoctrination as the typical European received a religious one in the [[Middle Ages]]." <ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=4373</ref> [[Dinesh D'Souza]] has pointed out that atheists have focused considerable efforts on the public schools in order to indoctrinate young people into atheistic beliefs.<ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/dineshdsouza/2007/10/22/the_atheist_indoctrination_project/page/full The atheist indoctrination project]</ref> − − In the United States, due to: poor public school performance; increasing popularity of charter schools, vouchers for private schooling including private religious schools and homeschooling; and local government budget problems, the percentage of students being educated through public schools has been decreasing. − − In addition, in communist countries (such as the former Soviet Union) atheistic indoctrination occurred in the educational system through such venues as schools, atheist museums, and clubs (see also: [[Militant atheism]]).<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=BGJtDwJ7aPwC&pg=PA325&lpg=PA325&dq=atheistic+upbringing+and+atheism&source=bl&ots=eQlq1dZfMj&sig=Xm__18YZpV5L0O8VVzgAc9YiSCc&hl=en&ei=yOy1S76CGcWAlAedg5FR&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBIQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=atheistic%20upbringing%20and%20atheism&f=false Marxist-Leninist 'Scientific Atheism' and the Study of Religion and Atheism By James Thrower, page 325]</ref><ref>[http://www.lituanus.org/1963/63_1_01.htm Communism's Struggle with Religion in Lithuania]</ref> − − Atheists and secularists rarely point out that universities such as [[Harvard]], [[Princeton]], [[Oxford]], [[Cambridge]], and many others were founded by Christians.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n3/harvard-yale-princeton-oxford-once-christian</ref><ref>http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Educate/history_part3.htm</ref> − − == Atheist cults and atheist denialism == − − Whenever bizarre, atheist cults are brought up within the secular [[Atheism is a religion|religion of atheism]], atheists commonly engage in [[denialism]] concerning atheism cultism using the [[logical fallacy]] of the [[No true Scotsman]] fallacy.<ref>[http://thriceholy.net/cults.html Atheist cults]</ref> Yet, the historical record is clear that atheist cults have existed since at least the time of the French Revolution. − − == See also == − − *[[Atheism and irrationality]] − *[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] − *[[Irreligion and superstition]] − *[[Atheist indoctrination]] − *[[List of atheist and agnostic pseudosciences]] − *[[Schools of atheist thought]] − *[[Atheist population]] − *[[Global atheism]] − − == External links == − − *[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/how-cultish-is-new-atheism/ How cultish is the New Atheism?] − − ==References== − {{reflist|2}} − [[Category: Atheism]]
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