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Atheist hypocrisy (view source)

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Atheists will bring up the misdeeds of the adherents of other worldviews, despite the fact that atheists have been the biggest mass murders in history (see: [[Atheism and mass murder]]).

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Furthermore, atheist apologists commonly attempt to deny/minimize the role of atheism/atheists when it comes to atheism and mass murder as if no true atheist could be involved in such behavior (See: [[Atheism and the no true Scotsman fallacy]]).<ref>[~~http~~://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmrRC6zD4Zk Atheists Dodge Their History of Atrocities]</ref><ref>[http://creation.com/atheism Atheism]</ref><ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/04/mailvox-no-true-atheist-defense.html Mailvox: the "No True Atheist" defense]</ref>

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Furthermore, atheist apologists commonly attempt to deny/minimize the role of atheism/atheists when it comes to atheism and mass murder as if no true atheist could be involved in such behavior (See: [[Atheism and the no true Scotsman fallacy]]).<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmrRC6zD4Zk Atheists Dodge Their History of Atrocities]</ref><ref>[http://creation.com/atheism Atheism]</ref><ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/04/mailvox-no-true-atheist-defense.html Mailvox: the "No True Atheist" defense]</ref>

In addition, there is a large list of atheist moral failures which the atheist community has not addressed (see: [[Atheist population and immorality]]).

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[[Jesus Christ]] and the [[Old Testament]] prophets taught that human nature is evil. Jesus said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the [[Holy Spirit]] to those who ask Him?" (Luke 11: 13). The prophet [[Jeremiah]] said, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). In addition, [[Jesus Christ]] and the Bible teach that men are in need of redemption and the power of God to reform. See: [http://www.openbible.info/topics/redemption Bible verses about redemption] and [http://www.openbible.info/topics/transformation Bible verses on transformation].

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Human [[history]] with its many injustices and atrocities shows that the testimony of Jesus and the Old Testament prophets is true concerning the wickedness of mankind. In addition, when the Christian evangelist [[Ray Comfort]] asks atheists if they have ever lied, hated another person, stolen, lusted after the opposite sex and engaged in other immoralities, they invariably indicate they have done these things and still commit various acts of immorality.<ref>[~~http~~://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iYHEgrdD-Y Ray Comfort Debates an Atheist]</ref> If person [[repentance|repents]] of their sins, accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, God regenerates them and their enslavement to sin is broken (see: [http://creation.com/good-news Good news])<ref>[http://carm.org/questions/about-doctrine/if-we-accept-jesus-savior-can-we-then-sin-all-we-want If we accept Jesus as Savior, can we then sin all we want?] by [[CARM]]</ref>

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Human [[history]] with its many injustices and atrocities shows that the testimony of Jesus and the Old Testament prophets is true concerning the wickedness of mankind. In addition, when the Christian evangelist [[Ray Comfort]] asks atheists if they have ever lied, hated another person, stolen, lusted after the opposite sex and engaged in other immoralities, they invariably indicate they have done these things and still commit various acts of immorality.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iYHEgrdD-Y Ray Comfort Debates an Atheist]</ref> If person [[repentance|repents]] of their sins, accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, God regenerates them and their enslavement to sin is broken (see: [http://creation.com/good-news Good news])<ref>[http://carm.org/questions/about-doctrine/if-we-accept-jesus-savior-can-we-then-sin-all-we-want If we accept Jesus as Savior, can we then sin all we want?] by [[CARM]]</ref>

Furthermore, there are preliminary studies which indicate that ex-Christians tend to feel worse about themselves and not better (See: [[Atheism and self-esteem]]).<ref>http://atheistwatch.blogspot.com/2010/10/rejection-of-christianity-and-self.html</ref><ref>http://atheistwatch.blogspot.com/2010/10/atheists-and-self-esteem-part-2.html</ref> There are also studies indicating that lower self-esteem is associated with suicidality.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21190929</ref><ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20602903</ref>

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The journalist Peter Hitchens is the [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] brother of atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]] and he covered the Soviet Union during its latter years before it collapsed. According to Peter Hitchens, an atheistic society degraded the morals of the Russian people during the Soviet period (see: [[Soviet Union and morality]]).<ref>[http://creation.com/britain-needs-god ''Britain needs God'']</ref>

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Estimates of the number of German women sexually assaulted by Soviet soldiers have ranged up to 2 million.<ref name="ElizabethHeineman">{{cite journal |first=Elizabeth |last=Heineman |title=The Hour of the Woman: Memories of Germany's "Crisis Years" and West German National Identity |journal=American Historical Review |volume=101 |issue=2 |year=1996 |pages=354–395 |jstor=2170395 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Kuwert |first=P. |last2=Freyberger |first2=H. |year=2007 |title=The unspoken secret: Sexual violence in World War II |journal=International Psychogeriatrics |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=782–784 |doi=10.1017/S1041610207005376 }}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/berlin_01.shtml|title=BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle for Berlin in World War Two|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Schissler">Hanna Schissler ''The Miracle Years: A Cultural History of West Germany, 1949–1968'' [~~http~~://books.google.com/books?id=00fCzJKt1QMC&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=soviet+estimates+rape+tens+of+thousands&source=web&ots=xzyKzJm1sj&sig=cy2AfPmp7ZvT7K9YSWPRkXoyp6E]</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106687768|title=Silence Broken On Red Army Rapes In Germany|date=17 July 2009|work=NPR.org|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref> The historian William Hitchcock declared that in many cases women were the victims of repeated rapes, some women experienced as many as 60 to 70 rapes.<ref name="Struggle for Europe">{{cite book |first=William I. |last=Hitchcock |title=The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent, 1945 to the Present |publisher=Anchor Books |year=2004 |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385497992&view=excerpt |isbn=978-0-385-49799-2}}</ref>

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Estimates of the number of German women sexually assaulted by Soviet soldiers have ranged up to 2 million.<ref name="ElizabethHeineman">{{cite journal |first=Elizabeth |last=Heineman |title=The Hour of the Woman: Memories of Germany's "Crisis Years" and West German National Identity |journal=American Historical Review |volume=101 |issue=2 |year=1996 |pages=354–395 |jstor=2170395 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Kuwert |first=P. |last2=Freyberger |first2=H. |year=2007 |title=The unspoken secret: Sexual violence in World War II |journal=International Psychogeriatrics |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=782–784 |doi=10.1017/S1041610207005376 }}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/berlin_01.shtml|title=BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle for Berlin in World War Two|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Schissler">Hanna Schissler ''The Miracle Years: A Cultural History of West Germany, 1949–1968'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=00fCzJKt1QMC&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=soviet+estimates+rape+tens+of+thousands&source=web&ots=xzyKzJm1sj&sig=cy2AfPmp7ZvT7K9YSWPRkXoyp6E]</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106687768|title=Silence Broken On Red Army Rapes In Germany|date=17 July 2009|work=NPR.org|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref> The historian William Hitchcock declared that in many cases women were the victims of repeated rapes, some women experienced as many as 60 to 70 rapes.<ref name="Struggle for Europe">{{cite book |first=William I. |last=Hitchcock |title=The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent, 1945 to the Present |publisher=Anchor Books |year=2004 |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385497992&view=excerpt |isbn=978-0-385-49799-2}}</ref>

For more information, please see:

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[[File:Rebecca-watson.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Atheist [[Rebecca Watson]]

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(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])]]

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(photo obtained from [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rebecca_watson_geek.jpg Wikimedia commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en license agreement])]]

[[Elevatorgate]] is a term commonly used to describe a scandal involving 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]]).<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]

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*[~~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>

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*[https://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>

Post Elevatorgate controversy, at an atheist convention, [[Rebecca Watson]] claimed:

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{{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>}}

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{{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>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1mLHdTsmPc PZ Myers and the Art of Shameless Dishonesty]</ref>}}

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In July 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 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>

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In July 2012, Watson declared: "It get regular rape threats. I get regular rape and murder threats".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96FtpDLi_Vw FreeThoughtBlogs and PZ Myers]</ref> Furthermore, in August 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 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 [[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>

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== Western atheism and race ==

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[[File:PZ Myers3.jpg|thumbnail|right|205px|The atheist and [[evolution]]ist [[PZ Myers]] giving a presentation to a group that is likely largely made up of white males.<ref>~~http~~://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/16beliefs.html?_r=1</ref><ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/Racial_demographics_of_the_Richard_Dawkins%27_audience</ref><ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism_appears_to_be_significantly_less_appealing_to_women</ref> In June 2010, [[PZ Myers]] commented that atheist meetings tend to be significantly more attended by males.<ref>http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/the_woman_problem.php</ref>

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[[File:PZ Myers3.jpg|thumbnail|right|205px|The atheist and [[evolution]]ist [[PZ Myers]] giving a presentation to a group that is likely largely made up of white males.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/16beliefs.html?_r=1</ref><ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/Racial_demographics_of_the_Richard_Dawkins%27_audience</ref><ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism_appears_to_be_significantly_less_appealing_to_women</ref> In June 2010, [[PZ Myers]] commented that atheist meetings tend to be significantly more attended by males.<ref>http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/the_woman_problem.php</ref>

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(photo obtained from [~~http~~://www.flickr.com/photos/22427429@N00/3019515778/ Flickr], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en license agreement])]]

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(photo obtained from [https://www.flickr.com/photos/22427429@N00/3019515778/ Flickr], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en license agreement])]]

''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]]

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=== Atheist community requested to provide proof and evidence that atheism is true ===

[[File:Zero scale.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The popular YouTube Christian [[Shockofgod]] asked for proof and evidence that atheism is true. When atheism is weighed on the proof and evidence scale, it lacks evidential weight that it is a valid worldview. [[Christian apologetics website resources|Unlike Christianity]], there is no proof and evidence that atheism is true.]]

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The popular Christian [[YouTube]] Christian [[Shockofgod]] likened atheism to a clown due to its hypocritical and foolish evidential standards.<ref>~~http~~://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0</ref> Shockofgod repeatedly asked the YouTube atheist community, "What proof and evidence do you have that atheism is accurate and correct?".

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The popular Christian [[YouTube]] Christian [[Shockofgod]] likened atheism to a clown due to its hypocritical and foolish evidential standards.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0</ref> Shockofgod repeatedly asked the YouTube atheist community, "What proof and evidence do you have that atheism is accurate and correct?".

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The YouTube atheist community became flustered and upset by his question.<ref>~~http~~://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0</ref> Shockofgod declared concerning their reaction to his question: "The hostility I am getting over this question is unbelievable...It's like..picture this...Atheism is a clown and it didn't know it. And then I got the clown and I walked it over...I forced it to look itself in the mirror. And it sees itself in all its red hair, big nose, big shoes, polka dot glory."<ref>~~http~~://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0</ref>

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The YouTube atheist community became flustered and upset by his question.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0</ref> Shockofgod declared concerning their reaction to his question: "The hostility I am getting over this question is unbelievable...It's like..picture this...Atheism is a clown and it didn't know it. And then I got the clown and I walked it over...I forced it to look itself in the mirror. And it sees itself in all its red hair, big nose, big shoes, polka dot glory."<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0</ref>

=== Atheism and extraordinary claims ===

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Western Atheists often claim that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence", yet they have no proof and evidence that the extraordinary claim of non-life becoming the first life solely through natural processes is true (See: [[Origin of life]]).<ref>[http://carm.org/extraordinary-claims-require-extraordinary-evidence Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence]</ref><ref>[http://theosophical.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/2830/ Do Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence?]</ref><ref>[~~http~~://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRvJ-4WmJwk William Lane Craig debunks the atheist's "Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence?]</ref>

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Western Atheists often claim that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence", yet they have no proof and evidence that the extraordinary claim of non-life becoming the first life solely through natural processes is true (See: [[Origin of life]]).<ref>[http://carm.org/extraordinary-claims-require-extraordinary-evidence Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence]</ref><ref>[http://theosophical.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/2830/ Do Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence?]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRvJ-4WmJwk William Lane Craig debunks the atheist's "Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence?]</ref>

=== Atheism and the unobservable by senses or instruments ===

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[[File:Richard Dawkins photo.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|250px|left|The movie ''[[The Atheist Delusion]]'' features the [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] being the object of audience laughter due to something unreasonable he said.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChWiZ3iXWwM The Atheist Delusion Movie (2016) HD]</ref> Dawkins indignantly asked the audience, "Why is that funny?".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChWiZ3iXWwM The Atheist Delusion Movie (2016) HD]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and humor]] ]]

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Historically, [[Atheism|atheists]] have skewed towards the [[Leftism|left]] side of the political aisle (see: [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Secular left]] and [[Atheism and communism]]).<ref>[http://atheism.about.com/od/Atheist-Agnostic-Belief-Survey/a/Atheists-Agnostics-America-Politically-Liberal.htm Atheists & Agnostics in America Tend to be Politically Liberal]</ref><ref name="Marxism-Leninsim">{{cite web|url = http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title =Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]], which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref><ref name="Guillotine">{{cite book|url = ~~http~~://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =Christianity|author=James Adair|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=Although the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes toAlthough the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes to the calendar eliminated references to Christian holidays, and even the ancient seven-day week, and a ist of officially recognized saints included such famous thinkers such as Socrates, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rosseau. A period of political persecution, often with religious overtones, broke out, known as the Reign of Teror. Thousands of people were executed by the guillotine, including many of the original leaders of the French Revolution.|page=461|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref><ref name="France">{{cite book|url = ~~http~~://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =Memoirs of the reign of George III. to the session of parliament ending A.D. 1793, Volume 5|page=105|author=William Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=Reign of this portentous period, it has been eloquently tenor, and energetically observed, " that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished His worship, and proclaimed death to be an eternal sleep:-in the very centre of Christendom, Revelation underwent a total eclipse, while atheism, performing on a darkened theatre its strange and fearful tragedy, confounded the first elements of society, blended every age, rank, and sex ,indiscriminate proscription and massacre, and convulsed all Europe to its centre, that the imperishable memorial of these events might teach the last generations of mankind to consider religion as the pillar of society, the parent of social order, and the safe-guard of nations." It is wonderful that, amid the horrors of this dismal period, while "the death dance of democratic revolution" was still in rapid movement, among the tears of affliction, and the cries of despair, "the masque, the song, the theatric scene, the buffoon laughter, went on as regularly as in the gay hour of festive peace."|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref><ref name="Reign of Terror">{{cite book|url = ~~http~~://books.google.com/books?id=Tt5rqiCP1p8C&pg=PA57&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West|author=William Kilpatrick|publisher = [[Ignatius Press]]|year=2012|quote=Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: the Enlightenment that cut itself off from God. The former led to the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement. The latter led to the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the suppression of church by state, and the godless philosophies of Marx and Nietzsche and their offspring-National Socialism and communism. More recently the abandonment of God has led to the regime of cultural relativism that regards rights as arbitrary constructions. It's this second Enlightenment tradition that Cardinal Ratzinger referred to when he wrote, "The radical detachment of the Enlightenment philosophy from its roots ultimately leads it to dispense with man." Actually this transition happened no "ultimately" but almost immediately. The first instance occurred when Enlightenment worship of abstract "reason" and "liberty" degenearated quickly into the mass murders committed during the antireligious Reign of Terror in France. "Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name", said Madam Rolande as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution movements before her death at the guillotine. She was one of the early victims of a succession of secular systems based on rootless notions of "liberty", "equality", and "reason". As many historians have pointed out, the atheist regimes of modern times are guilty of far more crimes than any committed in the name of religion. Communist governments alone were guilty of more than one hundred million murders, most of them committed against their own people.|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref>

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Historically, [[Atheism|atheists]] have skewed towards the [[Leftism|left]] side of the political aisle (see: [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Secular left]] and [[Atheism and communism]]).<ref>[http://atheism.about.com/od/Atheist-Agnostic-Belief-Survey/a/Atheists-Agnostics-America-Politically-Liberal.htm Atheists & Agnostics in America Tend to be Politically Liberal]</ref><ref name="Marxism-Leninsim">{{cite web|url = http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title =Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]], which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref><ref name="Guillotine">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =Christianity|author=James Adair|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=Although the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes toAlthough the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes to the calendar eliminated references to Christian holidays, and even the ancient seven-day week, and a ist of officially recognized saints included such famous thinkers such as Socrates, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rosseau. A period of political persecution, often with religious overtones, broke out, known as the Reign of Teror. Thousands of people were executed by the guillotine, including many of the original leaders of the French Revolution.|page=461|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref><ref name="France">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =Memoirs of the reign of George III. to the session of parliament ending A.D. 1793, Volume 5|page=105|author=William Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=Reign of this portentous period, it has been eloquently tenor, and energetically observed, " that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished His worship, and proclaimed death to be an eternal sleep:-in the very centre of Christendom, Revelation underwent a total eclipse, while atheism, performing on a darkened theatre its strange and fearful tragedy, confounded the first elements of society, blended every age, rank, and sex ,indiscriminate proscription and massacre, and convulsed all Europe to its centre, that the imperishable memorial of these events might teach the last generations of mankind to consider religion as the pillar of society, the parent of social order, and the safe-guard of nations." It is wonderful that, amid the horrors of this dismal period, while "the death dance of democratic revolution" was still in rapid movement, among the tears of affliction, and the cries of despair, "the masque, the song, the theatric scene, the buffoon laughter, went on as regularly as in the gay hour of festive peace."|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref><ref name="Reign of Terror">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Tt5rqiCP1p8C&pg=PA57&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West|author=William Kilpatrick|publisher = [[Ignatius Press]]|year=2012|quote=Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: the Enlightenment that cut itself off from God. The former led to the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement. The latter led to the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the suppression of church by state, and the godless philosophies of Marx and Nietzsche and their offspring-National Socialism and communism. More recently the abandonment of God has led to the regime of cultural relativism that regards rights as arbitrary constructions. It's this second Enlightenment tradition that Cardinal Ratzinger referred to when he wrote, "The radical detachment of the Enlightenment philosophy from its roots ultimately leads it to dispense with man." Actually this transition happened no "ultimately" but almost immediately. The first instance occurred when Enlightenment worship of abstract "reason" and "liberty" degenearated quickly into the mass murders committed during the antireligious Reign of Terror in France. "Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name", said Madam Rolande as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution movements before her death at the guillotine. She was one of the early victims of a succession of secular systems based on rootless notions of "liberty", "equality", and "reason". As many historians have pointed out, the atheist regimes of modern times are guilty of far more crimes than any committed in the name of religion. Communist governments alone were guilty of more than one hundred million murders, most of them committed against their own people.|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref>

Although the secular left is known for ridiculing [[religion]] since at least the time of [[French Revolution]] (see: [[Atheism and mockery]]), the secular left is known for its humorlessness when it comes to others mocking of its ideology (See also: [[Atheism and humor]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]]).

The writer James Thurber declared:

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{{Cquote|The [[leftism|leftists]] have made a concerted attack on humor as an antisocial, antiracial, antilabor, antiproletarian stereotype,” Thurber wrote in 1960, “and they have left no stereotype unused in their attacks, from ‘no time for comedy’ to the grim warnings that humor is a sickness, a sign of inferiority complex, a shield and not a weapon.<ref>[~~http~~://www.wsj.com/articles/notable-quotable-the-humorless-left-1446769128 Notable & Quotable: The Humorless Left], From Stephen E. Kercher’s “Revel With a Cause: Liberal Satire in Postwar America.”, ''Wall Street Journal''</ref>}}

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{{Cquote|The [[leftism|leftists]] have made a concerted attack on humor as an antisocial, antiracial, antilabor, antiproletarian stereotype,” Thurber wrote in 1960, “and they have left no stereotype unused in their attacks, from ‘no time for comedy’ to the grim warnings that humor is a sickness, a sign of inferiority complex, a shield and not a weapon.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/notable-quotable-the-humorless-left-1446769128 Notable & Quotable: The Humorless Left], From Stephen E. Kercher’s “Revel With a Cause: Liberal Satire in Postwar America.”, ''Wall Street Journal''</ref>}}

Heywood Gould wrote in ''Heatstreet'':

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Although a majority of atheists do not believe in life after death due to holding to the worldview of [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]], a significant number of atheists believe in life after death (see: [[Atheism and death]] and [[Atheist worldview#Atheism and views of death|Atheism and views of death]]).

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''Science Daily'' reported that ''Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God''.<ref>[~~http~~://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God], ''Science Daily'', Date: April 2, 2012</ref> In a ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref>[http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god Atheists, Death and Belief in God The Effects of Death Reminders on Atheists' Supernatural Beliefs], ''Psychology Today'', Published on May 25, 2012 by Nathan A. Heflick, Ph.D. in The Big Questions</ref>

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''Science Daily'' reported that ''Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God''.<ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God], ''Science Daily'', Date: April 2, 2012</ref> In a ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref>[http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god Atheists, Death and Belief in God The Effects of Death Reminders on Atheists' Supernatural Beliefs], ''Psychology Today'', Published on May 25, 2012 by Nathan A. Heflick, Ph.D. in The Big Questions</ref>

The website the Skeptics Guide indicates that a significant number of atheists and agnostics believe in life after death and the website reported:

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==== John Lennox's discussion with New Atheist Richard Dawkins about the historicity of Christ ====

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[[John Lennox]] pointed out to [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] that Dawkins claimed in his book ''The God Delusion'' that Jesus may have never existed and that Dawkins errantly claimed that ancient historians have some disagreement on whether Jesus existed or not. After some additional discussion with Dawkins, Dawkins conceded that Jesus existed and said, "I take that back. Jesus existed".<ref>[~~http~~://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ant5HS01tBQ Richard Dawkins admits Jesus existed]</ref>

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[[John Lennox]] pointed out to [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] that Dawkins claimed in his book ''The God Delusion'' that Jesus may have never existed and that Dawkins errantly claimed that ancient historians have some disagreement on whether Jesus existed or not. After some additional discussion with Dawkins, Dawkins conceded that Jesus existed and said, "I take that back. Jesus existed".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ant5HS01tBQ Richard Dawkins admits Jesus existed]</ref>

== Atheism and mockery ==

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Historically, atheists often engage in mockery rather than discussion/debate and they often react poorly when satire/humor is directed at [[Atheist worldview|atheist ideology]] (see: [[Atheism and mockery]]).<ref>[http://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/01/13/charlie-hebdo-and-frances-irreligious-tradition/ Charlie Hebdo and France’s Irreligious Tradition] by Kenneth R. Weinstein]</ref><ref>[https://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/dawkins-mock-them-ridicule-them-in-public/ Dawkins: Mock them. Ridicule them! In public]</ref><ref>[http://onenewsnow.com/perspectives/matt-barber/2014/05/08/mockery-the-mo-for-atheists ''Mockery - the M.O. for atheists''] by [[Matt Barber]]</ref>

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Atheists [[Penn and Teller]] produced a poorly reasoned video disputing the veracity of the [[Bible]] which used low grade humor and it was entitled "The Bible is bull****""."<ref>[~~http~~://www.imdb.com/title/tt0672540/ Penn & Teller - The Bible is Bull****]</ref> (see also: [[Atheism and the Bible]] and [[Bible apologetics website resources]]). Yet, after producing two videos after being listed in Conservapedia's [[atheism and obesity]] article and having a [[Essay: Conservapedia's challenge to atheist Penn Jillette|debate challenge]] directed his way which employed some humor, the atheist [[Penn Jillette]] posted a video on the internet which declared:

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Atheists [[Penn and Teller]] produced a poorly reasoned video disputing the veracity of the [[Bible]] which used low grade humor and it was entitled "The Bible is bull****""."<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0672540/ Penn & Teller - The Bible is Bull****]</ref> (see also: [[Atheism and the Bible]] and [[Bible apologetics website resources]]). Yet, after producing two videos after being listed in Conservapedia's [[atheism and obesity]] article and having a [[Essay: Conservapedia's challenge to atheist Penn Jillette|debate challenge]] directed his way which employed some humor, the atheist [[Penn Jillette]] posted a video on the internet which declared:

{{cquote|I didn't really read the stuff so I guess I can't really comment...

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[[Freethought|Freethinker]] moniker - Atheists go by the self-gratulatory moniker of freethinker. Yet, [[militant atheism|militant atheists]] commonly have stifled the free speech [[theism|theists]] whenever they have had the power to do so - especially the free speech of [[Christianity|Christians]] (See: [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Suppression of alternatives to evolution]] and [[Atheist bullying]]).

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[[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 addition, [[Judaism|Jewish]] columnist [[Dennis Prager]] has stated that a [[Causes of atheism|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> Also, in [[communism|communist]] countries (such as the former [[Soviet Union]]) atheistic indoctrination occurred in the educational system through such venues as schools, atheist museums, and clubs.<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> Atheistic communist countries are known to be among the most repressive countries in the world.

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[[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 addition, [[Judaism|Jewish]] columnist [[Dennis Prager]] has stated that a [[Causes of atheism|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> Also, in [[communism|communist]] countries (such as the former [[Soviet Union]]) atheistic indoctrination occurred in the educational system through such venues as schools, atheist museums, and clubs.<ref>[https://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> Atheistic communist countries are known to be among the most repressive countries in the world.

In addition, atheist Darwinists actively censor more accurate explanations of origins (see: [[Suppression of alternatives to evolution]]) in order to keep their false [[pseudoscience]] from being more actively rebutted in the public square.

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[[File:PzMyers2.jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|[[PZ Myers]]

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(photo obtained from [~~http~~://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/ Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en license agreement]) ]]

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(photo obtained from [https://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/ Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en license agreement]) ]]

Yet, despite [[Physical and mental health related problems associated with obesity|the health risks]] of [[obesity]] and despite the fact that [[exercise science]], [[nutritional science]] and [[medical science]] have a number of [[bariatric science|effective treatments]] for obesity, a significant amount of prominent atheists are obese/overweight (see: [[Atheism and obesity]]).

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For example, 3 out of 5 of the founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement have had issues with being overweight as can be seen [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3UXl0oMYPLs/SXgxH_-MgFI/AAAAAAAAAF4/EU-wzxEjOmc/s1600-h/atheist-reason.jpg HERE] and [~~http~~://www.flickr.com/photos/7230309@N05/3708479160/ HERE] and [http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage/Quantum-Mechanics-Could-Link-Humans-with-the-Universe-2.jpg/ HERE] (see: [[New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight]]). In addition, most atheists champion the [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] notions of [[evolution]] and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].

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For example, 3 out of 5 of the founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement have had issues with being overweight as can be seen [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3UXl0oMYPLs/SXgxH_-MgFI/AAAAAAAAAF4/EU-wzxEjOmc/s1600-h/atheist-reason.jpg HERE] and [https://www.flickr.com/photos/7230309@N05/3708479160/ HERE] and [http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage/Quantum-Mechanics-Could-Link-Humans-with-the-Universe-2.jpg/ HERE] (see: [[New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight]]). In addition, most atheists champion the [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] notions of [[evolution]] and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].

[[PZ Myers]] is also a leader within the New Atheism movement and Myers has had problems with being overweight and experienced health problems as a result.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/08/23/thats-not-a-heart-its-a-flaili/ That’s not a heart! It’s a flailing Engine of Destruction!]</ref> 2009 pictures of a significantly overweight [[PZ Myers]] can be found [http://gaylejordan.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/dsc02944.jpg HERE] and [https://www.flickr.com/photos/biofortified/4681215568/in/photolist-88Esif-73z2v4-5VC3RT-5VGB9h-5VC96t-5VGjGG-5VCad4-5VG8Cf-5VFSHf-5VBTTt-5VCkja-5VCcrz-5VGhYC-5VBRW6-5VGbwj-5VChY4-5VC6cF-5VBP3F-5VGzNS-5VG7Xo-5VC7Dv-5VC1KP-5VG9g3-6QF6YC-6NEVMU-5VCRQz-6NEXn5-6NEXcY-6NEX5A-5VCWRH-5VHfGo-5VD4uR-5VH4yU-5VDdTM-5VCFQV-5VDbCP-5VCAQa-5VCnb2-5VCJ9n-5VHwkm-5VGSeu-5VCrQe-5VH2mJ-5VCZRr-5VHFSL-5VHrsA-5VGZyS-5VCQw4-5VGKXW-5VHoaN HERE] and [https://flic.kr/p/8ZpQv6 HERE].

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See also:'' [[Atheist actions against homosexuals]] and [[Atheism and homosexuality]]

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[[Secular left|Leftist atheists]] in the [[Western World]], commonly complain about the Bible declaring [[homosexuality]] to be a [[sin]] and Christian negative attitudes against homosexuality, yet atheistic [[communism|communist]] regimes took strong measures to reduce the prevalence of homosexuality in their societies due to seeing homosexuality as a symptom of bourgeois decadence.<ref name="Chapman">{{cite book|last=Chapman|first=Thomas E.|title=Constructing the Moral Landscape Through Antidiscrimination Law: Discourse, Debate, and Dialogue of Sexual Citizenship in Three Florida Communities|url=~~http~~://books.google.com/books?id=bZE5UgNRP8cC&pg=PA142|accessdate=25 April 2014|year=2007|publisher=ProQuest|isbn=9780549469575|page=142|quote=Another element contributing to Cuba's past anti-gay policies was for a time, the government adopted the Stalinist position, practiced in the Soviet Union, that homosexuality is a form of bourgeois decadence.}}</ref> In addition, the [[American Atheists]] organization was embroiled in a controversy due to the critical comments that Dave Muscato, the Public Relations Director for American Atheists, said about homosexual activists.<ref name=Stedman>{{cite web|url=http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2013/12/13/american-atheists-public-relations-director/|title=Does American Atheists agree with this offensive LGBTQ comment?|last=Stedman|first=Chris|date=13 December 2013|publisher=Religion News Service|accessdate=25 April 2014}}</ref> See: [[Atheist actions against homosexuals]]

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[[Secular left|Leftist atheists]] in the [[Western World]], commonly complain about the Bible declaring [[homosexuality]] to be a [[sin]] and Christian negative attitudes against homosexuality, yet atheistic [[communism|communist]] regimes took strong measures to reduce the prevalence of homosexuality in their societies due to seeing homosexuality as a symptom of bourgeois decadence.<ref name="Chapman">{{cite book|last=Chapman|first=Thomas E.|title=Constructing the Moral Landscape Through Antidiscrimination Law: Discourse, Debate, and Dialogue of Sexual Citizenship in Three Florida Communities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZE5UgNRP8cC&pg=PA142|accessdate=25 April 2014|year=2007|publisher=ProQuest|isbn=9780549469575|page=142|quote=Another element contributing to Cuba's past anti-gay policies was for a time, the government adopted the Stalinist position, practiced in the Soviet Union, that homosexuality is a form of bourgeois decadence.}}</ref> In addition, the [[American Atheists]] organization was embroiled in a controversy due to the critical comments that Dave Muscato, the Public Relations Director for American Atheists, said about homosexual activists.<ref name=Stedman>{{cite web|url=http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2013/12/13/american-atheists-public-relations-director/|title=Does American Atheists agree with this offensive LGBTQ comment?|last=Stedman|first=Chris|date=13 December 2013|publisher=Religion News Service|accessdate=25 April 2014}}</ref> See: [[Atheist actions against homosexuals]]

== Atheism and superstition ==

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{{cquote|The recent merger of the secular organization Center for Inquiry (CFI) and the [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science|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 [http://www.salon.com/2013/08/10/richard_dawkins_does_it_again_new_atheisms_islamophobia_problem/ damn-all-them-culturally-backward-Western-values-hating- Muslims] New Atheism. As one of the most prominent global secular organizations, CFI's [http://www.centerforinquiry.net/about/corporate_governance all-white board] looks right at home with RDF's [https://richarddawkins.net/boardandstaff/ lily white board] and staff.

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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>[~~http~~://www.huffingtonpost.com/sikivu-hutchinson/atheismsowhite-atheists-o_b_9078736.html #AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of Color Rock Social Justice] by Sikivu Hutchinson</ref>}}

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Meanwhile, atheists and humanists of color have been going against the white grain to address issues that [https://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>[https://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:

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''See also:'' [[Atheism and slavery]] and [[Atheism and forced labor]]

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[[File:Flag of the PRC.png|thumbnail|200px|right|According to [[CNN]], hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of labor camps and forced labor prisons (called laogai) still exist in modern [[China]].<ref>{{cite web|url=~~http~~://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay/ |title=Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule |publisher=Cnn.com |date=1984-10-09 |accessdate=2013-03-20}}</ref>]]

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[[File:Flag of the PRC.png|thumbnail|200px|right|According to [[CNN]], hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of labor camps and forced labor prisons (called laogai) still exist in modern [[China]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay/ |title=Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule |publisher=Cnn.com |date=1984-10-09 |accessdate=2013-03-20}}</ref>]]

Atheists commonly decry [[slavery in the Bible]] - particularly the Israelites owning slave and Christian slaveholders mentioned or alluded to in the [[New Testament]].<ref>[http://christianthinktank.com/qnoslave.html Does the Bible condone slavery?]</ref>

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*[http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/museum/comfaq.htm Museum of Communism FAQ] by Bryan Caplan]

*[http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/13/north-korea-economic-system-built-forced-labor North Korea: Economic System Built on Forced Labor New Testimonies Say Even Children Must Work or Face Detention Camps], Human Rights Watch, June 13, 2012

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*[~~http~~://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/nov/07/qatar-north-korean-forced-labour Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’], The Guardian, Pete Pattisson in Doha, Friday 7 November 2014 07.52 EST]</ref>

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*[https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/nov/07/qatar-north-korean-forced-labour Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’], The Guardian, Pete Pattisson in Doha, Friday 7 November 2014 07.52 EST]</ref>

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<ref>{{cite web|url=~~http~~://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay/ |title=Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule |publisher=Cnn.com |date=1984-10-09 |accessdate=2013-03-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=China to reform re-education through labor system|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-01/07/c_132086402.htm|accessdate=January 8, 2013|publisher=Xinhua|date=January 8, 2013}}</ref>

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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay/ |title=Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule |publisher=Cnn.com |date=1984-10-09 |accessdate=2013-03-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=China to reform re-education through labor system|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-01/07/c_132086402.htm|accessdate=January 8, 2013|publisher=Xinhua|date=January 8, 2013}}</ref>

In [[Myanmar]] a nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), about 800,000 people are subject to forced labor in [[Myanmar]].<ref>"[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/GC29Ae02.html ILO cracks the whip at Yangon]". Atimes.com. 29 March 2005. Retrieved 4 December 2011.</ref>

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(photo obtained from [~~http~~://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ophelia_Benson_at_CFI_WIS-May_18_2012.JPG Wikimedia Commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en license agreement])]]

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(photo obtained from [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ophelia_Benson_at_CFI_WIS-May_18_2012.JPG Wikimedia Commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en license agreement])]]

The American journalist [[Heywood Broun]] declared: "Nobody talks so constantly about God as those who insist there is no God."<ref>[http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/heywoodbro108881.html Heywood Broun quote at the quotes website Brainyquote]</ref>

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These atheists’ responses weren’t just the product of living in America’s highly religious society. [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2153599X.2013.782888#.VGptUsn6dl6 Research done at Queen’s University in Belfast] by the psychologists Bethany Heywood and Jesse Bering found that [[British atheism|British atheists]] were just as likely as American atheists to believe that their life events had underlying purposes, even though Britain is far less religious than America.

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In other studies, scheduled to be published online next week in the journal Child Development, we found that even young children show a bias to believe that life events happen for a reason — to “send a sign” or “to teach a lesson.” This belief exists regardless of how much exposure the children have had to religion at home, and even if they’ve had none at all.<ref>[~~http~~://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?'']</ref>}}

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In other studies, scheduled to be published online next week in the journal Child Development, we found that even young children show a bias to believe that life events happen for a reason — to “send a sign” or “to teach a lesson.” This belief exists regardless of how much exposure the children have had to religion at home, and even if they’ve had none at all.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?'']</ref>}}

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and purpose]]

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