Atheist factions

Jacques Rousseau wrote in the Daily Maverick: "Elevatorgate..has resulted in three weeks of infighting in the secular community. Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently." An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of Atheist positions, but there exists an actual battle between certain Atheist factions." Prior to the Elevatorgate incident, Wired magazine made the observation that atheists tend to be quarrelsome, socially challenged men (see also: Atheism and women).

Infighting within the Secular Humanism faction of atheism

Paul Kurtz is an atheist philosopher who formerly taught at the State University of NY at Buffalo. Dr. Paul Kurtz founded the modern secular humanism movement which is a form of philosophical skepticism. In addition, he also founded the organization the Center for Inquiry which focuses on promoting secular humanism. In 2009, Dr. Kurtz experienced the humiliation of being stripped of his leadership position at the Center for Inquiry.

Currently, there is an ideological struggle within the secular humanism faction of atheism concerning how militant the movement should be which primarily arose post New Atheism movement which is a more militant form of atheism. (see also: Militant atheism. Paul Kurtz is against the secular humanism movement becoming more militant but some newer followers of secular humanism disagree with Kurtz.

Kurtz's ouster from the Center of Inquiry leadership position

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

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

Thunderf00t and Greg Laden's removal from freethoughtblogs.com

The atheist Thunderf00t is the most popular evolutionist at YouTube.

On July 1, 2012, atheist Ed Brayton declared:

“

As many of you are no doubt aware, there’s been a lot of strife in this community lately. Some of it has been in public, some of it was in private and some of it may well go from being private to public as a result of all of this. So let me give you the news and clear the air: We are parting company with two of our bloggers: Thunderf00t and Greg Laden. We wish them both the best but, unfortunately, their behavior towards other members of the community has made it impossible to keep them as part of our network. This is not a matter of a disagreement or difference of opinion, but of behavior that we cannot condone or support. None of this is a reflection on the worth of the many contributions that both of these people have made to the atheist cause. I hope and am confident that they will both continue to offer a lot of good things to this community.

”

The matter which appeared to spark the contention was how to properly deal with the significant amount of misogny within the atheist community (see: Atheism and women and Atheism and rape and Elevatorgate).</ref>Thunderf00t, check your email - PZ Myers</ref>

Decline of atheism and the explosive growth of global Christianity

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

In 2011, the American Spectator declared concerning research published in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research:

“

The report estimates about 80,000 new Christians every day, 79,000 new Muslims every day, and 300 fewer atheists every day. These atheists are presumably disproportionately represented in the West, while religion is thriving in the Global South, where charismatic Christianity is exploding."

”

See also

• Weak atheism
• Strong atheism
• New Atheism
• Atheism 3.0
• Brights Movement
• Apatheism
• Objectivism
• Buddhism (non-theistic Buddhism)
• Materialism
• Secular humanism
• Atomism
• Definition of atheism
• Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism
• Militant atheism
• History of atheism
• Atheists doubting the validity of atheism
• Schools of atheist thought
• Atheism is a religion
• Atheism and belief
• Atheism and beliefs
• Atheist Population
• Atheism and mental health
• Atheism and mass murder
• Atheism and bestiality
• Atheism and deception
• Atheism and satanic deception
• Atheism and cowardice

Christianity related:

• Evidence for Christianity
• Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian
• Internet evangelism
• Evangelical Christians

Essays:

• Atheism: A house divided and in global decline
• Will American atheism be cut by at least 50%?
• The meat grinder of atheism and evolutionism
• Misfortune sparks the turbocharging of creation evangelism

Comedy and satire:

• Atheism is a clown
• As always, there is more work to be done
• Comedy and satires concerning atheism and evolution (large collection of comedy/satire concerning atheism and evolution)

Links

• Atheism a house divided & in global decline - YouTube video

Growth of Christianity:

• 2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN INCREASE
• Evidence for Christianity
• Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian

Rise of global Christianity:

• Faith and Conflict: The Global Rise of Christianity by Pew Research Center
• Christianity taking over planet?
• Is Islam Really the Second-Fastest Growing Religion?
• The stunning growth of Christianity in China
• The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa
• Is Islam Really the Second-Fastest Growing Religion?

Internet evangelism:

• Internet evangelism
• Global Media Outreach evangelism statistics - internet evangelism statistics for Global Media Outreach
• Christian organizations join forces to train disabled for Internet evangelism

Video:

• Internet evangelism - YouTube video