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Atheist cults (view source)

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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. In 2015, FtBCon which is an online conference organized by the [[Freethoughtblogs|Freethought Blogs]] network, recognized that nonreligious/secular cults exist (for example, the atheist cult of [[objectivism]]).<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2015/01/reminder-secular-cults-at-ftbcon-tonight/ Reminder: Secular Cults Panel at FtBCon Tonight!], January 24, 2015 by Adam Lee</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm4SNcH1ak8 FtBCon3: Secular Cults]</ref>

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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.

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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.

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[[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>]]

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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>

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The [[Creativity Movement]], formerly known as the ''World Church Of The Creator'', is an [[atheistic]], [[white supremacist]] organization.<ref name="Ideology">{{cite book|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 book|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 book|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 book|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 book|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 book|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>

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== Objectivism has a cult like following ==

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[[Objectivism]] ([[Ayn Rand]]) - Has a cult like following of atheist narcissists who generally subscribe to the political ideology of [[libertarianism]]. <ref>

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[[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

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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 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]]).

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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>

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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 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]]

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== LaVeyan Satanism ==

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[[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]].

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[[LaVeyan Satanism]] is a form of atheism which extolls the values of [[Satan]] which are described in the [[Bible]]. It is a very [[pride]]ful 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 ==

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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>

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<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:

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{{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.

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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>}}

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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]]

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