SkipCaptcha
6,434
edits
Changes
Atheism and gullibility (view source)
Revision as of 14:33, October 7, 2019
, 14:33, October 7, 2019→Atheist cults
The [[fallacy of exclusion]] is a [[logical fallacies|logical fallacy]] where "Important evidence which would undermine an inductive argument is excluded from consideration. The requirement that all relevant information be included is called the 'principle of total evidence'.".<ref>http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/exclus.htm</ref> Atheists avoiding and ignoring the many legitimate arguments against atheism and for [[theism]] are engaging in fallacious reasoning (see also: [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]).
The [[fallacy of exclusion]] is a [[logical fallacies|logical fallacy]] where "Important evidence which would undermine an inductive argument is excluded from consideration. The requirement that all relevant information be included is called the 'principle of total evidence'.".<ref>http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/exclus.htm</ref> Atheists avoiding and ignoring the many legitimate arguments against atheism and for [[theism]] are engaging in fallacious reasoning (see also: [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]).
== Atheism and groupthink ==
See also: [[Atheism and groupthink]]
[[Groupthink]] is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of individuals in which the quest for harmony/conformity within the group results in irrational and/or poor decision-making.
The [[Atheism|atheist]] website ''Atheist Revolution'' declared about segments of the [[atheist population]]:
{{Cquote|We've seen various cliques emerge, some of which have largely abandoned critical thinking for dogma. This mutual admiration society strikes me as being [http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/04/cohesion-comes-at-price.html antithetical to free thought], as similar ideas are rewarded through promotion while diverse perspectives receive less attention. This sets the stage for a type of groupthink that runs counter to [http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/04/big-tent-atheism.html big tent atheism]...
By elevating some in our movement to the level of celebrities, I fear we have cheapened it through irrational hero worship.<ref>[http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/10/feeling-disillusioned-with-atheist.html ''Feeling Disillusioned With the Atheist Movement''], Atheist Revolution</ref>}}
In 2018, the atheist [[PZ Myers]] wrote:
{{Cquote|I noticed the “troubling turn” about 8 years ago, as more and more atheists began to rally around two themes: the [[Atheism and leadership|Glorious Leaders]] who were fonts of inarguable Reason & Logic, and a [[definition of atheism]] that exempted them from all social responsibility or ethical obligation.<ref>[https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2018/05/22/get-out-of-my-head-eiynah/ Get out of my head, Eiynah!] by PZ Myers</ref><ref>[https://www.mercatornet.com/features/view/a-shambolic-atheist-community-faces-some-tough-choices/21401 A shambolic atheist community faces some tough choices] by [[Denyse O'Leary]]</ref>}}
See also: [[Celebrity atheists]]
The ''Shadow to Light'' Christian blog says about the [[atheist movement]] and groupthink:
{{Cquote|...more and more of us are starting to view the atheist movement as being cult-like...
It is this irrational hero worship that not only prevents many within the atheist movement from criticizing people like [[Richard Dawkins|Dawkins]] and [[Sam Harris|Harris]], but it causes them to behave in an overly protective and defensive manner of such leaders, especially when the criticism comes from a theist or accomodationist.
...what we have is a group of people drifting toward group think and hero worship, where a sense of belonging is maintained by erecting online gated communities from which to toss out rhetorical bombs at theists. Yet because this group is only unified by its admiration for its leaders and its hatred of religion, it takes very little to start [[Atheist factions|some nasty infighting]]. Recognition of such problems is the first step in trying to correct them.<ref>[https://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/becoming-disillusioned-with-the-atheist-movement/ Becoming Disillusioned with the Atheist Movement], Shadow to Light blog</ref>}}
The atheist [[Jerry Coyne]] said about [[atheist conferences]] which he attended:
{{cquote|But to me the speakers and talks have often seemed repetitive: the same crew of jet-set skeptics giving the same talks.
...a few things bothered me, most notably the [[Atheism and arrogance|air of self-congratulation]] (which I excused on the grounds of enthusiastic people finding like-minded folks for the first time), the “fanboyness” directed at some of the famous atheists (they hardly let poor [[Richard Dawkins' cult of personality|Richard]] alone, and I’m not sure he liked that!), and the lameness of quite a few of the talks. Again, how much new can you say about atheism?<ref>[https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/are-there-too-many-atheist-meetings/ Are there too many atheist meetings?] by Jerry Coyne</ref>}}
The atheist blogger [[Galen Broaddus]] wrote about atheist groupthink:
{{Cquote|...I am practically beside myself with rage at how many atheists in the movement have conducted themselves in particular over the past few weeks. These are largely people who openly castigate religious people for their credulity, for their lack of compassion, for their groupthink and wagon-circling — only to perfectly and completely obliviously act out those same behaviors.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rivers/2016/05/im-opting-out-of-the-movement/ I’m Opting Out of the Movement] by Galen Broaddus</ref>}}
The atheist Neil Carter wrote in 2015: "atheists are just as prone to tribalism as are the members of any religion they oppose..."<ref>http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2015/09/27/why-abrasive-atheism-will-always-sell-better/ Why Abrasive Atheism Will Always Sell Better] by Neil Carter</ref>
== Atheist cults ==
== Atheist cults ==