9 years ago
14
New Atheism, Worse Than You Think
In the years since the so-called “New Atheism” burst onto the scene in the mid 2000s, the movement has not lacked for critics among nonbelievers and agnostics. Until recently, however, few of them wrote books on the subject. By David Hoelscher.
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This is the first time I've ever heard of the term "New Atheism". What's so new about it?
It's the first time anyone can remember where atheists can safely stand up and shout just as loud as the people condemning us for not sharing their religious beliefs.
Oh, I guess, it depends on what country you come from. I can't remember when I was condemned for me being atheist. I don't think it ever happened to me. But that's just anecdotal evidence of course.
I've received that condemnation many times, some to my face. Yes, I live in the US.
I only receive that in southern New-Brunwsick. The religiousness was creepy as fuck. I got told I should become Christian so I can get a wife I could order around... from married Christian wifes... There was the heralds of the war on Christmas and everything I didn't think existed North of the US border.
I'm never going back to that area ever again.
Seriously? People actually are like "What?! You don't believe the same thing as me?! You're now air to me. Heathen!"? That's horrible. It's supposed to be the land of the free. Many immigrants left Europe to the US because of similar freedoms.
'Murrica, the land of the freedom to starve and "free to agree with me or get the hell out."
I basically agree with this and believe there are many other 'religious movements' at large in the nation. When a group lets passion and blind beliefs defeat reason and any evidence to the contrary, when they refuse to have doubts I call it a religion and current examples are the anti gun people and the pro gun people, vegans, animal rights folks, the far right and the far left, the entrenched scientific community and many others. These simply refuse to consider any idea that counters their faith. The arrogant dismissal of any other point of view is their common trait. We are infested with evangelicals of many colors.
I'm afraid if your definition of religion is so broad as to include bowling leagues, chess clubs and sports teams, your definition has become pretty meaningless. Humans are capable of becoming so emotionally invested in a topic that they're beyond reason, but that doesn't make them religious. Religion has a very specific, targeted meaning with regard to gods and divine matters.
I'm am using this term to represent a shall we say religious way of thinking. And I don't believe any gods are needed for this mindset.
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