Atheism +

[Vincenzo Vinny G.]

If they were really smart, they would have started an Atheism-, invited all the misogynists and left them in Atheism- alone.

[8BitAtheist]

We're atheists plus we're human! O,wow.

[CliveStaples]

Doesn't it make some sense to consider yourself "atheist and [x]"? Like, an atheist and a secular humanist, or an atheist and a liberal, or an atheist and an Objectivist, or an atheist and a phenomenologist?

I mean, don't most people here have a worldview that isn't just limited to "I reject the existence of all gods"? Some notion of value, meaning, morality, ethics, etc.?

Of course, even if that's all true, the "atheism+" grouping still doesn't make much sense to me. If I'm an "atheist plus an Objectivist" and you're an "atheist plus an Objectivist", then we're already included together in the group "Objectivists". So the "atheism+" doesn't really add much.

Or if I'm an "atheist + scientism (not used pejoratively)" and you're an "atheist + scientism", then we're already grouped together under "scientism". So like members aren't 'more' together by way of "atheism +."

Conversely, if I'm "atheist + (scientism and liberal)" and you're "atheism + (scientism and conservative)", then we're already together under "scientism" and we're in separate political categories. The "atheism+" doesn't unify us any more than the scientism already has.


It seems like a superfluous association.

[Ben Davis]

Doesn't it make some sense to consider yourself "atheist and [x]"? Like, an atheist and a secular humanist, or an atheist and a liberal, or an atheist and an Objectivist, or an atheist and a phenomenologist?

No. It just makes sense to consider yourself 'x'. The label 'atheist' tells you nothing about one's values therefore it's superfluous. Trying to co-opt the word in order to politicise it is nothing more than bad marketing.

FTB are obviously not thinking this one through. What about all the atheists who don't share the 'rational sceptic' ideals like the pagans, the philosophical buddhists or the spiritual superstitionists? They're atheists, too...

I mean, don't most people here have a worldview that isn't just limited to "I reject the existence of all gods"? Some notion of value, meaning, morality, ethics, etc.?

Yes, of course. Everyone has values but that's got nothing to do with atheism.

Of course, even if that's all true, the "atheism+" grouping still doesn't make much sense to me. If I'm an "atheist plus an Objectivist" and you're an "atheist plus an Objectivist", then we're already included together in the group "Objectivists". So the "atheism+" doesn't really add much... It seems like a superfluous association.

Yup. Agree. It's just superior, holier-than-thou bollocks really.

[thesummerqueen]

My religious views on FB say "Humanistic Jew". That says all you need to know: no god, love humans, Jew culture. I don't need Atheism + and then list everything else.

I'm not an athlete, but I am an artist. Does that make me a non-athlete+ ? Seriously.

[The Grand Nudger]

^

What about all the atheists who don't share the 'rational sceptic' ideals like the pagans, the philosophical buddhists or the spiritual superstitionists? They're atheists, too...

[thesummerqueen]

I think the Jedis need to troll the A+'s

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

I mean, don't most people here have a worldview that isn't just limited to "I reject the existence of all gods"? Some notion of value, meaning, morality, ethics, etc.?

Yes I'd say so. Speaking for myself,my atheism is the result of my skepticism. Other philosophical positions I hold include: egoism, moral relativism,utilitarianism and misanthropy. I also have a sometimes inconvenient vestigal Catholic conscience.

PS A current issue: I consider my government's present treatment of boat people refugees unconscionable. A purely humanitarian issue has been politicised by both major parties. That makes me want to vomit.

[TaraJo]

Doesn't it make some sense to consider yourself "atheist and [x]"? Like, an atheist and a secular humanist, or an atheist and a liberal, or an atheist and an Objectivist, or an atheist and a phenomenologist?

You can identify any way you want. I can't expect someone's identity to revolve entirely around their being an atheist. However, I don't like the divisiveness of it.

History lesson here; I may have to recheck my research, but from what I've heard, politicians never use the 'Christian' title to promote themselves prior to the 50's or so. Why? 'Christian' as a political label didn't exist. We had 'Catholics' and 'Baptists' and 'Methodists.' You couldn't promote yourself as a member of one church without alienating the others. Remember the shitstorm over JFK being Catholic? Then abortion got to be an issue and so did GLBT issues and the churches were able to lay their differences aside to promote candidates who used the label 'Christian.'

So, the different branches of 'Christian' have come together and, yeah, they're pushing their agenda. What about us? Getting a group of atheists to work together can be like herding cats, can't it? We each have our own individual issues and causes and beliefs and instead of fighting the fact that the religious groups of the world are successfully using the government to push their political beliefs onto us, we're dividing ourselves along even more lines. We're dividing ourselves into pro-feminist or pro-communism or pro-GLBT or anti-military or whatever else there is. And while we're fighting among ourselves, the religious fundamentalists of the world are successfully forcing themselves onto each of those individual groups.

[Tiberius]

Atheism+, like Freethought Blogs, is just a massive circle jerk.