Atheists turning to cult behaviour?

[Alex K]

And for the record, one of my best friends is gay.

Does he know you call him gay behind his back?

Just kidding. But why bring it up???

[robvalue]

I'm not homophobic, but...

[Alex K]

I'm not homophobic, but...

... they need to stop stuffing their sexuality down my throats!!!11!!

[Spooky]

And for the record, one of my best friends is gay.

Does he know you call him gay behind his back?

Just kidding. But why bring it up???

He calls himself gay in casual conversation, I use his own term. If I'm a homophobic women hater like he suggests, how am I married and have homosexual friends?

I'm still not sure how that's all supposedly "cult" behavior. It's just asshole behavior.

[Alex K]

He calls himself gay in casual conversation, I use his own term.

I was just being silly

If I'm a homophobic women hater like he suggests, how am I married and have homosexual friends?

Apparently, you're the exception to the rule, then

No but srsly, the OP statement that most atheists behave that way is just wrong.

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I'm still not sure how that's all supposedly "cult" behavior. It's just asshole behavior.

I can tell you where there's similarity to cult behavior: there are a bunch of individuals especially online who will violently attack, threaten and bully people into silence who dare criticise leading figures of atheism such as , typically, RD. I am convinced the psychology is similar to cult members oppressing criticism of their leader figure. It's just not nearly "most atheists".

[SoFarEast]

If someone is accusing me of being part of "a group" that is responsible for something, then I am quite within my rights to say I am not part of that group. I will happily get on board and address the bad behaviour in question, but I'm not going to take responsibility personally. How could that work?

I think I am in agreement with you. You do not need to identify with it, as an independent atheist you have the right to distance yourself.

However, if atheists are holding conferences, if atheists are congregating in public spaces and meeting in online forums, then this does constitute a community in a sense. And I feel there has to be some set of principles that limit bad behavior. It's just not right when the others shrug their shoulders to these acts.

And I do not say that atheism causes their bad behavior. I just feel a group of atheists without rules can be as bad as a group of religious people with religion. And when they are meeting up regularly, whats to stop a crazy bunch from doing some damage?

I did not title this thread, Atheism leads to cult behavior.

I am not used to writing on the net so maybe it's taking a while to get my point across. I'm not sure, but I think for the past few posts I've basically been repeating what you've been saying.

Just out of interest SFE, are you not identifying as an atheist? I see you have irrelegious down, and people on the forum have all sorts of weird stuff in their description.

Well, most of education and other forms I filled never used to have 'Atheist' as an option. It was always 'Not religious' or 'Irreligious'. So when asked my religious views, I just typed that down. I surely am an atheist.

[Spooky]

I agree. The OP has accurately described religion, not atheism.

And I'm not sure how "Nerd Culture" is at all relevant.

[Alex K]

I agree. The OP has accurately described religion, not atheism.

And I'm not sure how "Nerd Culture" is at all relevant.

Something related to it is also affecting atheist movements and atheist online discussions. Therefore it becomes somewhat relevant.

[robvalue]

OK... I'm afraid you're losing me again.

We do have rules governing what people can do, the law. I'm not sure what else you're proposing? I'm unfamiliar with large groups of atheists getting together and causing trouble which gets out of hand. Can you give me any examples?

[SoFarEast]

In that sense, the OPs claim is problematic, or, let's say, prone to misunderstandings. There's a huge difference between pointing out tribal behavior in, say, atheist themed facebook groups or conferences, and attributing such behaviors in any way to atheism as a philosophical point of view.

Thank you. I think you put it way better than me. I don't think there is anything intrinsic within Atheism that leads to this. However, since each atheist identifies with a little more than just pure non disbelief I can see a few subcultures forming.