The Neo-Atheist Movement

[Whateverist]

I think that you are raising some good points, especially about laws in the country of which you are a citizen. I suppose to clarify, this has less to do with the de facto goals of the atheist movement, which I think are all commendable, and more to do with the culture around it.

There are a few political causes which are sure to garner atheist support. Certainly most of us won't want evolution dumbed down or creationism snuck into the teaching of biology. But I think you are way over reaching if you think there is or should be an atheist movement. There is nothing foundational about what all atheists have in common except for the rejection of belief in deities. I'm not and would not seek to become a card carrying atheist. There is no there there.

I feel amongst my atheist peers that many of them are angry at the existence of religion and tend to treat the religious as if they are misguided children to be corrected or a plague to be annihilated, which I cannot abide by.

Payback can be a bitch. Kids whose basic common sense does not allow for the supernatural but who grow up in strict religious households/communities can have really bad experiences. At a vulnerable time they can come in for some pretty harsh coercion from their should-be care takers. If these kids grow up to be angry atheists it should surprise no one. But to describe it as "anger at god" is a theist perspective. You a theist, Jacob?

And we also cannot focus our citations of our atheism on a single religion, as there is no logic in saying that one religion is flawed, so all religion is flawed because of how diverse human religion is.

You and everyone interested in putting together the perfect political machine should announce when you're meeting and see who will join you. Best of luck. Try not to become political dicks, but if you must, don't overstate the percent of atheists you represent.

[robvalue]

Some atheists are nobs and will take a less than Ideal approach, sure.

But there is no atheist council or decisions makers. We're all just people. Hopefully everyone will think for themselves and rational thought will eventually prevail.

[Dystopia]

The neo-atheist movement, from my experience, mostly consists of former believers. So, it's not too surprising that there's a fundie element which thinks tough talk is a substitute for rational argument. I don't mind such vehemence to a certain degree, but I can certainly see why it may have led to some backlash. There's also the strange overlap between neo-atheism and neo-conservativism, where the West is viewed as a sort of supreme, enlightened, Saviour, and the rest of the world (especially the Muslim world) is this body of second class illiterates --- even the perception of such a bond is a fatal attraction, for neo-atheism, in my view.

[Dystopia]

Some atheists are nobs and will take a less than Ideal approach, sure.

But there is no atheist council or decisions makers. We're all just people. Hopefully everyone will think for themselves and rational thought will eventually prevail.

I don't know if people realize this but religious authorites at least outside theocracies don't have any political power with some exceptions (like the Vatican) - People like the Pope can only tell others what they think is true and right but there's nothing forcing people to abide by the Pope's literal word - Not only that, there's so many churches that each council's decision is only valid for a small segment of the religious group and some members may even disagree - There are Catholics who disagree with the Pope and don't follow his word. There is nothing (I'm saying this as a European) forcing people to follow a specific religion or commandements or telling them they should have x or y interpretation, it's up to them.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Because I'm an atheist and I've seen my fellow atheists completely disregard and disrespect any religious person, concept, or action more times than I care to remember. Not to mention that they seem only interested in discussion as to why they aren't a member of an Abrahamic religion and don't seem to even give a second thought to the countless other religions of human existence.

Not all of us are like that. Perhaps you don't move in more moderate circles? The majority of atheists I know aren't movement atheists.

[Minimalist]

Because I'm an atheist and I've seen my fellow atheists completely disregard and disrespect any religious person, concept, or action more times than I care to remember.

They usually deserve it.