One Agnostic's View of the New Atheists

[Jenny A]

I read Matt Nelson's blog entry on the New Atheists.  One sentence leaped right out at me:

The tone of today’s New Atheists is one of intensity and aggression. They are not out to merely inform. They are out to convert—to de-vangelize.

Attibuted to John Lenox by Matt Nelson

I agree.  The Four Horsemen, Matt Dillahunty and the other hosts of The Atheist Experience (which I enjoy), and a number of other atheist groups and people are out to deconvert theists.  But it's hardly new, so were many of the Free Thinkers (many of whom were deists).   But why is it so horrible and aggressive to try to deconvert?  After all, aren't most theists (absent a few non-evangelist groups like the Jews) out to convert.  If it's so horribly aggressive to try to deconvert, isn't it horribly aggressive to try to convert?

I personally don't have much interest in deconverting people.  But why would it be more offensive, or aggressive if I did?
It's a double standard and one I've called a few church folk on my door step about.  If you want to talk to my child about Faith Christian Church, do I get to talk to yours about atheism?  No one ever takes me up on that.  Occasionally, but not often they have the decency to look chagrined.

Consider what really aggressive atheists might look like:





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pwwvBygoFA