"The New Atheists are back — and dumber than ever"

[robvalue]

I tend to mostly agree with Harris. The thing is, if people are taking a sceptical and scientific approach, you would expect people to reach similar conclusions regarding objective subjects. That's the whole point of it. But when they move into subjects where value judgements are concerned, such as morality, there's no guarantee I'm going to agree. I probably agree with the main thrust of it, but I can certainly have substantial objections.

I hope Delicate can start to appreciate the fact that myself and most atheists do not in fact automatically agree with or even give any credence to what one of these prominent atheists has to say. Delicate said he was curious; if he can learn this lesson, I will be impressed.

I generally consider what is being said, not who says it. I may agree, I may not. If it's regarding a subject I have absolutely no clue about, then all I can do is trust the authority or not. But on the whole, what these guys talk about I can understand just fine. They don't ever even claim to "represent" atheists, as far as I'm aware. I'm sure there are a few dogmatically minded atheists, it takes all sorts after all. They are, in my opinion, stupid for being that way.

Of course, for menial day-to-day claims, such formal scepticism is not appropriate. I don't pin down my wife and shine a light in her eyes if she tells me she is going to the shops.