Arguing with friend on whether we're cult-like

[Anymouse]

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I was arguing with a friend (implicit atheist, but simply labels herself "agnostic" or "don't care") over email who said that people such as myself (explicit atheist who tends to be quite vocal about it) are being cult-like.

She wasn't suggesting atheism itself is a religion or cult, but simply that people who spend a lot of time talking about it, hanging out with other atheists, watching atheist YouTube videos, reading atheist books, donating to secular charities, and getting all riled up about religion are acting like we're in a cult. And places like TAM are our holy pilgrimages (I've never been to TAM - that was what started the argument, I was talking about wanting to go).

Also she said we "talk funny" because we use terms like "logical fallacy" and "god of the gaps" which normal people (I don't know what 'normal people' are) don't use in conversation, and that we just parrot arguments by Richard Dawkins instead of thinking for ourselves, and we should just be quiet and act like "normal" atheists and agnostics and be nice. She also said that if I had kids (I don't yet) I'd probably be reading them Dawkins as bedtime stories to indoctrinate them.

Are there any atheists like me here who get this? Does she have any valid points about us, or some of us? I know I enjoy listening to podcasts and following what's going on in the atheist visibility movement or atheist community or whatever you want to call it that doesn't sound pretentious. And I am aware of the standard kind of fallacies theists make in their repeated, unoriginal arguments but I don't think I'm incapable of thinking for myself.

I said we're not a cult because there's no dogma, and she said that we have things we dogmatically believe, even though they might be correct we don't think them up for ourselves, just learn them from other atheists and go around repeating them. I want to think I'm a free thinker who is capable of understanding the world without just parroting high-profile atheists. She hurt my feelings, but I don't know what to say now, and I don't like fighting with friends it's upsetting.

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You know, they are secretly all cults.

The atheists because they use large words and preach the "Gospel of Nothing."
Grammar cops because they all hang around together and preach the "Gospel of Correct Usage."
Sports fans because they all hang around together, drink strong potions like Bud and Coors, and use esoteric language like "off-sides" and "personal foul."
Poets because they hang out together and quote esoteric writers that no one can understand like e.e. cummings and Emily Dickenson.
Art lovers because they all hang around sipping wine and speaking in tongues about paintings that no one else can see anything in.
Politicians because they all hang around together in old buildings and speak with forked tongues.
Mensans because they all hang around together and use large words like the grammar cops, but actually know what they mean.
Computer geeks because no one understands what they read or say, even other computer geeks.

We're all really members of cults (except Discordians, the one true religion.)

James

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Similarly, some of their own arguments appear flawlessly presented in the words they use, so why would I make what would probably be a poorer attempt at making the same point when I can make it concisely and clearly by using their wording, or very similar?

Just as many atheists here wish to hear the original thoughts of a Christian (or other) apologist here, rather than see a link to a well-spoken apologist who has thought the question out, I would imagine that religious people are the same.

When they ask for your thoughts on atheism, they don't want parroting by giving a link to Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins or Stephen Hawking. They want your opinion, not plagiarism, just as atheists here do not want it from them.

Just my guess. - James.