A powerful quote

[Angrboda]

For a lot of people, their first love is what they'll always remember. For me it's always been the first hate, and I think that hatred, though it provides often rather junky energy, is a terrific way of getting you out of bed in the morning and keeping you going. If you don't let it get out of hand, it can be canalized into writing. In this country where people love to be nonjudgmental when they can be, which translates as, on the whole, lenient, there are an awful lot of bubble reputations floating around that one wouldn't be doing one's job if one didn't itch to prick.

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My own opinion is enough for me, and I claim the right to have it defended against any consensus, any majority, anywhere, any place, any time. And anyone who disagrees with this can pick a number, get in line and kiss my ass.

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Christopher Hitchens

A common point of contention between atheists and religious theists is whether it's legitimate, appropriate, or advisable to mock, ridicule, or satirize religious beliefs. Religious believers object to this, which is no surprise, but they don't object so much when nonreligious opinions are mocked or satirized. They don't allow that mocking and satire can be legitimate tools of criticism.

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Austin Cline, About.com guide to Atheism/Agnosticism

‘It’s now very common to hear people say, “I’m rather offended by that”, as if that gives them certain rights. It’s no more than a whine. It has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. “I’m offended by that.” Well, so fucking what?’

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Stephen Fry

“Under certain circumstances profanity provides relief denied even to prayer.”

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Mark Twain

And I can't find proper quotations for them, the first likely being anonymous, "If you don't like me laughing at your beliefs, don't have such funny beliefs," and, paraphrasing, "Some ideas are so absurd that the only appropriate response is ridicule."

Oh, and for what it's worth, I think Dennett may be getting over the hill.