Purchasing One's Atheism Cheaply

[*Deidre*]

David Bentley Hart's criticism of atheism is as follows:

The principal source of my melancholy, however, is my firm conviction that today’s most obstreperous infidels lack the courage, moral intelligence, and thoughtfulness of their forefathers in faithlessness. What I find chiefly offensive about them is not that they are skeptics or atheists; rather, it is that they are not skeptics at all and have purchased their atheism cheaply, with the sort of boorish arrogance that might make a man believe himself a great strategist because his tanks overwhelmed a town of unarmed peasants, or a great lover because he can afford the price of admission to a brothel. So long as one can choose one’s conquests in advance, taking always the paths of least resistance, one can always imagine oneself a Napoleon or a Casanova (and even better: the one without a Waterloo, the other without the clap).

I have to agree insofar as the "new" atheism rejecting the intellectually rigorous atheism of the old. Modern atheists can't hold a candle to Mackie, Ayer, Flew or Russell. From redefining atheism from the realm of the intellectual rigor into the realm of personal psychology, to forgoing analytical thinking in favor of pusillanimous rhetoric, to rejecting dispassionate examination for emotive expressions.

Atheism has lost the weight of intelligence it used to carry. It has become cheap.

While I do hold a more agnostic view than atheist, I think that these types of thread topics are ironic in the sense that if one is an atheist, guess what? He or she doesn't subscribe to ANYONE'S view. That's why we are tired of religion to begin with, because I don't need someone else telling me how I should think about god, or anything really. There is no 'new atheism,' only something theists tell themselves so they can come up with a variety of arguments against atheists. It's simply a figment of a theists' imagination, just like the god they worship.

Live in reality Vinny, and you will see that atheists actually don't care what theists have to say. They are just tired of being told what to think and told they are wrong for not thinking as you do.

Atheists nor agnostics need to prove anything to you or anyone, as to why they don't believe in what you do. That is why religion is so offensive to many of us, because it presumes to be superior to those who do not follow the same line of thinking. So, there is no 'purchasing' of atheism at all. Not a cheap or expensive 'version.' This is something you tell yourself in order to feel that the nonsense YOU have bought, means something to you.

Some people just want to live their lives, free to be who they truly are, and free to help others as we all should be doing. Religion often pits people against one another, thus your threads all seem to have that type of tone. No offense, you may be a very nice person, but whether you accept it or not, your threads are designed to make atheists and agnostics, and anyone else who is not religious as you are, to look foolish for not 'coming into the light,' as you have.

In so many words, it is degrading. Sounds to me, YOU should be getting your money back. Unless the religion you follow does promote judgment of others. Then, you have gotten your money's worth!