Purchasing One's Atheism Cheaply

[Vincenzo Vinny G.]

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.

[pocaracas]

It just means there's a great supply!

[wwjs]

He sound as if he had spent one day on this website . Just kidding, just kidding.

If he's talking about "militant atheism" then I'm all for pointing out the flaws of someones' religion, whether he feels offended or not but I don't agree with just throwing shit at someone and saying stuff like in your Religious Views.

[Airyaman]

The new Christianity doesn't look much like the old either.

[Rahul]

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.

*fap, fap, fap, fap*

Huh? What are we talking about?

[Faith No More]

Whenever I hear all of these criticisms towards atheists, I think to myself, "Well, yeah, atheists are humans, too."

[Minimalist]

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

He's an asshole.

And so are you.

[_xenu_]

Not all of us obtained this status cheaply. I spent years contemplating it from every imaginable angle before I "came out." In the end, it made me knowledgeable enough to send my step-father back to college for theological training because he couldn't answer my questions. He still hasn't figured out they can't help him, but he will.

[Jackalope]

I love a bargain.

[Simon Moon]

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

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

Well, good for him.

Every atheist I know personally, or have been able to question, claims their atheism is a product of their skepticism. I have no reason to doubt them, since they apply the same method that got them to their atheism to other claims.

My atheism is also a product of my overall skepticism.

An example of my skepticism would be, I do not accept any claim that is not supported by demonstrable evidence and reasoned argument. When I apply this method, I get the following results, I do not accept claims of the existence of bigfoot, alien abductions, astrology, the existence of god(s), homeopathy, Loch Ness monster, crystal healing, etc, etc.

The time to start believing a claim is when it is supported by the above criteria, not a second before.

Please point out the problems with that method.

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

Great, you found an article that agrees with your opinions.

Too bad you are both wrong.