Jeff Sparrow on the need to save ourselves from the sickishness of the New Atheists

[Mister Agenda]

In 2003 I had knowing met three other atheists in my entire life, two of them while I was still a theist. I decided to use Meetup.com to start a social group primarily for atheists that year because I felt atheists in the USA were too isolated from each other. This was in the heart of South Carolina, a few years before The God Delusion came out. I had identified as an atheist for about eight years by then.

I thought I was just a garden-variety skeptical atheist, but maybe I was on the cutting edge of the 'New Atheism'....

[Whateverist]

This seems to be a variant of the subject I file under "Accommodationism" - i.e., "Leave Poor Jeebus Alone!"

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Accommodationism

Some atheists don't think the more aggressive approach is in society's best interest.

I suppose that makes me an anti-accommodationist. Has a nice ring to it at parties -

Q: So, JHC, what are you all about?

A: I'm an anti-theist, anti-accommodationist, militant atheist, into devil music, long walks on the beach and doing it in front of the fireplace. You?

Yeah, but your username says you still long for His warm embrace.  

[Whateverist]

In 2003 I had knowing met three other atheists in my entire life, two of them while I was still a theist. I decided to use Meetup.com to start a social group primarily for atheists that year because I felt atheists in the USA were too isolated from each other. This was in the heart of South Carolina, a few years before The God Delusion came out. I had identified as an atheist for about eight years by then.

I thought I was just a garden-variety skeptical atheist, but maybe I was on the cutting edge of the 'New Atheism'....

South Carolina.  A bunch of my bible thumping relatives moved there some twenty years or more ago.  Is there anyplace on earth more deserving of the title "fundamentalist stronghold"?  You poor bastard.

[JesusHChrist]

Yeah, but your username says you still long for His warm embrace.  

Indeed. It's what all anti-theist, anti-accommodationist, militant atheists really want! A warm hug from Jesus! We just want to keep on sinning; at least I do.

My nom de screen is probably more of an homage to my Dad then the "real" Jeebs --

Jesus H Christ kid! Get out there and rake those leaves! Sometimes with the addition of "on crutches" or "in a sidecar", or given the circumstances, further salty expletives of which I was no doubt richly deserving.

[Minimalist]

"Leave Poor Jeebus Alone!"

The problem there is if you leave "poor allah alone" bombs go off.  And the xristards would do it to if they thought they could get away with it.

[JesusHChrist]

"Leave Poor Jeebus Alone!"

The problem there is if you leave "poor allah alone" bombs go off.  And the xristards would do it to if they thought they could get away with it.

Agreed. Hence why I think accommodationism is like being accommodating of the KKK or Nazis. The major point for me, is attacking superstition as a failed epistemology leading to poor decision making and negative outcomes. (Yes, I know: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

[Mister Agenda]

Lest I seem too heroic, it was in Columbia, a university town. Columbia and Charleston are relatively easy places to be atheists compared to about anyplace more than 25 miles outside of them.

[Minimalist]

"Aggression" like "beauty" is in the eye of the beholder.  Most religitards are infuriated by the very idea that people reject their holy horseshit.  They are always looking to be offended by something.

Fuck 'em.  May as well give them something to be offended about.

[Whateverist]

You're just playing to their long suit, martyrdom. Poor good guys. Damned atheists just wanna hate.

[Minimalist]

Fuck 'em.

They're dying off anyway.