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

[abaris]

OFC atheism makes no offers....is it supposed to?

No, it's not supposed to. Because of that, it can't compete with religion. Especially when we talk about less educated and downtrodden people. They tend to turn to some promise to make their lives better. That can be any ideology, but usually it's religion - or some pseudo religion like communism or fascism, which seems to be on the rise these days.

[Whateverist]

The only thing that makes the new atheists new, as I read it, is the times we live in and the diminished state of religious institutions.  

When they're already on their knees may not be the most gallant time to go for the jugular.  Given their own time perhaps they'll make some compromise with the modern world which will mean more coming from themselves than the moron-shaming we could hand out.

Given time, you say.  The centuries preceding weren't enough?  It's not as if religion ended up on it's knees  because it tripped and fell.  That's a strange summary of it's position when people in 1st world countries still cast gods vote in absentia, in any case.  It's become socially acceptable to criticize religion loudly and openly only -because- people criticized religion loudly and openly.  Because, for example, people took their stories literally and exposed the absurdity of them in doing so.  Those institutions, at their -very- best,  used polite silence like a weapon long after they lost the ability to burn dissenters alive.....and at their worst they did and continue to do much, much more......and you sympathize, lol?

Think geologic time.  It's sedimentary.

[Whateverist]

The only thing that makes the new atheists new, as I read it, is the times we live in and the diminished state of religious institutions.  

When they're already on their knees may not be the most gallant time to go for the jugular.  Given their own time perhaps they'll make some compromise with the modern world which will mean more coming from themselves than the moron-shaming we could hand out.

Given time, you say.  The centuries preceding weren't enough?  It's not as if religion ended up on it's knees  because it tripped and fell.  That's a strange summary of it's position when people in 1st world countries still cast gods vote in absentia, in any case.  It's become socially acceptable to criticize religion loudly and openly only -because- people criticized religion loudly and openly.  Because, for example, people took their stories literally and exposed the absurdity of them in doing so.  Those institutions, at their -very- best,  used polite silence like a weapon long after they lost the ability to burn dissenters alive.....and at their worst they did and continue to do much, much more......and you sympathize, lol?

Think geologic time.  It's sedimentary.

Also, remember its the fundies who think we're in the end days.  I don't expect to be here on that happy day when every last man and woman looks at the bible and just says nah.