The rise of militant atheism

[Pawn Power]

Letter From America: Atheists throw down the gauntlet (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/02/news/letter.php)

This is a bit of a biased article that downplays the danger and role of fundamental Christianity in relation to fundamental Islam and popularly mixes atheism with that.

Do you see a rise in a more "militant" or aggressive atheism in the United States? In other parts of the world?

In the United States it appears it is become more prominent and it is noticeable in popular literature.

Is this form of aggressive atheism beneficial in bringing rationality and relinquishing the hold of religion on free thought? Or is there is better less hostile method that is more appealing to the superstitious?

Atheism is a contradiction in words to begin with to begin with; the negation of something that doesent exists. Acting in extremist ways will often get you classified as another fundamentalist even though it is in the absence of a superstition.

I think rationality is the key while remaining assertive in challenging religion. It appears that some of the more prominent scientists of our time think that it is important and worthwhile.

[The Anti-Red]

Militant atheism? Is that a joke? Do you know of any atheists who have taken up arms and attacked theists physically? I haven't heard of any. The only place atheists have attacked theists is in debates.

Atheists are probably not becoming more aggressive; rather, their voice is becoming louder as more people step away from irrational superstition and join them. This is in fact the only reasonable way to stop the plague that is theism. We must show the non-fundamental theists that there is another option. By chipping away at the large base of theists, we take away the credibility and the strength of the fundamentalists. Bringing forth a debate is by no means a hostile method.

[Pawn Power]

Originally posted by The Anti-[email protected] 03, 2007 02:55 pm
Militant atheism? Is that a joke? Do you know of any atheists who have taken up arms and attacked theists physically? I haven't heard of any. The only place atheists have attacked theists is in debates.


I think the term "militant atheism" refers to atheists who are more pronounced on vocalizing their position- it has nothing to do with violence or “taking up arms.” That is why I replaced it with “aggressive,” meaning more aggressive or assertive in debate and conversation.

[The Anti-Red]

I think the term "militant atheism" refers to atheists who are more pronounced on vocalizing their position- it has nothing to do with violence or “taking up arms.” That is why I replaced it with “aggressive,” meaning more aggressive or assertive in debate and conversation.

If that's the case, it's clearly an attempt to bring atheists down to the level of theists and it should not be used at all.

[Johnny Anarcho]

Militant atheism is as dangerous and harmful as militant theism, I oppose both and support neither. Militancy is for revolution and self-defence, nothing more and nothing less.

[MrDoom]

Militant atheism is as dangerous and harmful as militant theism, I oppose both and support neither. Militancy is for revolution and self-defence, nothing more and nothing less.
That's not what militant atheism is.

The 'militancy' is simply being a bit more vocal and antitheist than your average strong atheist.

[Johnny Anarcho]

Originally posted by [email protected] 05, 2007 03:46 pm

Militant atheism is as dangerous and harmful as militant theism, I oppose both and support neither. Militancy is for revolution and self-defence, nothing more and nothing less.
That's not what militant atheism is.

The 'militancy' is simply being a bit more vocal and antitheist than your average strong atheist.
:wacko:

[Pow R. Toc H.]

Militant atheism? I think it is kind of irrelevant what you call yourself as an atheist. It doesnt matter as long as your not a theist. It is highly unlikely that we are ever going to convince all or even the majority of the theists in the world that they live there lives based on the teaching and rules of a non-existent being so just as long you call yourself an atheist I dont think it should matter.

That episode of south park comes immediately to mind. We are the united atheist league! We are the United Atheist Alliance!

[The Feral Underclass]

How can someone be a militant atheist? Atheism is the belief in the non-existance of god in any circumstance. What does it mean to have that opinion militantly...?

Militant antitheism would be much more practical and effective in dealing with religion.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

When people say "militant atheism" they usually mean antitheism.

From Wikipedia: Antitheism (sometimes anti-theism) is a direct opposition to theism. The word has had a range of applications; in secular contexts, it typically refers to direct opposition to belief in any deity, while in theistic ones, it sometimes refers to opposition to an actual god or gods. It is not to be confused with atheism, although the two are similar. Atheism is the denial or disbelief in theism and its deities, whereas antitheism directly opposes theism. That means an atheist may not be an antitheist if he/she denies the existence of a God, but still thinks that theism isn't harmful i.e. doesn't oppose it.

[The Feral Underclass]

That defintion isn't very helpful.

Antitheism is generally not just the negation of the existance of god, but against religion as an actual 'thing'. Antitheism opposes religion, not just god, which I suppose the article is trying to say, but fails to actually say it.

I'm an antitheist in so much as I deny the existance of god but believe that the existance of that belief is antithetical to humanity and to reason and wish to see it overcome and ultimately destroyed.

[ichneumon]

irreligious: showing indifference or hostility to religion

antitheists *hate* god, atheists don't believe in god, the irreligious dislike all forms of religion, regardless of whether or not it involves gods.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 05, 2007 06:48 pm
antitheists *hate* god
That's very misleading. Antitheists don't "hate" god - god doesn't exist. We oppose the existance of the organised belief in god and want to see reason eradict it.

[Vargha Poralli]

Any way militant or anti it sounds pretty much stupid to me.For me I don't know whether there is god or not so discussing about is incredibly stupid. And discussing with stupid person about stupid things is a big waste of time IMO.