The death of Atheism?

Question

Atheism has spread like wildfire through Europe and Australia, something which can only be applauded. However, in recent times there has been Atheist organisations that have been created such as the Brights Movement. By becoming organised, does atheism not face the horrible possibility of becoming inflexible, dogmatic and narrow-minded? Is atheism in danger of becoming the very thing it is against?

Answer 1

Atheism itself - no, no chance, because atheism is a LACK of beliefs, of dogma. However, some atheists, and some atheist organizations, just like every organization, book club, etc. can become so. Some atheists, for example, think atheists must be liberal, or environmentalist, or ___ to be a "true" atheist. Groups often try to make "mission statements" that go far beyond the single common factor: lack of belief in a deity.

So, organizations face this danger only if they allow themselves to stray from the commonality that binds them. In my 15-plus years of involvement in atheist organizations I've met liberal, conservative, authoritarian, libertine, progressive, regressive, intellectual, and non-intellectual atheists - just to note a few categories. If we can remember that atheism does not mean agreement on any other issue, we might have a chance of accomplishing our core goal: encouraging disagreement in rational terms.

Answer 2

Um, the Brights Movement didn't exactly take off in the freethought community all that well. Most atheist organizations, like American Atheists, Atheist Alliance, Freedom from Religion Foundation, Council for Secular Humanism, etc. are more of political advocacy groups rather than social organizations. Most younger atheists are not even joining these groups.

For social outlets, some atheists have joined the more atheist-friendly Unitarian Universalist congregations, Ethical Culture societies (although they seem to be more of an East Coast thing), or the Church of Freethought (in Texas) which is explicitly for atheists. Others, who are more eco-conscious and nature-minded, are attracted to naturalistic pantheism (which is actually compatible with atheism) and join such groups as the World Pantheist Movement or the Universal Pantheist Society. A small few will be attracted to the dark, anti-Christian imagery of the Church of Satan (or related LaVeyan Satanist groups which are also atheistic).

Answer 3

Atheists by definition, are free thinking people. I have never felt any desire to join a group of Atheists or anything else. If these groups fail, it is due to their inherent instability. We are not Theists, we do not all think alike.

Meeting on forums and discussing the progress of Atheism is a good thing. Joining narrow minded groups is no better than joining a religion.

But I do not see it ever being a problem. Atheism is growing as the fanatical and fantastical aspects of Theism become more and more obvious to normal, rational people.

Answer 4

I've heard the argument made that atheism's heyday was actually the 19th century. Not in terms of numbers of "adherents", of course. But in terms of the level of the discourse, I think, atheism is not perhaps what it once was.

Dawkins, frankly, evangelizes with a lot of the same elan as a holy roller on television. And with an approach that is not entirely unlike them, either.

Here's what I mean: the fake faith healers are known for scouring the crowds in advance for easy marks, and then do their thing on them.

So it is no surprise that Dawkins pulled the same trick in his TV special. Rather than go up against a Ratzinger or a Schonborn, he finds the easiest mark he can: Ted Haggard. Who couldn't win a debate against that guy?

Dawkins is basically the same kind of Elmer Gantry figure as the hokiest southern preacher. And it is to atheism's discredit that so many trumpet him as this great innovator, when he pales so badly compared to his 19th century predecessors.

Immanuel Kant did a better job of promoting atheism, without ever actually being one!

Answer 5

The Brights aren't necessarily all atheists, though I'm sure most members are atheist.

But no, if you knew what The Brights is, you'd know that it's all about a naturalistic world view, about accepting nature, science, knowledge, learning, growing, etc.

They'll only be dogmatic if they start insisting that theories like evolution aren't falsifiable.... which they won't.

P.S. Atheism isn't "against" anything. Atheism is simply a lack of belief in the existence of gods. Some atheists are anti-theism, but the two are NOT synonymous.

Answer 6

Yes, that's exactly what is happening with atheism. It is turning into an organization built to stand against religion of any kind, no matter what it's adherents do or say. Some have taken it so far to say it's alright to "brainwash" people who believe in any God(s) so that they can be more like certain atheists (Richard Dawkins said this in an interview about 4 months ago). Some are just as fanatical as the religious nuts they're fighting against.

Answer 7

The only common belief that atheists share is a lack of belief in god. The rest is trivial.

Just because they are involved in an organisation does not mean it's the death of atheism. Atheism= no god. The fact that it's organised does not change that fact.

Answer 8

Atheism is simply the lack of belief in gods

as long as people realise what complete and utter bullsh!t religion is there wil always be atheist

Id ont think people being organised is going to make anyone think "Oh I dont like them therefore there must be a god!"

Answer 9

I agree with Deke. Atheists are too independent to organize effectively. We don't need to organize to promote our message. The truth speaks for itself. Our numbers are growing because thinking people are fed-up with squandering humanity's resources for the sake of not offending the imaginary God of our ancient ancestors.

It may be time to distinguish between the more vocal and militant anti-theists, such as myself, who view organized religion as a serious threat to humanity's future -- from the less strident atheists, who have no political agenda beyond winning the debate.

Answer 10

Atheism isn't an organized religion. It's simply the belief that there is no god. Some of the groups that are organizing under the name of Atheism may die at some point, but the world will always have Athiests and their numbers will never stop growing.