Fellow atheists - Is anyone else getting sick of the Celeb-atheists?

Question

I'm talking about Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Rational Response Squad, etc. It's not that I disagree with what these people have to say, it's that I'm sick of people quoting them (Dawkins especially) as if they were the authorities on what all atheists believe.
Maybe it's just me but I can't stand the Cult of Personality that seems to be developing.
Again, I don't really have anything against these people, just the 'appeal to authority' logical fallacies that I see get on my damn nerves.

Ray - You'll get no argument from me on that one, though they do look pretty fake.

Saint - What about 'Starhawk'? She's an example of celebrity wiccan. (And obnoxious too.)

Answer 1

I've got little problem with quoting R.D....
“Many of us saw religion as harmless nonsense. Beliefs might lack all supporting evidence but, we thought, if people needed a crutch for consolation, where's the harm? September 11th changed all that.” – Richard Dawkins

"We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further." -- Richard Dawkins

“I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.” – Richard Dawkins

Why have you? When I do, I *agree* and *except* for this post, it's relevant to the thread.

Answer 2

Actually, I wouldn't call the phenomena a cult of personality. Basically, our media is driven by advertising revenue, and that revenue is based upon the ability of programmers to keep people watching. Because atheism is controversial, many people will gladly watch the spectacle of an atheist and a believer arguing. And, let's not forget the real reason that these atheists participate in these public dramas: they all have books to sell. I don't object to them selling their books or their points-of-view. If anything, I applaud their efforts to get people thinking rationally about belief and whether their personal beliefs are beneficial or even realistic in the modern world.

However, I do see your point. While I am not at all sure about how much diversity of opinion there really is in the atheist community, it would seem reasonable to conclude that some atheists might object to any of these individuals setting themselves up as "official spokesmen of atheism" or to atheism being portrayed as a monolithic entity. To assume that any one of these authors speaks for all atheists is a mistake not dissimilar to someone thinking that Al Sharpton speaks for all African-Americans.

I think the fallacy of "appeal to authority" arises as a basic problem of the medium of television. I have not heard nor read anything to suggest that Dawkins, Harris, or any of the other better known atheists have proclaimed themselves as authorities, experts, or leaders of the atheist community. The problem arises simply because they appear on TV; the viewing masses are prone to just accept that if they're on TV, then they're the official atheist experts and speak for all atheists, much the same way that many people blindly assume that Rachel Ray is an expert in cooking and not just a "food demonstrator."

At this point, given how much ground has been lost in the last thirty years to irrational, fundamentalist religion, I am happy any time someone comes on TV and has the nerve to suggest that everyone come to their senses and think rationally about any topic, especially belief.

Answer 3

I like each one of them on a personal level, and I agree with certain things that each one of them has to offer, but I do agree with you that every single thing they say is not representative of every atheist. People who are not atheist have a difficult time understanding that each atheist is a complete individual, with individual beliefs. They have a hard time understanding that we don't have a set of "rules", they way that organized religion does.
As a whole, I do appreciate Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the Rational Response Squad, because they are helping to bring the fact that there are people out there who don't share other's religious beliefs to light, and to show this country that there are good, intelligent, peaceful, kind, moral people out there who are atheists, and that those people really aren't all that different from them. Up until now, the only name that people knew was Madalyn Murray O'Hair, and she was a very very angry, bitter, hateful, hostile person, and did a lot to help form the opinion that people have that all atheists are like that.

Answer 4

Not an atheist just here to point out that you are experiancing a very common problem for everyone labeled with any image. I wish I had a Wiccan example to point out but I can't think of any celebrity Wiccans- but I do know that quite a few Christians think Bush is the most embarrassing example of Christianity to walk in front of a camera so as said before, you are not alone.

Answer 5

It's really a double edged sword. In one hand they are making a case for what they believe, but on the other hand, they are making it seem as if Atheism was a philosophy and a group people can belong to. Oh, and the rational response squad sucks.

Answer 6

In real existence - I purely understand 2 Atheists... i would not describe the two of them as "militant"... somewhat no longer my 70-twelve months previous Grandma who drinks vodka and performs enjoying cards all day... the different guy is a convalescing drug addict who rides his motorbike to twelve-step conferences and then watches television till he falls asleep. he's amazingly sensible while he needs to be, yet he would not seem to have the capability to be "militant". yet i think of Atheists have the sting in this debate because of the fact they at the instant are not professing to understand issues that they are able to't instruct... they're purely advocating "non-concept" in what the non secular human beings won't be able to instruct the two...

Answer 7

its because you are a rational thinker. I could care less I have never read an atheist book. Not a single one. Just the bible and many science books. I think people that arrive at atheism by reason alone think like you. Those who simply reject organized religion for various reasons are sheeple that are looking for a different hearder.

Answer 8

I don't have a problem at all. They beat the crap out of O'Hare who was just a nasty person and not a great spokesperson at all. We need someone to be able to talk and get non-atheists to actually listen and Dawkins (in particular) seems to be able to do that.

Answer 9

What about celeb Christians, Or should a say TV preaches. We do need something to off set that. So I don't have a problem. At least SOME ONE is talking about it. You can always change the channel.

Answer 10

Most of my favorites never get quoted... the cult of personality stinks, but it is a step forward in terms of representing atheists in international forums... we need more people to publish...