The cult like culture of atheism?

Question

So do you think that he has a point?
http://christiancadre.blogspot.com/2007/11/cult-like-culture-of-atheism.html

Sam Harris that is.

So why would open minded atheist not want to hear what Harris had to say?

So atheists in other countries are normal?

Answer 1

He does.

Any particular viewpoint on any issue can lead to cult-like behavior.

However, these cult-like atheists shouldn't be generalized with most atheists. They only make up a small percentage of the atheist population.

Answer 2

I see the point of the blog but I do not see atheism as a cult. For the most part the atheists I know are just people trying to find the truth behind what they consider the confusion and lies. Nothing wrong with that we are all on a search for the truth one way or the other.

Answer 3

This seems an American thing where atheists fell the need to be vocal. They must feel oppressed.
Though I have noticed a tendency for some theists to interpret the theory evolution or even science in general as a form of religion. It's convenient in the way it allows them to then say 'my view is just as valid as yours because its all belief'. So I'm tempted to think its more a re-interpretation of atheism to fit a mirror image of a theists own religion.

In the UK, its normal, most people I know are either secular (non religious) or atheist.

Answer 4

I read part of it. I don't agree. I have never read a book on atheism or been to a lecture or joined an atheist group. Other that stumbling into this site, I rarely talk about my non belief in a god.
I would suspect there are some young atheist that use atheism as a social catalyst. I can't really imagine what they talk about. One sentence sums up my atheism.

Answer 5

I disagree with Sam Harris on this point, but I'm glad he brought it up; labels and preconceptions are relevant.

I think the blogger you linked to lost a significant amount of credibility in his phrasing 'some kind of Billy Graham crusade for atheists'. It means he's tailoring his message to the choir. Harris, for bringing up a salient point to 'his people' that may disagree with him, comes out looking a bit better.

Philip Pullman avoids the term 'atheist' for similar reasons.

Answer 6

The problem is that atheists are not a large group who share similar experiences. Most of us arrived at our atheism through our own paths of enlightenment and disillusionment.

To portray us as a united force that is a direct threat to the church shows an almost reckless lack of knowledge about the subject.

Answer 7

How can one be part of a cult, when one only has to lack belief in something? I don't read books on atheism, or spend time with other atheists.

Is not playing golf a sport?

Answer 8

I don't know another atheist IRL. How the hell can it be a cult? No leader, no death threats if you leave, no rituals or rites...

Religious people often seem to tag atheism with some sort of religious name. It's not a religion, it's a DIS-belief.

Answer 9

I understand his point. The term "atheism" has evolved connotative meaning...

It's like calling "feminism" a cult, the ones most outspoken about it may behave that way to the point where the majority of people who are for women's rights may not self-identify as feminist.

Answer 10

I think the guy is bonker. I don't believe in any god, which means I don't believe in any religious explanation of the world. My atheism doesn't go further than that. I certainly am not part of a world wide cabal or cult gathering to destroy religion and neither are any of my atheist friends.