Posted on 07/19/2011 3:28:21 PM PDT by AustralianConservative
One. If religion is pure negativity, prohibition and denial, then its opposite - science, reason and truth - must be proselytised in a similar vein as ultimate, self-sufficient values. What seems at first the progressive and critical attitude of a latter-day humanism becomes a language of moral absolutes, an absurd pretence to certainty, a kind of fearful scholasticism that wants to rebut, dismiss, elide and ignore the heterogeneous motivations of spirituality.
“Against the New Atheism,” by Ned Curthoys (Overland, September 1, 2008)
Two. New Atheism is a modern movement that not only publicly rejects the existence of all gods, but also tries to “liberate” believers from their faith. Many of the old heresies it recycles are attracting new ears, thanks largely to post-September 11 anxiety, which has turned religion into the scapegoat for most of society’s woes. To aid its arguments, celebrity New Atheists such as Dawkins tell us that scientific testing fails to find proof of a living God, and instead crowns natural selection as an infallible idol. These are then employed, alongside poorly-informed theology, to belittle faith.
“God Gave You Brains…,” by Scott Monk (Quadrant Magazine, November 1, 2010)
Three. Similar weaknesses abound in Letter to a Christian Nation, in which Harris taunts the many Christians infuriated by his first book. Harris admits up front that “the ‘Christian’ I address throughout is a Christian in a narrow sense of the term.” Aiming comfortably at this caricature, he repeats his insistence that there is a fatal clash of civilizations afoot, between Islam and the West but also between science and religion. Armageddon still looms.
“Same Old New Atheism,” by Jackson Lears (The Nation, May 16, 2011)
(Excerpt) Read more at weekendlibertarian.blogspot.com ...
Cutting to the chase, I’d just like to point out that the 1st Amendment protects the right of freedom of religion, and religion, by definition, includes God.
Therefore, atheism is not the subject matter of the 1st Amendment. The rejection of God is NOT a “form” of religion. In fact, concerning the 1st Amendment, atheism is literally irrelevent.
A very common straw man argument on FR.
For every atheist of that stripe, there are a dozen more for whom the supernatural is just a concept they don't entertain.
I'm in that group and have no problem interacting with any believers, or with respecting their beliefs.
It's not a strawman -- because the atheists who *are* like that are the ones who are driving the agenda, and attempting to modify longstanding jurisprudence to reflect their bigotry and hatred.
As for "having no problems interacting with any believers,or with respecting their beliefs" -- does that apply to jihadists equally with Christians who want prayer or creationism taught in the schools?
Or is your statement more nuanced than it came across at first glance?
Cheers!
These are preachers recruiting for the church of materialism. Libertarians should take their own advice and mind their own business while leaving people to their own business. If there were to be a “clash” in this country, given the numbers, atheists would be dead, dead, dead.
If we allow one religious doctrine to be taught in public schools, I don't think we can Constitutionally exclude any another.
The Constitution as currently interpreted seems to require that...but my question was about *you* -- as you had spoken of "having no problems interacting with any believers,or with respecting their beliefs."
Do you respect jihadists' beliefs equally with Evangelicals?
Cheers!
Their beliefs about the nature of God? Yes, I suppose so.
Their beliefs about how God's will should be brought about here on earth? Certainly not.
I think the question is not quite apples to apples, ask me if I respect jihadis' beliefs equally with Fred Phelps' church if you want an unqualified answer.
Pass, and all's well. ;-)
Cheers!
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