1. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #30938 by EntropyGuardian on April 10, 2007 at 11:55 am

"No doubt this 'demographic' is analogous to the 'rebellious gay teens'. I completely fail to see how anyone could infer from the twenty odd words the boy said on that audio clip that he's going through some kind of 'phase'."

Because the vast majority of teenage atheists I have encountered have nothing real to say other than there is no god because there is no proof. As they get on and read more they realize that moral code from a book written by mystic Jews in the desert thousands of years ago isn't necessary for civilized life, and that there is a distinction to be made between zealous belief and moderate belief, and all sorts of religious distinctions.

I am an atheist myself, and I feel that the typical teenage atheist really doesn't have the ability to explain the implications of their world view any more than a teenage theist would be to explain the implication of theirs.

Of course nothing he said leads me to believe this other than his perceived age and the fact that I haven't come across someone of his age who could really debate a theist on critical issues.

No matter who it is or what their view, I would hope that they came to this position with a lot of "soul" searching and amassing of evidence. Something that teenagers are not known to be the best at.

"This idiotic post seems to me a perfect example of the sort of endemic discrimination against atheism that people like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris are routinely referring to; the tendency to instantly and without any rational justification to jump to the conclusion that there's something 'bad' going on here, that his atheism must be the result of some wildly irrational 'phase' rather than any kind of reasoned analysis, or, alternately, that even daring to identify himself as an atheist must be an act of hostility."

Had a hard time deciding where to cut this sentence. :)

I want to improve the public's perception on atheism. Religion already are favored due to tradition, public identification (they are theists themselves), and a perceived positive impact of religion on society. The "fringes" are ignored, such as the Phelps and terrorists, and not considered. Atheism already has a negative image, viewed as hedonistic anarchistic nihilists who want to burn all holy books and rude, intolerant bigots.

So any person identifying as an atheist who does any negative action is latched onto as a talking point, while inversely, the negative religious models are ignored.

I think the Blasphemy Challenge was good to get the word out, but a bad way to go about it. Walking around with a shirt that has Jesus having sex with someone (I've seen it) while promoting atheism, is good to get people's attention but the bad way to go about it.

So I guess my issue really isn't with this kid in particular, but with teenage atheists who are quick to offend but typically light on substance. Once you have the knowledge and tools under your belt and you speak your mind you are going to offend some, but you must do it in a careful way if you want the public perception of atheism to change for the better.

2. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #30927 by EntropyGuardian on April 10, 2007 at 10:59 am

By his voice he sounds a bit young and in the "rebellious teenager atheist" demographic which aren't the best proponents of the anti-faith, but his mother sounds pretty crazy.

I'll call it a tie.

3. Is God poison?

Comment #30916 by EntropyGuardian on April 10, 2007 at 10:01 am

Yorker, no. "In London's Westminster Central Hall on March 27, some 2,000 people turned out to hear Hitchens, Dawkins and philosopher A.C. Grayling debate a trio of religious authorities on the question "We'd be better off without Religion." (The motion carried, 1,205 to 778.)"

Is this online where I could view it?

4. Is God poison?

Comment #30880 by EntropyGuardian on April 10, 2007 at 8:18 am

Is this debate online on google video or something?

5. Crucifixion 'makes God into a psychopath'

Comment #30270 by EntropyGuardian on April 7, 2007 at 11:19 am

I always thought it was a little strange that a being of unlimited power would impregnate a woman on earth and have the child die so people could go to heaven and to prove that he is a loving god. The dude can do anything anyone could imagine and has infinite knowledge and that's the best plan he could come up with? Pretty hair-brained if you ask me.

6. Answers To the Atheists

Comment #30263 by EntropyGuardian on April 7, 2007 at 11:06 am

Another drop of the "dogmatic" claim against atheists. I am surprised he didn't slip in the phrase "fundamentalist atheists" as well. I don't know of any atheist who wouldn't believe in a supernatural superentity once provided proof. On the flip side, I have never met a theist who applies logical scrutiny to their god of choice and accepts that if rationality was a boat they would be drowning.