Militant Atheism

[rogue06]

An interesting article on the effect of atheism

Source: Among the Disbelievers

The God DelusionA Sacred Space Is Never Empty: A History of Soviet AtheismonlyonlypreferredIn the First CircleForever FlowinLife and FateHope Against HopeInto the WhirlwindIn the First CircleThe Gulag ArchipelagoGulagat any pricpartiinostPartiinostDuring Easter, by tradition, we eat Easter cakes and paint eggs in our home. But we do not believe in God. I am a Communist, my brother is in the Komsomol, and my father is a Party candidate. Is it really so very bad?Source

© Copyright Original Source

I'm always amused by the memes floating around on the internet created by atheists like this

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when in reality it should be like this

atheist peaceful.jpg

[Cow Poke]

yeah

[Sparko]

[Jedidiah]

I am expecting it in the near future.

[Cow Poke]

I am expecting it in the near future.

Then it won't happen til after that. Keep expecting it.

[carpedm9587]

I suspect the problem is with the term "militant," not the word "atheist."

Likewise for "militant Christian" and "militant Muslim."

[rogue06]

I suspect the problem is with the term "militant," not the word "atheist."

Likewise for "militant Christian" and "militant Muslim."

Militant atheist is a term accepted by atheists like the philosopher of science Michael Ruse to describe many of the New Atheists.

Furthermore

Source: League of Militant Atheists

The League of Militant Atheists (Russian: Союз воинствующих безбожников Soyuz voinstvuyushchikh bezbozhnikov, literally League of the Militant Godless - LMG); Society of the Godless (Общество безбожников Obshchestvo bezbozhnikov); Union of the Godless (Союз безбожников Soyuz bezbozhnikov), was an atheistic and antireligious organization of workers and intelligentsia that developed in Soviet Russia under the influence of the ideological and cultural views and policies of the Soviet Communist Party from 1925 to 1947.


Source

© Copyright Original Source

[Starlight]

I think the 20th century USSR as so different to any other society in so many different ways, that it has very little to teach us about any one specific thing because it's impossible to draw a clear cause and effect connection. It was quite a unique society that had many complicated and interrelated things occurring. Insofar as I think any lesson can be drawn from the USSR, it is that authoritarianism is bad. The thought that we can draw any generalized lesson about religion for humanity in general from the specific experience of the quite unique 20th century USSR makes me laugh out loud.

If one wants to learn about the effects of lack of religion in a way that is far more relevant to today's world, one is much better to look at the countries today that are the least religious: Scandinavian countries, UK, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, NZ. These are countries that (unlike the USSR) are similar overall to the rest of the Western world, but have lower rates of, and emphasis on, religion.

[Tassman]

I think the 20th century USSR as so different to any other society in so many different ways, that it has very little to teach us about any one specific thing because it's impossible to draw a clear cause and effect connection. It was quite a unique society that had many complicated and interrelated things occurring. Insofar as I think any lesson can be drawn from the USSR, it is that authoritarianism is bad. The thought that we can draw any generalized lesson about religion for humanity in general from the specific experience of the quite unique 20th century USSR makes me laugh out loud.

I think the reason that atheism in the USSR resonated so strongly with the masses was because Christianity was very closely associated with the hated tsarist, imperial regime. The Russian Orthodox Church was a integral part of the privileged ruling class, which was exploited by the Communists.

If one wants to learn about the effects of lack of religion in a way that is far more relevant to today's world, one is much better to look at the countries today that are the least religious: Scandinavian countries, UK, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, NZ. These are countries that (unlike the USSR) are similar overall to the rest of the Western world, but have lower rates of, and emphasis on, religion.

Yes, religion, or lack thereof, need not necessarily be associated with government systems as the prosperous democracies you list demonstrate. ..

[carpedm9587]

Militant atheist is a term accepted by atheists like the philosopher of science Michael Ruse to describe many of the New Atheists.

Furthermore

Source: League of Militant Atheists

The League of Militant Atheists (Russian: Союз воинствующих безбожников Soyuz voinstvuyushchikh bezbozhnikov, literally League of the Militant Godless - LMG); Society of the Godless (Общество безбожников Obshchestvo bezbozhnikov); Union of the Godless (Союз безбожников Soyuz bezbozhnikov), was an atheistic and antireligious organization of workers and intelligentsia that developed in Soviet Russia under the influence of the ideological and cultural views and policies of the Soviet Communist Party from 1925 to 1947.


Source

© Copyright Original Source

As I said, I suspect the problem is "militant." Many atheists I encounter are more anti-theists than a-theists. There is a significant difference.

[rogue06]

As I said, I suspect the problem is "militant." Many atheists I encounter are more anti-theists than a-theists. There is a significant difference.

I think that the whole New Atheist movement is largely anti-theist in their atheism. That's what makes it militant.

[Tassman]

I think that the whole New Atheist movement is largely anti-theist in their atheism. That's what makes it militant.

Any movement that attempts to correct perceived wrongs will inevitably be militant. E.g. The Civil Rights Movement to gain equal rights and freedom from discrimination for all. And the New Atheists (with organisations such as Freedom from Religion) attempt to get rid of the notion that Christianity has certain privileges in society that are unavailable to all.

[carpedm9587]

Any movement that attempts to correct perceived wrongs will inevitably be militant. E.g. The Civil Rights Movement to gain equal rights and freedom from discrimination for all. And the New Atheists (with organisations such as Freedom from Religion) attempt to get rid of the notion that Christianity has certain privileges in society that are unavailable to all.

It is very hard for a group to recognize it's own privileges. And when the under-privileged stand up and say, "let's have some balance here," the usual response is an angry "you're persecuting us." Losing privileges others don't have feels like a diminishment - and nobody likes to feel diminished. It's the human condition...

[rogue06]

Any movement that attempts to correct perceived wrongs will inevitably be militant. E.g. The Civil Rights Movement to gain equal rights and freedom from discrimination for all. And the New Atheists (with organisations such as Freedom from Religion) attempt to get rid of the notion that Christianity has certain privileges in society that are unavailable to all.

That isn't what militant atheists want. They want to suppress religion. Period. Employing violence if need be (see the League of Militant Atheism). They are not all about equal treatment or equal rights.

[One Bad Pig]

It is very hard for a group to recognize it's own privileges. And when the under-privileged stand up and say, "let's have some balance here," the usual response is an angry "you're persecuting us." Losing privileges others don't have feels like a diminishment - and nobody likes to feel diminished. It's the human condition...

No.