The New Atheists
I think Richard Dawkins has something to do with this.
Note to self: Pick up "The God Delusion" to see what all the fuss is about.
Note to self: Give wedgie to next person who uses the term "Flying Spaghetti Monster." This catchphrase is being way overused. At the very least it should be changed to something else. New Suggestion: "Swimming Mashed Potatoes Monster."
From what I've been researching, The New Atheists are a group who feel it's time to come out of the closet about their beliefs non-beliefs and bring Atheism into the mainstream. Right now, most Americans wouldn't even consider electing an Atheist to a political office. Even George Bush, Sr. said we shouldn't even be considered American citizens. I understand why that's pissing Atheists off. Christians and other religious groups demand respect simply because they are believers. Atheists don't get the same respect, but now they're demanding it too.
There are some who want to convert the religious to Atheism by showing them the truth though reason and logic. But, I doubt they'll have much success. There has been an increase in people who call themselves Atheists or Agnostics over the past few decades, not just in the U.S. but all over the world. I doubt that any of them had to be converted (but I don't know that as a fact).
I can only speak for myself on this, not all Atheists, but it seems to me that one doesn't choose Atheism. It's not a conscious decision you make one day. For me, it was a slow journey and even when I was on that path I wasn't really aware of it.
When I was about 10, I was learning in school that dinosaurs existed millions of years before man. In church, I was learning that God created man a few days after he created the Earth. So, I asked my Sunday School teacher about this. I wasn't being rebellious or challenging her. This was coming from a child who was curious and confused. For a moment, she tried very hard to come up with an answer, but in the end all she gave me was "That's a very complicated question." So I asked my school teacher the same question and got a similar response (even though she was teaching evolution). That may not have been the exact moment the seed of Atheism was planted in my head, but I DID know someone was lying to me.
While I was on this path, that I didn't know I was on, I read a history book that covered the Jesus era in a straightforward way. Before that, I had never read anything about Jesus that didn't have a biblical perspective connected to it. But, to read about him as a man who had a strong interest in philosophy and politics (sans the bells and whistles and magic connected to him) was a real "Wow!" moment for me. I realized that Jesus was just an ordinary guy.
When I was studying Philosophy, I read about Rene Descartes and found it easy to poke holes in his "God Exists" argument. Then I came across Jean-Paul Sartre and could see the logic in his argument.
For awhile, I called myself an Agnostic. I didn't know what I believed. My religious beliefs and my scientific beliefs played tug-of-war with each other. But in the end, logic and reason pushed out the myths and fairy tales. I was deprogrammed.
I think this is the way it happens for most Atheists (also not based on any facts, just an opinion). I think it's good that The New Atheists are trying to bring Atheism into the mainstream especially during a time when people are voting based on their religious beliefs and the government is using those beliefs to make dangerous policies. A government run ONLY by religious people is a frightening thought, although I suspect there are some closet Atheists calling themselves Christians. It wouldn't surprise me if a politician was caught being an Atheist and a scandal erupted.
Right now, The New Atheists are still trying to define themselves and what they stand for and against, and there are a lot of mixed views within The New Atheist groups. Some are even becoming extremists and want to battle religion in order to wipe it out completely.
I have little interest in these groups. I don't feel personally repressed, but I feel politically repressed. The merging of religion and politics will mean the end to democracy, so I keep an eye on those issues. I despise any cult disguised as a religion (Baptists/Evangelicals) that uses strategized brainwashing to convert people. I don't recognize them as Christians and I would like to see other Christian faiths openly and publicly separate themselves from them.
I don't have the right to tell others what to believe or not to believe anymore than religious people do (unless it's causing people to get hurt, ripped off, harassed, or killed). I think as time goes by, Atheism will become more mainstream, and it won't happen through other people's extremism, preaching, or by making it trendy. It will happen when individuals can no longer deny truth, logic, and reason, and it will be a personal journey for each one.
Note to Self: Forget about buying the "The God Delusion." I don't need to read it.
