Call Me What You Want
August 16, 2007
According to Merriam-Webster, the word “militant” is defined as the following:
- Engaged in warfare or combat: fighting
- Aggressively active (as in a cause): combative
With those definitions in mind, I have to ask a simple question. Why in the world would you ever call an atheist “militant?” In reality, the two top fundamentalist movements (fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist Muslims) certainly fit the term far better than most atheists or agnostics.
You come to my home uninvited, litter my personal possessions with propaganda, kill the innocent in your god’s name, kill one another in your god’s name, train others to do the same and yet you label me militant? Don’t worry, I could care less how you view me or my actions. What I do care about is the fact that you cannot seem to see that it is your actions that can easily be considered militant, yet you view yourselves as do-gooders, missionaries and martyrs. As long as you are doing what you believe to be the “will of god,” this is how you see yourselves.
Think about it. Over 10% of Americans call themselves atheists. That’s 1 in every 10 people that you know that could be an atheist. How many of you theists remember the last time an atheist landed on your doorstep on a Saturday morning to preach the virtues of atheism to you? More than likely, there is an atheist among you; in your circle of friends, family or co-workers. I would bet that they pretty much keep that information to themselves too.
Theist tend to get all riled up when atheists get involved in certain things. Politics and education come to mind immediately. Let’s take, for example, the debate concerning introducing the theory (if one could call it that) of Intelligent Design. Now, we ALL know that this is simply a thinly veiled means of allowing the schools to teach creationism. “Let’s call it I.D. instead of creationism. That sounds more scholarly.” the simple fact of the matter is that religion, no matter which one, should not be taught in a publicly funded school system for more reasons than Constitutionality. First of all, teachers are teachers, not theologians. Secondly, what form of I.D. theories are you willing to allow to be taught to your children? What about the theory that we are the offspring of an extraterrestrial source? are you willing to subject your children to that theory? Of course you’re not. Thirdly, there are the students. A public school is a hodgepodge of cultural diversity. I doubt that the Hindu parent wants there child to subscribe to your version of creationism. Atheists recognize these problems and more and are willing to fight for what is Constitutionally correct; a separation of Church and State. For that, we are labeled “militant.”
I have received several emails from Christians asking why this website is so militant. Let’s get one thing straight, it’s not. If you are reading this, you came here of your own accord. I did not force you to come to or participate in the blog. Calling this site militant would be like blaming Macy’s for your bloated Visa bill; you could have easily avoided it.
Is there any surprise that atheism has enjoyed such an “up-trend” as of late? Religion has repressed atheistic and agnostic views for centuries. Now, a guy like Richard Dawkins writes a best selling book and you label us militant? For the most part, atheists do not try to cram their views down your throat at every turn. We pretty much keep to ourselves, which is one of the reasons organizing atheists is like “herding cats.”
Next time you want to call an atheist “militant,” you had better think twice before knocking on another door.
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Well I think certain Theists use the word “militant” to cover all aspects of thought that they don’t understand and feel threatened by, even if the sentiment of the ideas aren’t “threatening” (in the broadest since of that word) but more thought provoking. For theists, at least the ones I have encountered, there is no place in their lives for critical thought. Their religion gives them everything they need to know, do, and “think”.
There is also the sentiment among many theists of the whole “Misery Loves Company” idea that atheists are outspoken and spread their beliefs because they are miserable in their own lives. This to me seems to contradict its self, when in actuality its the theists that seem to be miserable and are constantly spreading their dogma in order to get that “company” that the so desire. Atheists to me don’t seem to have much of a voice in this country, but when one tries its as if they’ve committed high treason. So my conclusion to the theist question of, “why are atheists so militant?” is….
We aren’t but your dogmatic, exclusionary, biased, and xenophobic beliefs have so corrupted and brainwashed your capacity for critical thought that any and all “thinking outside the box” is impossible and your are content to spend your lives in a blissful state of ignorance. Because after all “Ignorance is Bliss.”
Thank you TJM for allowing me to rant.
PS All rational thinkers out should really read Dawkins latest book The God Delusion, and after that you must read (I just finished) Flock of Dodos, by Brown and Alston.
Disclaimer: please do not drink a glass of milk whilst reading Flock of Dodos for fear that it may come out your nose.
“According to Merriam-Webster, the word “militant” is defined as the following:
1. Engaged in warfare or combat: fighting
2. Aggressively active (as in a cause): combative”
Atheists make Christians think. Making Christians think is an aggressive act to them. Hence it fits with the second definition:-p
Actually, atheists seemingly have little effect in “making Christians think.” Circular logic definately does not qualify as a viable thought process. I do understan where you are coming from though. The arguments that an atheist has with regards to religion (any religion) infringes upon the beliefs of the believer. Since we are all (for the most part) endowed with a degree of logical capabilities, those argument tend to have some fertile ground in which to root, thus making them seem combative.
Well, I’m no pacific agnostic. No gentle, sweet atheist. No indeed. I’m a militant anti-theist.
I hate the big-3 so-called monotheisms. I take every possible blogging opportunity to use irony, satire, literate invective, biting logic to end the disaster of middle-eastern poisoning of the Western mind.
Belief is now a lie; there can be no naive or innocent theists. Ignorance is no excuse. “Crush the infamy!”
bipolar2