This Looks A Lot Like The Old One
WIRED has published a 7-page article on the so-called "New Atheism" movement.
Based on the contents of the article, New Atheism appears to be a glorified new name for anti-theism.
I'm concerned that creating more terms to identify various strains of atheism is going to make it more difficult for us to give clear explanations to people as to what it is we stand for.
I used to have a clear idea of what terms to use - an agnostic is someone who does not know either way what to believe, an atheist is someone who does not believe in gods, and an anti-theist is someone who no only does not believe but does not tolerate belief.
Then I heard terms like "weak atheism" and "strong atheism" being thrown around instead of atheism and anti-theism, by people who'd never heard the phrase anti-theist.
Now it seems that people are talking about "New Atheists" as being anti-theists, but the new term is forcing people to associate anti-theism and all of its militant, in-your-face attacks on religion with the far more polite atheists, costing atheists their reputation as being more reasonable and anti-theists their distinct definition.
Personally, I'm not thrilled with the possibility of having everyone lumped in together like this.
Thoughts?
Also posted to canadianatheist, antitheism, atheist, and atheism.
Based on the contents of the article, New Atheism appears to be a glorified new name for anti-theism.
I'm concerned that creating more terms to identify various strains of atheism is going to make it more difficult for us to give clear explanations to people as to what it is we stand for.
I used to have a clear idea of what terms to use - an agnostic is someone who does not know either way what to believe, an atheist is someone who does not believe in gods, and an anti-theist is someone who no only does not believe but does not tolerate belief.
Then I heard terms like "weak atheism" and "strong atheism" being thrown around instead of atheism and anti-theism, by people who'd never heard the phrase anti-theist.
Now it seems that people are talking about "New Atheists" as being anti-theists, but the new term is forcing people to associate anti-theism and all of its militant, in-your-face attacks on religion with the far more polite atheists, costing atheists their reputation as being more reasonable and anti-theists their distinct definition.
Personally, I'm not thrilled with the possibility of having everyone lumped in together like this.
Thoughts?
Also posted to canadianatheist, antitheism, atheist, and atheism.