Anyone besides me tired of the sanctimonious

[skepticscott]

"Thank you, God, that I am not like other atheists" posts and blogs that seem to be all the rage now?

[trotsky]

1. It's an easy way to get a LOT of clicks and shares from tut-tutting Christians.

And the tut-tutting Christians are all too happy to oblige. They can't answer any of the arguments presented, so the "tone" one is all they have left. They embrace it.

[cleanhippie]

2. The name calling and passive-aggressive taunts are sure signs that reason is winning.

Too many have had their irrational nonsense protected and catered to, and are now waking up to the sober reality that the world is changing. Irrational beliefs are on the way out, and that scares the crap out of some.

But here in DU, when we get called names, or an OP gets posted for the sole purpose of calling out the most vocal of us with a loaded term like "evangelical atheist", I take it as a sign that they have nothing left. Nothing but name calling. And that makes me happy.

[Ron Obvious]

3. Yes, very.

This supposed movement of atheists anxious to distance themselves from Dawkins and other freethinkers is extremely tiresome. I find nothing strident in the new atheists, but their willingness to simply express what we're all thinking is getting tarred with silly labels like bigotry and islamophobia all too frequently lately.

There's nothing 'new' about the 'new atheists', other than that we're being heard for the first time. And it's apparently working.

[cleanhippie]

4. +1

[skepticscott]

9. There is a deep irony

Largely unrecognized by these types, in the fact that one of the main reasons they even have their cutesy little columns on Huff Post or Salon, and can stick their heads out of their hidey-holes, is that the stigma of being an atheist has been greatly reduced, in no small part due the efforts of much braver people who have gone before them (and who they now upbraid for being too "strident" or "militant&quot .

[dimbear]

18. It seems new because when it was said before, it was suppressed.

At least that's the reason so many atheist heroes are unknown today IMHO.

[bravenak]

5. Yes, verily.

I consider them the DLC of Athiesm.

[JNelson6563]

6. I have been fortunate enough to miss this

I catch it sometimes here but haven't seen much of this myself. Then again I don't spend much time in the usual places such nonsense would tend to crop up.

I do find sanctimonious anything (atheist, Christian, whatever) very annoying. I try to remember such people tend to be horribly insecure and crave the approval of others, even strangers. That way I feel more pity then anger.

Poor sods.

Good OP and, as usual, good discussion. Have I told you AAers lately that I love youse guys?

Yeah, I do.

Julie

[skepticscott]

7. Thanks, Julie..but you deserve better

Than to hang out with a bunch of assholes like us

[Iggo]

8. LOL.

Truth!

[JNelson6563]

13. lolz

[libodem]

10. Yes, and thank the Goddess

My belief system has the superior qualifications to out shine your, values and beliefs, and your rational and logic.

Only, messin' with ya, it's a joke, son.

[deucemagnet]

11. What makes them think their brand of atheism is so much more enlightened, anyway?

Don't you think honesty shows more respect to the religious than a lollipop and a pat on the head?

[SwissTony]

12. We have "brands" of atheism?

I thought atheism was just a lack of belief in god(s).

Do we also have brands of non-stamp collectors?

I don't actually see that (e.g.) Dawkins is at all "offensive". He's always calm, willing to listen, never rants. And he's honest.

Should honesty show more respect to people who believe in Nessie than a lollipop and a pat on the head? We should show respect to people and tolerate their beliefs.

Tolerate, not respect.

And, by the way, they don't respect ours. Try having a JW for a sister.

And try being an atheist blogger in Bangladesh.

[JNelson6563]

14. You have my sympathies!

I am very familiar with the whole JW schtick, it's one of the more obnoxious that I know of.

Julie

[SwissTony]

15. You have my sympathies too.

For years, my sister and her husband (my BIL, obviously) would start a conversation with me and it would turn into a "Why don't you believe in God?" schtick. (I like that word - is it Yiddish? Yiddish has some wonderful words).

One day, my BIL started talking to me about cricket (the game). I was amazed. I love cricket, but to the best of my knowledge he had zero interest in the game. I thought this was brilliant. But then of course he started saying things like "Don't you think God...".

Oh, God.

[deucemagnet]

17. Have you not visited the Religion forum yet?

Apparently there are many types of atheists. Militant atheists and fundamental atheists. Atheism+ atheists, strong atheists, weak atheist, and faitheists. And, per the OP, atheists that believe that their behavior is superior to other atheists.

BTW, although you make good points about Dawkins, your Nessie analogy is faulty. Belief in Nessie neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg, but belief in religion impacts my government's policies and my daily life, and for that reason deserves neither my respect nor tolerance. Tolerance of such a thing merely enables religious privilege.

Sorry about the intolerance that you are experiencing.

[SwissTony]

22. Yes, I visit the Religion forum a couple of times a week.

By "tolerance", I meant tolerance of individuals' beliefs. It pisses me off that churches have tax-free status. Yeah, that's costing me money even though I'm not in the game. I'm even more pissed off that various companies receive government subsidies while making massive profits (e.g. the oil and tobacco companies if the intertubes are to be believed).

By the way, I don't personally experience any intolerance. I live in The Netherlands and my status as atheist is of less importance here than the football (soccer) team I support. But I appreciate your kind thoughts and offer the same in return.

[Curmudgeoness]

16. Thank you, God, that I am not like these atheists here!!!!

Just kidding....you guys rock. I have learned a lot from you and have gotten braver about my atheism.

Although I have to say that I have no idea what you are talking about----that makes absolutely no sense. I have not seen this before, and if I did, I would have to call them on it.

[onager]

19. Psst! Wanna get even MORE pissed off?

First, results of a quick Google search: new atheists strident = About 3,090,000 results

Hmmm. So a lot of people are copying from the same exam paper, it seems...

One search hit was this article, published 4 days ago, by Kimberly Winston.

But before we check out Winston's latest article on atheism, let's wander over to Amazon and see what books she might have written about atheism, religion in general, etc...

Bead One, Pray Too: A Guide to Making and Using Prayer Beads by Kimberly Winston(Apr 1, 2008)

Fabric of Faith: A Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry by Kimberly Winston(Jun 1, 2006)

Faith Beyond Faith Healing: Finding Hope After Shattered Dreams by Kimberly Winston(Apr 2002)

Oh...

And here's the article:

Atheists, the Next Generation: Unbelief Moves Further into the Mainstream By Kimberly Winston - Apr 12, 2013

She starts off OK, making a point y'all have covered already - thanks largely to the Gnu Atheists, atheism is not quite as hated as it once was. Meaning we may be ranked slightly above child molesters now, but probably still somewhere beneath Communists:

What’s changed? For one thing, in part due to the books of the New Atheists, nonbelief has become less stigmatized.

Fair enough. But then she drops this giant steaming load:

One thing has not changed. Just as the New Atheists were all white, male, and, with the exception of Harris, middle-aged, the current crop of authors is mostly white and almost exclusively male.

AAAAHHHHHHH! Not true and never was. "ALL white, male and...middle-aged?" The ironic thing is, she goes to write about some well-known atheists who are not male - like Greta Christina.

And in previous articles, WINSTON HER DAMN SELF has written about atheism making inroads into the Black community. I'd love for her to run that "all white" line past James Onen, head of Freethought Kampala. In Uganda.

Grrrr...whole article here. Some of the comments are great:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/religion/article/56789-atheists-the-next-generation-unbelief-moves-further-into-the-mainstream.html

[defacto7]

20. Just makes me want to go eat at Cracker Barrel.

[trotsky]

21. Good grief.

Nice dissection. But remember, she says the things that people who think "New Atheists" are icky, white, and male WANT TO HEAR.

[Buffalo Bull]

23. Ain't we all...

...Both tired of the sanctimonious and are the sanctimonious.
I'm not judging you.
It's just an insight gained from retrospective self examination.