Old Atheists and New Atheists

[cleanhippie]

[Curmudgeoness]

1. That's about right.

I have been an atheist for so long, that I do remember a time when the only smart thing to do was keep quiet. I am glad that I don't have to just sit nicely and keep my mouth shut any longer. And I have to thank all the people who spoke up before me so that this is at least no longer something that you will be beat up or shunned over.

You will just be preached to even more than before.

[rexcat]

4. It still depends on where you live...

I have had a lot of people where I live turn their backs on me when they find out I am an atheist. Of course most of those people are very conservative Catholics or evangelical types. Because of my experiences I try not be confrontational or antagonistic but "atheist" around these parts is not considered appropriate language. I have also had the same reaction with the liberal religious types around here. They are not used to people admitting they are atheists and they find it disconcerting. If I want to piss someone off around all I have to say is I am an atheist. Nothing like living in SW Ohio.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I am not saying that it is easy, even now.

But I am saying that with others speaking up, I have found courage to do the same. I also have problems, even with the liberals in our Democratic party here in W PA. I don't make it a subject of conversation unless something comes up that warrants it, but I am no longer afraid to speak up. That is what the "new atheists" have done for me.

SW Ohio----isn't that Kentucky????

[rexcat]

6. I do speak up...

but not as much as I have in the past.

SW Ohio----isn't that Kentucky????

but in the end

Our public schools are a lot better than Kentucky's but that is about the only difference and we don't have the creation museum in SW Ohio (at least it is across the river)!

[LostOne4Ever]

2. Shouldn't the old atheist

Be burning at a stake or something if were gonna be accurate >.>

[dimbear]

3. There's some very inspiring history about this for us........the old atheist would have quietly

published books under various pseudonyms and brought down the French King or the Czar.

[stone space]

7. I'm definately an old atheist. Not in the sense of being quiet.

More like in the sense of being...well...old.