The difference between Old Atheists and New Atheists

[trotsky]

(Found on /r/atheism - there are always a few gems in there!)

[JNelson6563]

1. Brevity is the soul of wit.

This is spot on!

Julie

[eqfan592]

2. K&R! nt

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

3. Beautiful

[rhett o rick]

4. And soon to be, "Fuck No". nm

[Stuckinthebush]

5. Add one more bubble from the Bible holder

"Then you are disrespecting my religion and are being intolerant!"

[LadyHawkAZ]

9. That's where the "Fuck no" in the post above comes in. n/t

[chknltl]

6. Goodness, America's closet doors appear to be broke! (eom)

[JitterbugPerfume]

7. love it!

[madmom]

8. K&R

[Rozlee]

10. I've noticed that a great many young people today

are becoming more indifferent to religion than becoming outright, thoughtful atheists. They wouldn't say "No!" They'd just do eyerolls or stick their iPods in their ears.

[progressoid]

12. That would be one of my kids.

[Stuckinthebush]

13. My 15 year old says,

"I just let them babble. They don't know what they are really saying anyway. It's all just words."

[Soylent Brice]

11. k&r

[Ron Obvious]

14. I'm not suree it's really true...

I'm not convinced that there is really such a distinction, or that there really are "new" atheists. I've certainly been outspoken about my atheism for most of my life.

I think the difference is that "the new atheists" are now getting book publishing deals with major publishers rather than obscure ones e.g. Prometheus Press, and are being paid more attention to. The internet is also part of the reason why atheism is getting more exposure.

But I don't think the atheists themselves have changed. I suppose for a lot of people in the US, it was/is vital to remain closeted and to that extent, the cartoon is correct.

[Warpy]

15. I remain an old atheist whose disbelief dates from the late 1950s

and I usually inhabit the "I'm just not religious" closet that we all know is code for not believing a word of it. I learned the benefit of allowing people who buy the rubbish some doubt about my own lack of belief a long time ago.

However, when I hear anyone talking smack about atheists in general, I do pop out of that closet and tell them they've known an atheist for many years, me, and there is absolutely nothing they can do about it and it has nothing to do with them, so stop thinking they need to lie about atheists to get into heaven. Then I drop it. Most people are wise enough never to raise the subject again in my presence.

[Abra]

16. EXCELLENT! + >9000!

[Lionessa]

17. Bull, this old atheist never has shut up.

I think though we tended to be individuals without a group, so when we said no, it simply wasn't heard. Now there are groups, and we are heard.

[Kennah]

26. Maybe you're an old atheist with a young soul

[randr]

18. Excellent example of ignorant stereotyping

[2ndAmForComputers]

19. Please elaborate.

[randr]

22. For one, "old" and "new" are not definable

in the context of the cartoon. I could be an "old" new atheist or I could be a new "old" atheist.
Secondly, I would assume that if "new" meant young, the new atheist would have no idea of how "old" atheists reacted.
If it is the point of the cartoon to accuse "old" atheists of not standing up for their beliefs, "new" atheists may one day mature and realize there is no point in opposing others beliefs. It only makes one define a word that believers in theisms are incapable of conceiving.
One of the aspects of atheism is that it leads to a greater sense of self and self assurance, hopefully.

[Goblinmonger]

23. You do know that "New Atheist"

is a term used by the media to describe what they think is a new movement by Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, et al and that the religious have grabbed onto as an insult, right?

[randr]

25. No, I did not know that

and I pay no attention to right wing attempts to insult anyone.
Thanks for pointing me to the "new atheism" hits on Google. It seems I may have been a "new" atheist without knowing it.

[Warren Stupidity]

24. excellent example of ignorant posturing.

please google "new atheism".

[dimbear]

20. Colonel Robert Ingersoll would like a word with you.

In the alley.

[libodem]

21. I like it

[Taverner]

27. Although Madalyn Murray O'Hair was a fighter

She. Did. Not. Take. Shit.