By ROBERT WRIGHT - THE HUFFINGTON POST
Added: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:00:00 UTC

Thanks to Crapsquire for the link.
"Part I" was posted here - http://richarddawkins.net/articleComments,4055,Why-the-New-Atheists-are-Right-Wing-on-Foreign-Policy,Robert-Wright-Huffington-Post,page2#396089

Last week in this space I posted an attack on the "new atheists" that got me--predictably, I guess--attacked by new atheists.

My complaint wasn't the usual complaint about them (that they're counterproductively arrogant or zealous), but rather that they exert a right-wing influence on foreign policy. By depicting religion as a prime mover of conflict--especially in the Middle East--they discourage us from addressing the grievances of, for example, Palestinians. They give aid and comfort to those on the right who believe (but generally have the tact not to quite say): "What's the point of trying to reason with those crazy Muslims? They'll hate us no matter what we do, because hate is what their religion teaches them."

I've weighed the counter-arguments that have been arrayed against me and--surprise!--found them wanting (though in one case--see point 2 below--I admit that I did a very bad job of presenting my argument, pretty much begging to be misunderstood). Let me revisit a couple of key points.
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Continue reading
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-wright/the-trouble-with-the-new_b_241217.html

TAGGED: ATHEISM, COMMENTARY