1. Response to My Fellow 'Atheists'

Comment #77241 by scatheist on October 8, 2007 at 8:26 pm

SH "My point, with respect to the term "atheist" (or any other), is that the use of a label invites a variety of misunderstandings that are harmful to our cause."

I could not find this sentence in the transcript of the speech. Is the transcript faulty? Of course it is not. Although I accept that this might summarize the intended message of the speech, the actual content did not convey the message that our *emphasis* should be on facts and rationality.

SH "In fact, much of the criticism I have received of my speech is so utterly lacking in content that I can only interpret it as a product of offended atheist piety."

Offended atheist piety? Freethinkers, humanists, etcetera could also be offended, though they are often the same people who self-identify as atheists. Much of the protest that I have read concerned the fact that atheism has become the rallying label for individuals who share dismay at religious violence to persons and to reason.

I think that the germane point concerns the actual content of the speech, which followed anti-religion exhortations with a suggestion of going under the radar as 'atheists' to avoid being "viewed as a cranky sub-culture", as though this would fool theists. Even if were all to do as Sam suggested and cease to label our position, religionists would continue to label us as though atheist, liberal, or environmentalist (to name a few) are dirty words.