Dawkins has also suggested that atheists, like gays, should come out of the closet. Well, what if they don't want to? I don't know if Dawkins would support "outing" atheists. Can an atheist "rights" group be far behind? Hate crimes laws to protect atheists? Affirmative action for unbelievers? An Atheist Annual Parade, complete with dancers and floats? Atheist History Month?
74 comments
"I don't know if Dawkins would support "outing" atheists."
No, he wouldn't. He's clearly stated that.
Atheist history month would be a great thing and I’m not even an atheist. Moreover, anti-discrimination laws already cover religious belief, which pretty much means they’d also cover its lack.
God, I dislike Dinesh D’Souza. Alas, that cretin is pretty much par for the course when it comes to the average pundit: he has more opinions than brains.
@Philbert McAdamia
You said:
"My float;
A giant Alter of Darwin
with a monkey contemplating a bible, like The Thinker,
"Am I my brother's keeper,
"Hate crimes laws to protect atheists?"
Hey, Distort D'Nouza, guess what!
Virginia Code § 52-8.5(C):
For purposes of this section, "hate crime" means (i) a criminal act committed against a person or his property with the specific intent of instilling fear or intimidation in the individual against whom the act is perpetrated because of race, religion or ethnic origin or that is committed for the purpose of restraining that person from exercising his rights under the Constitution or laws of this Commonwealth or of the United States, (ii) any illegal act directed against any persons or their property because of those persons' race, religion or national origin, and (iii) all other incidents, as determined by law-enforcement authorities, intended to intimidate or harass any individual or group because of race, religion or national origin.
Now I have to think up possible float themes for our Atheist parade.
Let's see...
There is of course His Noodleness. A big inflatable version of him above a ship full of pirates is a given.
There is also the Invisible Pink Unicorn, we really would'nt need a float for her though, seeing as she is invisible. People would just have to know her float was there.
We could have a float that represented Carl Sagan's invisible dragon that breathed heatless fire. It would be a replica of Carl Sagan's garage.
Maybe a float to honor the Darwinist Jihad and the Secret Satanists Club.
So much to do, so much to do.
I doubt if we Apathiests will show up, even with a spaghetti dinner thrown in...
...some of dat ol' Janx spirit...
Hey now!
Since when did 'rights' groups become a horrible tragedy?
Also, I second December as Atheist History Month.
Hate crime laws protect EVERYONE, you jackass.
WHAT NEXT? LETTING WOMEN VOTE?
Oh, wait. Seriously, read a fucking book or something.
Marie Curie wrote:"Scientists don't think about religion at all; They are not atheists. They are beyond such nonsense."
Actually then they are atheists. An atheist is merely someone who is not a theist. A theist is someone who believes in a god or gods and therefore thinks about religion. Being beyond theism means one is an atheist.
(Also, I don't agree every scientist is beyond such nonsense.)
Not a bad idea. Except I would want an entity which protected the rights of all, not just "Atheists". I think the americans have something called the ACLU, but we in Europe don't seem to require crazy shit like that.
And the Atheist Annual Parade would be awesome! We would have like monster trucks and chainsaw juggling and various other "awesome shit" not just dancers and floats. We would have stomp and the blue man group provide us with marching music.
I know if I walked out of the atheist closet my fundie parents would disown me, especially my psycho fundie mom. At least a little protection from such a hostile society would be nice for everyone. Then again, the laws are there.
I'm with the parade idea. It'd be cool.
A note, though, to whoever it was that submitted a whole shedload of quotes from this loser; be more discerning. Thank-you.
His entire contribution to this site seems to self-aggrandisement and advertising his book.
As usual, the "converts" e.g. a naturalised immigrant, or a religious convert, is more extreme than a home-grown patriot or fundie.
What the... oh, it's just Dinesh D'Stupid....
My thoughts exactly. I was going to write some sort of answers here, but then I saw his name appear somewhere in the comments and did a double-take. Sure enough, there he was, good old bigotted Dinesh.
Dawkins has stated clearly, several times, that he's not in for "outing" atheists. Some of those others are good ideas, though.
Dawkins has stated clearly, several times, that he's not in for "outing" atheists. Some of those others are good ideas, though.
Atheist Annual Parade nth'd!
I propose we hold it in the summer, for maximum sexy dancer impact. Also we should hand out little ribbons with a twist in to make them look like Darwin fish.
Hmm...too bad this guy is being serious, I really like his ideas. Maybe the parade could just be like Mardi Gras, except everywhere. Debaucherous, drunken fun will be had by all!!
Would these atheist parades involve black leather, drag, or tiny dogs?
Because if they would, then I'm game!
Us atheist don't get enough representation as it is, so yeah, bring it on. We're not a minority, why is there no "non-religious" party to represent us in government ?
Amanda wrote:
"Are there really closet atheists? Why would someone hide that?" Imagine growing up in the Bible Belt of rural America, surrounded by Fundamentalist adults and Children alike who really, honestly believe that Charles Darwin was a tool of Satan.
Then ask that question again.
Amanda: I'm something of a closet atheist. Something about not getting disowned by my very close, loving, increasingly-fundamentalist family. They're getting nuttier all the time, but I don't want to lose them.
My Christian husband, at least, is cool with my lack of religious beliefs.
The history month and parades, yes.
The anti-beatings legilation? NO. I think atheists should be allowed to beat up whomever they choose--especially fundie mooks like yous.
Distort D'Newza doesn't really get the concept of "outing" to begin with -- the reason people like Larry Craig or Matt Drudge get outed is because their public persona of condemning the same private behavior they indulge in is injurious to society as a whole. There's a few semi-closeted atheists like Karl Rove who deserve to be dragged out into the light for the same reason, but for the most part you can't really tell what someone's thinking, only how they act.
Anderson Cooper (allegedly) wants to stay in the closet? Fine. He keeps his personal life under wraps not for political reasons but because he doesn't want to prejudice his subjects. On the other hand, Jimmy Swaggart wants to preach morality and then frequent prostitutes (while offering one an extra couple of bucks for a threesome with her preteen daughter)? Not only is he a hypocrite, he very well might be a pedophile. (Too bad the fundamentalist flocks like to forgive all the wrong people.)
Atheist History Month sounds great?
And since when don't atheists have rights? Oh right, in your world we're untermenschen.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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