Why I Am Sometimes Viewed as Neutral on 'The Great Rift'

[rug]

July 11, 2013
Atheist Revolution

When it comes to "the great rift" currently plaguing the atheist community, I am not neutral. I do not recall ever claiming to be neutral, but this has not stopped some from criticizing me. Interestingly, I have been criticized both for actually being neutral and for feigning neutrality. I say again, I am not neutral on this subject, have not been neutral on this subject, and have no desire for anyone to think otherwise.

I believe that there are three important reasons why some have mistaken my position for one of neutrality, and I'd like to highlight them here. I hope that doing so will allow me to clarify my position and why I think it seems to be misunderstood or misrepresented so regularly.

I Recognize That There Are More Than Two Sides In "The Great Rift"

The first reason my position is misrepresented is that my understanding of "the great rift" seems to be a bit different from what I am hearing from many people. You see, I reject the perspective that this rift represents an open conflict between two well-defined sides (i.e., the Freethought Blogs/Skepchick/Atheism+ side vs. the Slymepit side). I understand the appeal of simplifying this by pretending that there are only two sides and that these are those sides. It is very difficult to talk about a conflict involving more than two sides, and simplification is damned tempting. Unfortunately, this is a case where simplifying things to two sides does not reflect reality.

Not everyone involved with Freethought Blogs/Skepchick/Atheism+ considers himself or herself a mortal enemy of the Slymepit, calls women who disagree "sister punishers," advocates doxxing against those they label "shitheads," or pushes a "you're with us or against us engages" stance. There are a handful of people doing these things and a larger number who have been defending them, but not everyone allied with that camp is doing so. Similarly, not everyone involved with the Slymepit considers himself or herself a mortal enemy of Freethought Blogs/Skepchick/Atheism+, Photoshops images of Ophelia Benson, makes silly YouTube videos mocking PZ Myers, or uses gendered slurs to describe anyone they do not care for. There are a handful of people doing these things and some who defend them (or their right to do so), but not everyone allied with that camp does so.

http://www.atheistrev.com/2013/07/why-i-am-sometimes-viewed-as-neutral-on.html

Looks like there's more going on than simply nonbelief in god(s).

[skepticscott]

1. What, you mean non-belief in gods

isn't the sum and substance of any of them? You mean atheists are, like, people?? Wow...another new revelation.

[rug]

2. What, you mean their positions beyond the existence of god stem from atheism?

[gcomeau]

6. They don't.

...except in the trivial sense that they *don't* base any of them on the decrees of some random deity.

[rug]

7. Tell me then, why use atheist as an adjective to whatever issue it is you're promoting?

[gcomeau]

8. Most likely simply to distinguish it from the majority alternative...

...which without the identifier people are often inclined to simply assume it is.

[longship]

3. Lots of that going on in many communities.

Atheists aren't immune to silliness and even extreme silliness, just like Democrats and just about every other category of human (as is often demonstrated right here on DU).

But the declaration of a great rift in a movement is equally silly and dividing a movement into categories is extremely silly. (Let's see now... Where do I fit in so that I know where I stand?)

Reading articles like this just encourage me to shrug. I don't care what other people think as long as they more or less leave me and my beliefs alone and don't try to impose. That means not using the power of government to impose on an entire populace.

The funny thing is the people who would infringe on these things are the same ones who so often invoke the words "liberty" and "freedom".

Divide and conquer.

[rug]

4. Yeah, that phrase struck me too.

Whatever the underlying fight is, it's not atheism.

[longship]

5. I think it's just people being people.

Sometimes we don't think things out too well. Sometimes we over think things too much.

Moderation works best except when things really matter. Then, there should be few divisions. Hopefully none. Otherwise the devil may take the hindside, so to speak.

Pray for peace.