The Age: Mysterious rituals of the atheists

[Dan Gleibitz]

I feel stupider for reading this (but not in the way that was intended):

Mysterious rituals of the atheists

STEPHEN BULLIVANT AND LOIS LEE.

March 15, 2010

Those declaring themselves godless provide a fascinating study for sociologists.
UNBELIEVERS from across the world met in Melbourne at the weekend for the 2010 Global Atheist Convention. They were undoubtedly in a jubilant mood, and they have every right to be. Atheism, as you've probably noticed, is in vogue.
From the 2004 publication of Sam Harris' The End of Faith onwards, impassioned polemics against religious belief have rarely been out of the bestseller lists. The God Delusion (2006) by Oxford zoologist Richard Dawkins - who spoke yesterday - sold more than 2 million copies in its first two years.
But book sales alone weren't responsible for the atmosphere of celebration - even, perhaps, self-congratulation. For many, high spirits would have come from the thought that, simply by being there, participants were demonstrating their affiliation with a group that is more intelligent, better educated and more open to ''the evidence'' than the general population - not to mention those whom Dawkins calls ''dyed-in-the-wool faith-heads'', otherwise known as ''religious believers''.
Of course, styling oneself as most intelligent, informed or rational-minded is a political manoeuvre as old as politics itself. It is the most straightforward way of proving that one is in the right.


More here: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/mysterious-rituals-of-the-atheists-20100314-q60k.html

[Dan Gleibitz]

Of course it could be worse. I'm not sure if this piece from Bill 'Gaystapo under the bed (http://au.christiantoday.com/article/turning-heterosexual-children-into-criminals/7812.htm)' Muelenberg has been posted here yet...

Atheists Say the Silliest Things

By: Bill Muehlenberg
Christian Today Australia Columnist
Saturday, 13 March 2010, 12:21 (EST)



http://au.christiantoday.com/files/2010_03/_7807_a5182.jpg (javascript:viewpic(7807,5182)) http://au.christiantoday.com/images/ic_enlarge.gif (javascript:viewpic(7807,5182)) Enlarge this picture (javascript:viewpic(7807,5182))

With a major atheist revival meeting currently being held in Melbourne, all the true unbelievers have come out in force, emboldened to proclaim their faith. Plenty of media attention is being given to their religion, with its high priests given a very good run indeed.

Thus Richard Dawkins (‘There is no God, and Dawkins is his prophet’) is getting a dream run with Australia’s mainstream media. No wonder that, since so many of the MSM are themselves card-carrying atheists and God-haters.

Even before the weekend conference began, the Dawkins’ disciples were pushing their creed. For example, on Wednesday a Herald Sun columnist felt empowered to push her anti-God agenda. With a piece strangely entitled, “We atheists are not all godforsaken,” Cheryl Critchley seeks to enlighten us all on the wonders of misotheism.

It is a rather silly and shallow piece, but because it has appeared in the most widely read newspaper in Australia, it is worth responding to nonetheless. And a response is not very hard to produce, given how vacuous and trite the whole piece is. Link: http://au.christiantoday.com/article/atheists-say-the-silliest-things/7807.htm

[mmurray]

Oh dear I hadn't heard of Bill Muelenberg before. I think I was better for it.

Michael

[senectus]

A Dream run in the Media?!?
Where did he get that info from?

Over here in Perth I've seen next to none at all.

[riddlemethis]

Muhlenberg? Kind of like what you'd get if you soaked John Laws in holy water.

Hyperbole with a halo! :eek:

[Made Of Stars]

What a tosspot. How did he make it over the wall from Texas?

PS. MSM? FFS. Is this guy a card-carrying member of the GOP?

Addit: Just dropped a comment on their site. Let's see if it makes it through the thought-police.

[Made Of Stars]

No surprise: My comment didn't get posted.

[Reapz]

I know I'm new here, but that's OK, because I bring a challenge.

http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2010/03/12/atheists-say-the-silliest-things/

What can I say. I spotted this article from a bit of surfing the other day and just couldn't help but add my 2 cents. My name is "Heath" if you're looking for it. I try not to be too biased towards my subjects but... when you come against someone so strict in their ways..

Anyway, it would be awesome to hear your thoughts on this guy. From what I've read he's a bit of a douche, who knows, it's not for us to say. But he totally hates 24 year olds.

I know that, right at the end I suggest a debate, but I think it could be a good thing. Any suggestions?

Good day

[nari]

Reapz,

A good effort. My instantaneous response is that theists say the silliest things....
I for one just cannot be bothered debating endlessly with god-botherers who are so locked up in their clouds of delusion they can't see straight.

nari

[riddlemethis]

We've got a thread on this whackjob somewhere already. What a vile piece of work he is.

[Made Of Stars]

@MoS: Mule and Danny Nalliah only post Amens.
Shocked and disappointed I am, shocked and disappointed.

[Hossain Salahuddin]

These writers need to learn some clear thinking first before they attempt to write something utterly rubbish as this article at Age.

Honestly, whats going on in the intellectual community? Why is "clear thinking" so rare, even within whom we expect it most? It seems everyone is utterly covered in fuzzy thinking and post-mordenist flip-flop.:mad:

[NakedApe]

Bill Muehlenberg is a homophobic, misogynistic, AGW denying, bigoted, irrelevant sack of shit.

There. I feel better now. :)

[NakedApe]

@N_Ape: Shit can be used to promote growth. I demand you retract the untrue parts of your remark, on behalf of excrement everywhere.

I will not retract my statement; but I apologise to faeces everywhere who may have been offended by being compared to Bill Muehlenberg.

[gruber]

I feel sick after reading some of the articles on the site that blick posted

[Reapz]

I'm so glad I found you people. Seriously.

[Praxis]

I'm so glad I found you people. Seriously.
Hiding in plain sight ;)

[atheist echo]

Muhlenberg? Kind of like what you'd get if you soaked John Laws in holy water.

Or Andrew Bolt perhaps?

[atheist echo]

Bill Muehlenberg is a homophobic, misogynistic, AGW denying, bigoted, irrelevant sack of shit.

There. I feel better now. :)
I hope so.
I know I do!:)

[atheist echo]

A Dream run in the Media?!?
Where did he get that info from?

Over here in Perth I've seen next to none at all.
Exactly. Is he really suggesting that believers have no forum at all in the mainstream media?
And does he really believe that "most of the MSM are atheists..."?:mad: