Is Atheism Devolving Into A Cult?

[stretmediq]

Recently I went onto the Australian Atheist Forums as a favor to another member over at UD. My experience there was not pleasant. But I wasn't surprised. For a while now I've noticed Atheists becoming more and more dogmatic almost to the point of being almost robotic in their responses to non Atheists. This seems quite cult like to me. Do you think I'm over reacting or does anyone else get that impression? Just wondering.

[gainesvillecathy]

Hi Stret,

As you probably know, I went there too. I found a very disrespectful bunch with some very canned attacks. The majority of the responses were not even applicable to the subject at hand. I certainly could not see "reason" as any sort of foundation for their group. Yes, I agree that it is definitely indicative of cult behavior. They "threw" up at me (for lack of a better word) that you and I don't have the exact same Deist philosophy, and they wanted to know how could we both call ourselves Deists. That implies to me that they have developed their own brand of robotic-ism and dogma. They obviously don't understand Deism. They are blinded by their hatred of theism, and it unites them in an almost delusional way.

[gainesvillecathy]

Wow, I just went there to check. They have censored anything that might be considered thought provoking in the majority of my original welcome posts. Then they moved the balance and added a link that took it to where they attacked Stret.

This is definitely cult behavior.

[iDeismFounder]

My experience, thus far, has been very positive. I posted some additional thoughts in the UD forum.

http://www.unifieddeism.com/community/f ... 7d3a#p1514

Ultimately, I think we should go back and give this another chance.

[gainesvillecathy]

I just wanted to update this thread. Anyone who would like to read more, please go to the link Dave provides in the post just above this one.

[iDeismFounder]

This is SOOO funny. When I confronted them with fact that atheism does not connect with the majority of humanity and that Deism is far better positioned to shape the future, I think I touched a nerve. One person said:

Ah HA! I finally get it. It's a megalomaniacal smoke screen! Give just enough of a nod toward some nebulous higher power, so that non-violent god people will draw just enough of a conclusion about your suitable humility to let you lead them & the violent fundies won't blow you up or shoot you before you've finished determining how they're all going to think & get everyone doing what you know is good for them!

At least he's got a cunning plan.

I love this statement. To me it is the sound of fear driven by the realization that Deism's future is much brigher than theirs.

[iDeismFounder]

What I think will be my final post over there:

So let me get this straight:

1. Neither side can prove or disprove God. I think that is a fair statement and it should not be contentious in this group. Perhaps in time with advancments in science and technology this fact will change.

2. We look at the same universe and draw different but reasonable conclusions for and against the possibility of God. Beyond the possiblity and likelihood, from my standpoint, that there is an intellient force behind the universe, I claim no special revelation about its nature or motives. You seem to think that is a weakness or makes God meaningless. That is just me being honest about my point of view. I would think that would be refreshing here after all the sky god, white men with beards, etc.

All the foot stomping, name calling, and sarcastic comments by some of the atheists is not going to make your position any more tenable, nor will all the self congratulatory pats on the back. I actually see groupthink as a big problem here, despite the independent reputation of atheists.

Anyway, you have not made your case that the possibility of something more is unreasonable. I am sure you feel the same way about my case for the possibility of something more. So be it.

3. I actually want to do something about resisting the influence of revealed religion in a positive and constructive way. For that simple goal, I am called a megalomaniac and a dictator. That is unfortunate. Your largely collective inability to maintain civil discourse, especially in the face of someone who does not back down to your badgering, is a major problem for you and the long term potential of atheism. You will continue to be viewed through the same negative lens that Dawkins lamented on TED. It is really your own fault.

[Mislilac]

Dogmatic Atheists are just as unreasonable an Religious Fundamentalist. I honestly do not undertstand why they think that believing in an intelligent creator is ridiculous. Is it more sensible to believe that the Big Bang was caused by an intelligent creator than a bunch of random heat and energy? Now as an Agnostic I think that the first cause of the universe cannot be known, but both sides (Theism and Atheism) have their merits and neither is ridiculous. I know that not all Atheists are that unreasonable, but you should see the ones on Yahoo Answers. These guys seem to be more concerned with ridiculing Theists with their clever little one liners than with actually discussing their beleifs.

[gainesvillecathy]

It is the same sort of sadness I see with many Theists. One of the most fundamental aspects of humanity is the drive to get to a place of understanding our existence, a need to know some sort of reason to be alive. Otherwise, why bother. Not accepting the Theist point of view leaves a person with having to decide on something. Often times the only choice they feel they have is to decide that there is no beginning point, there is no purpose, there is no connection to any sort of whole, that they are here just out of a random happening, and it stands to reason that their life will inevitably exude that emptiness. They can only see things in black or white, one way or the other. What is so sad about it is that in making such a knee jerk decision for their lives, they are robbing themselves and their loved ones of a tremendous amount of richness. I cannot imagine life without that richness. That in itself is the whole, and yes, I love being connected to that whole. Whether you call it God, the beginning, unknown cosmic forces, or by some other reference, it is most definitely undeniably recognizable when a person can find a way to discard the negative influences of human agenda.

[Mobious]

what is bad about the bad reputation of atheists is that it affects us deists aswell. I notice that when ever I tell a new person that I am a deist that they automaticly think that it is some form of atheisim that they have never heard of before. they suspect that I have atheist fealings and that I am only there to insult their religion and tell them that they are wrong insted of haveing a mature discusion how I was planing. only once I take the time to explane deism do they stop being hostile and realise that there own personal belifes are quite simmilar to mine in reality.

I am just saying that the bad rep of atheists gives deists a bad rep too.

[Mislilac]

what is bad about the bad reputation of atheists is that it affects us deists aswell. I notice that when ever I tell a new person that I am a deist that they automaticly think that it is some form of atheisim that they have never heard of before. they suspect that I have atheist fealings and that I am only there to insult their religion and tell them that they are wrong insted of haveing a mature discusion how I was planing. only once I take the time to explane deism do they stop being hostile and realise that there own personal belifes are quite simmilar to mine in reality.

I am just saying that the bad rep of atheists gives deists a bad rep too.

I agree. I have been called an Atheist before. Also I am sometimes scared of telling people that don't know what Deism is that I am a Deist because they will think that I am in some kind of cult. Anyone else think like this?

[cclendenen]

So you correct their misperception. It starts a dialog. That can be a good thing. Or if you are trying to converse with an idiot, it can be contentious. Hint, when arguing with an idiot, it does not help to call them one.