Fighting God is the atheist manifesto it promises to be

[rug]

October 7, 2015
by Dan Arel

Americans have no love for atheists, so it is no wonder so many shed the term for “nicer” sounding adjectives like humanist, bright, and secular.

These terms are less polarizing to many, and help people avoid uncomfortable confrontations but as David Silverman points out in his new book Fighting God, this is just atheists giving into religious demands, playing by religious rules and pandering to religious feelings. It also does a great disservice to those who do use the word atheist when it is the most honest descriptions of who they are.

Fighting God is the atheist manifesto it sets out to be, making one of the most compelling cases for not only using the word atheist openly and proudly but also because he makes the strongest case I have yet to read for why firebrand, in-your-face atheism is not only vital but absolutely necessary to further atheist acceptance in the world.

Atheists have attacked Silverman and American Atheists for its tactics in setting up billboards proclaiming that “You Know It’s a Myth” or filing lawsuits against the US Government for putting an iron crossbeam decorated to look like a Christian cross in the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2015/10/fighting-god-is-the-atheist-manifesto-it-promises-to-be/#sthash.sPW7MfqW.dpuf

[Fumesucker]

1. Honesty is overrated

Some poor bastard in Saudi Arabia is going to be beheaded/crucified for his honesty.

Much safer simply to cater to the local superstition, its gilt popinjays and smoot smeared mumbo-jumbos.

[rug]

2. I know what you're saying, but where's the line?

At what point does one resist?

[stone space]

3. Atheism is not always easy.

And one always has to pick and choose ones battles, of course.

But sometimes one does need to stand up in the name of atheism, even if there are consequences.

There are false gods all around us, and the most dangerous and destructive of these false gods do need to be countered vigorously, or our else atheism has no meaning.