Have you ever heard of "Atheist fundamentalism"? I did, just this morning on my local public radio station, KCRW. For the actual show, check out the following website:
http://www.kcrw.com/news/programs/tp/tp061201the_new_atheists
The label "atheist fundamentalist" was used by an atheist on the show who comes from the "old school", which believes in religious tolerance and mutual respect, to describe a new movement among atheists which aggressively attacks religion, evangelizes their message, and displays intolerance. So now, there is a schism that exists in the atheist movement between the older movement and this new movement......ironic isn't it?
What really makes this story so illuminating is that it demonstrates two things:
1. Fundamentalism is no longer relegated to the realm of the "ignorant religious population".
2. Atheism is turning into a religion of its own and now has its own leadership and sects.
It saddens me to hear that fundamentalism has now infected both the religious and the scientifically minded alike. The debate is no longer about science vs. religion but fundamentalism vs. moderation. Fundamentalism tramples on the virtues of Respect, Tolerance, and Freedom no matter what label it comes in.
http://www.kcrw.com/news/programs/tp/tp061201the_new_atheists
The label "atheist fundamentalist" was used by an atheist on the show who comes from the "old school", which believes in religious tolerance and mutual respect, to describe a new movement among atheists which aggressively attacks religion, evangelizes their message, and displays intolerance. So now, there is a schism that exists in the atheist movement between the older movement and this new movement......ironic isn't it?
What really makes this story so illuminating is that it demonstrates two things:
1. Fundamentalism is no longer relegated to the realm of the "ignorant religious population".
2. Atheism is turning into a religion of its own and now has its own leadership and sects.
It saddens me to hear that fundamentalism has now infected both the religious and the scientifically minded alike. The debate is no longer about science vs. religion but fundamentalism vs. moderation. Fundamentalism tramples on the virtues of Respect, Tolerance, and Freedom no matter what label it comes in.
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