pariah

How many of you consider yourself to be a militant atheist (or wahtever you are)?

I think of myself as militant...

But the question is, does being militant help or hurt our cause? I mean I hate to be passive but it seems that making an ass of oneself to every Christian just furthers the notion of atheists being assholes who want to destroy religion, have government enforced atheism, kill babies, and eat kittens.

what do you think of being a militant?

DMB

I think it depends on context. If you are trying to get someone to rethink their religious beliefs, militancy is not going to succeed. If, however, you need to defend secularism (rather than atheism) against attacks by bigots, then a bit of militancy can be helpful.

Undercurrent

Don't be militant. Just don't hide your feelings. If something makes you angry, act like you are angry, but don't act angrier than you really are.

If acting that way causes people to call you "militant", so be it. Adjectives like "militant", "arrogant", and "uppety" are just a cry for help from the conservatives you just hate atheists, to try to garner support from more liberal factions who don't mind atheists so bad, but will oppose "militant" atheists.

Sinista Trollsham

Thank God (oh the Irony) that one doesn’t have to be a militant atheist where I live

pariah

well...its worthwhile to defend secularism...but not atheism. theres no need for converts--but defending your basic rights on the other hand..

GaryP

It depends on what one's definition of "militant" is.

IMO, we should not try to "convert" anyone to Atheism, but on the other hand, if govt. is endorsing religion , I think we need to stand up for secularism AND atheism.

After all, a basic freedom of the USA is to believe or NOT believe as one sees fit.

If that is "militant", I guess I am one.

jkizer

When I became an atheist about a year ago, I was somewhat "militant" in my eagerness to pursue debates with my self-proclaimed "hardcore Christian" roommates. However, I think I was just feeling out where I was philosophically more than anything, as I tend to avoid debate when possible in the vast majority of situations.

I think "militancy" is helpful when defending the worth of one's belief system and one's right to hold those beliefs, if they are being attacked, and to that end I'm all for it. Barring that, personally, I believe it's more important to live a good life free of religion than to spend a large amount of my time and energy proclaiming the fact that I'm an atheist, or trying to "deconvert" others.

Just my 2 x 10^(-2) dollars.

Rusting Car Bumper

As someone said it depends on what you mean by militant...

I think those who are unarguably the most "militant" have hurt atheists. People like Madalyn Murray O'Hair come to mind.

Basically theists are our neighbors, our friends, our families, and in some cases our children and spouses. It makes no sense to attack them or their beliefs.

They are not going away and we are not going away. The best way to gain their trust is to live virtuous lives and thus be indubitably deserving of equal respect.

DC

ohwilleke

I am "out" but not militant.