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Science must ultimately destroy organized religion, according to some of the leading atheist writers and intellectuals who spoke at a recent atheist conference in Northern Virginia. God is a myth, and children must not be schooled in any faith, they said, at the "Crystal Clear Atheism" event, sponsored by the Atheist Alliance International.
Some of the luminaries who spoke at the conference, held at the Crown Royal Hotel in Crystal City, Va., over the weekend, included Oxford professor Richard Dawkins, author Sam Harris and journalist Christopher Hitchens. The Atheist Alliance International describes itself as "the only democratic national atheist organization in the United States."
While most attendees on Friday night were adamant that God was a myth, the convention, attended by hundreds of people, brought into focus a divide among atheists as to their identity as a movement and the nature of the enemy they faced.
In his speech, Dawkins portrayed a black-and-white intellectual battle between atheism and religion. He denounced the "preposterous nonsense of religious customs" and compared religion to racism. He also gave no quarter to moderate or liberal believers, asserting that "so-called moderate Christianity is simply an evasion."
"If you've been taught to believe it by moderates, what's to stop you from taking the next step and blowing yourself up?" he said.
By contrast, Harris's speech was a more tempered critique of the atheist movement itself. While Harris said he believed science must ultimately destroy religion, he also discussed spirituality and mysticism and called for a greater understanding of allegedly spiritual phenomena. He also cautioned the audience against lumping all religions together.
"The refrain that all religions have their extremists is bull-t," Harris said. "All religions do not have their extremists. Some religions have never had their extremists."
Specifically, he noted that radical Islam was far more threatening than any radical Christian sect, adding that Christians had a right to be outraged when the media treated the two religions similarly...
Dawkins was particularly critical of parents who raise their children as a "Catholic child" or "Protestant child." Children must not be labeled as subscribing to a particular religion, he said, and should be allowed to examine the evidence and determine their beliefs for themselves....
Atheists are still a small minority in America. A Newsweek poll earlier this year found that 91 percent of Americans believe in God. A more recent Pew Research Center poll found that atheists were among the most distrusted people in the nation, with 53 percent of Americans holding an unfavorable opinion of them.
But they are a proudly elitist and self-certain minority. When asked what the main difference between believers and atheists was, Dawkins had a quick answer: "Well, we're bright."
No word on whether or not tolerance was a subject of discussion although one of the speakers at the conference, Sale McGowan, believes "humility is the natural inheritance of atheism." I'm not sure one reconciles these "bright" atheists pronouncement that religion must be destroyed with the pronouncement that "humility is the natural inheritance of atheism." Anyone? Or is it all just an atheist aversion?
Also, is anyone out there in fear of moderate Christians taking the next step and blowing themselves up, or is Harris right in that "Christians had a right to be outraged when the media treated the two religions similarly?"
Wow... That is a big bundle. I do not fear religion as I used to as I am now becoming a little more aware that going to war with it is just another waste of time. I believe it started with one man and look where it is now. I know that is not really an answer to your question's but I agree with a lot of the quotes you posted. Children should believe for themselves, we are not liked and we are bright. If in the post it was linked "Extremists and blowing themselves up was literal"?They won't blow themselves up because they are so much a part of western civilization and would miss their Starbucks and pay per view. Children schooled in fact not faith as I'm sure you heard "Faith is believing in something as fact when there is no logical reason to do so."
I completely disagree with this idea of 'science destroying religion'! Children do often choose what to believe and infact, many scientists believe in God. And saying that believers will 'take the next step' and blow themselves up is complete nonsense!
It's comforting that you acknowledge that much, but curious you don't seem to have the same enthusiasm for criticizing these wackos as you do Christian wackos. I'd still like to know your thoughts on their stance that religion must be destroyed, particularly in light of number 2 on their "Who We Are" statement.
Quote:
Every human being is entitled to freedom of conscience, which requires absolute state neutrality towards religion and nonreligion and governmental maintenance of inviolate human rights. Thus, we oppose any law requiring or forbidding the personal observance of religion.
Listen, I make it a policy to distance myself from fanatics of all kinds. I certainly don't give them airtime to popularize their twisted beliefs.
edit to add: that quote you show doe snot advocate "destroying religion" like you mention. You're putting a sensationalistic spin on it to rile up emotion - you are Fox News!
"Science must ultimately destroy organized religion, according to some of the leading atheist writers and intellectuals..."
How am I to interpret that? Are they saying that it's a forgone conclusion (at least in their minds) that science will eventually disprove and invalidate all of the world's religions, or are they saying that--with their help--science will mount an intellectual attack and forcibly remove religion from the world?
Out of pure kindness, I will assume the former, even though the latter seems to be on some folk's agendas.
"children must not be schooled in any faith"
I guess that's the difference between Mr. Dawkins and myself. I respect his right to believe what he chooses to believe, and to teach his children what he sees fit. So long as it harms no one, I see no problem with anyone doing just that. Too bad he is unwilling to extend the same objectivity and courtesy with folks of a religious nature.
"Thus, we oppose any law requiring or forbidding the personal observance of religion."
Good. They agree with the 1st Amendment. That should be sufficient to completely negate any other arguments they might make along these lines, then.
The problem is that when you look at religion from a non-religious perspective meaning you don't favor a religion to start with. They all are about the same and all have about as much proof of god as I have proof of an intangible and invisible pink unicorn which is none. Religion is simply one story built on another that changes as one leader after another makes a change to it. Just look at the similarity between Hercules and Jesus.
1. Both has a earthly mother and god father.
2. Both had trials to over come in there life
3. Both had power beyond that of normal men
4. Both have stories that include information about birth but little about their childhood
5. Hera wanted to kill Hercules and Herod want to kill Jesus
6. When they died they both went to join their father
7. Both are believed to be real people by much of the populace during their time.
8. Temples are built to Hercules Churches are built to Jesus
9. There is no writings from the time that either of them lived that make mention of them
10. Both finally met their end only because of a loved one.
11. Neither left an earthly corpse.
If these were to movies coming out at the same time you would have a copyright lawsuit on your hands.
This is when religious people start to talk about faith and they know they are right in their heart. The greeks thought they were right, too. The greeks were wrong and so is everyone else who believes in a god and most of you would see it but religious brian washing has taken control over the population. People are no more at fault for following their religion than the people that followed Jim Jones are, most people just don't have the ability to step back once they are involved. A flaw in gods perfect design.
I know my words are flammatory but it's just how I feel about it and there is no reason to get angry with me remember I'm just some smuck on the internet. Don't bomb my house for it.
Dawkins and Harris are both loudmouths who get carried away. Then can make some good points at times, but when they get riled up their contempt for anything religious takes over and they go nuts. Harris is well known for his disdain for Islam, and Dawkins has an entire section in his book about calling a child a "catholic child" and so on. Taken in context it sort of makes sense; if you are born to Jewish parents in a strong Jewish family and strong Jewish community, it is more likely you will be Jewish. The same can be said for every other religion/denomination. He feels we should not tell children what to believe; "You're parents are Jewish, your grandparents are Jewish, you're Jewish", but rather let them make the decision on their own. Sort of reminds me of adult baptism, really. Anyway, obviously in his mind kids would choose the "right" path (atheism) and the world would be void of religion in a few generations, but let's be real here.
I've never met an atheist who is as fanatical as either of these two men, or as the other outspoken atheists who make the media circuit. The ones I know are happy to carry on their way and let you carry on your way. Crazy things start to happen when you put people in groups, which I sure is what happened in this conference.
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