Sunday, May 27, 2007

Is Atheism Going Fundamentalist, Too?

Fundamentalism in religion is problematic.  We see this historically, and in current events.

Couple of interesting viewpoints on this subject.  One, written by Benedicta Cipolla and published by the Washington Post is titled Is Atheism Just a Rant Against Religion?

Cipolla’s piece delves into the Humanist’s viewpoint regarding the recent press surrounding atheism.  From Cipolla’s piece.

"Atheists are somewhat focused on the one issue of atheism, not looking at how to move forward,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the Washington-based American Humanist Association. While he appreciates the way the new atheists have raised the profile of nonbelievers, he said humanists differ by their willingness to collaborate with religious leaders on various issues. “Working with religion,” he said, “is not what [atheists] are about."

The other recent piece available on line is written by Greg Taylor and has been published by New Dawn Magazine. Taylor’s piece is titled The Atheist Delusion, and is subtitled Answering Richard Dawkins.

From Taylor’s piece.

However, in his attacks on all religions, regardless of individual philosophies, as being the source of all ills in the world, Dawkins goes too far – and it is astounding that someone of his obvious intellect could err so badly. Religious writer John Cornwell summed up the major problem with Dawkins’ vitriolic stance towards religion in these words:

If there is a dangerous delusion in the world, it is not so much moderate religion, as Dawkins would have it, but fundamentalism in all its forms – ideological, scientific and religious – as the imposition of dogma that brooks neither doubt nor respect for disagreement.

Both pieces make for an interesting Sunday morning read.  I’ll also leave you with this quote from Albert Camus’ play “The Possessed."

The complete atheist is more respectable than the man who is indifferent.  He is on the last rung preceding perfect faith.

Link to Greg Taylor’s piece via J. Orlin Grabbe.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/27 at 05:39 AM
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