What a nice thing to say
Darrick Lim has been observing the inter-atheist wars. He has kind things to say about me. (Well that’s the important thing; do admit.)
Fellow atheists Jerry Coyne and Ophelia Benson jump into the fray with their own takes on DBAD. Both are known for taking off the gloves in anti-religion arguments when they deem it appropriate. As an evolutionary biologist, Coyne in particular has little patience for accommodationist views – the belief that science and religion can be reconciled and need not necessarily be at odds with each other. Along with another passionate – some may say ‘cantankerous’ – atheist, the biology professor and blogger PZ Myers (who runs the popular science blog ‘Pharyngula’), Coyne, Benson and other ‘Gnu Atheists’ are considered to be at the ‘meaner’ end of the attitude spectrum.
Ohhhh. That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Mind you, Lim apparently doesn’t consider the putative meanness all that mean; I might not feel very w and f if he meant “meaner” completely literally. But this question of “exactly how mean are the gnu atheists really, when you look at them under a good microscope?” seems to have as many answers as there are people to ask the question, so whatevs.
I always get a kick out of how our “mean” end of the spectrum is comprised of writers who don’t mince words. Oh the horror. Religion’s mean end of the spectrum is comprised of…well, don’t get me started.
That the word “militant” ever gets placed in front of “atheist” is laughable.
Uh-oh, Andy. You’re in trouble with the Big Boss now (“is comprised of…”). Better start saying your prayers.
“But I’m just a soul whose intentions are good. Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood!”
Thank you Ophelia. Glad (and relieved!) to know that you get what I ‘mean’.
Speaking of warm and fuzzy, getting shout-outs from you and Russell gives me a serious case of W&F. :) It’s very encouraging. Much appreciated.
I’ll take a page from born-again gadfly Kirk Cameron and call myself a devout atheist. Or was that deviant atheist?
And we can now refer to you, Ophelia, as The Queen of Mean. Ha! Wear it proudly.
Oh, I’m just a modest Pedestrian, that’s all.