Un deux trois
The third musketeer slaps the glove across the face (very gently). Jerry Coyne tells us:
Well, that makes three of us. Steve Pinker, I, and now Richard Dawkins, have all decided independently to resign from the Honorary Board of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). The organization’s ideological capture, as instantiated in throwing in their lot with extreme gender activism and censoring any objection to their views—as well as in the increasing tendency of the FFRF to add Critical Social Justice to their mission alongside their original and admirable goal of keeping church and state separate, has motivated us in different degrees to part ways with the group. I emphasize again that the FFRF did and still does engage in important work on keeping religion from creeping into governmental activity.
The body of Dawkins’s email:
It is with real sadness, because of my personal regard for you both, that I feel obliged to resign from the Advisory Board of FFRF. Publishing the silly and unscientific “What is a Woman” article by Kat Grant was a minor error of judgment, redeemed by the decision to publish a rebuttal by a distinguished scientist from the relevant field of Biology, Jerry Coyne. But alas, the sequel was an act of unseemly panic when you caved in to hysterical squeals from predictable quarters and retrospectively censored that excellent rebuttal. Moreover, to summarily take it down without even informing the author of your intention was an act of lamentable discourtesy to a member of your own Advisory Board. A Board which I now leave with regret.
Although I formally resign, I would like to remain on friendly terms with you, and I look forward to cooperating in the future. And to delightful musical evenings if the opportunity arises.
It’s tricky, doing that – publicly resigning and saying why, and remaining on friendly terms. Very tricky. Lamentable discourtesy isn’t really a motivation for staying matey. I’m not criticizing Dawkins for hoping for it, just pondering whether it’s workable or not. The discourtesy really was remarkably discourteous, and all the more so coming from presumed friends.
Especially since Dan and Annie Laurie are among some of the more courteous individuals I’ve met.
I’m currently struggling with the decision of whether to resign as a State Representative. It’s hard; FFRF was the first place in my life (other than college) that truly welcomed me and made me feel at home. I’ve been associated with them a long time, and always look forward to the annual convention. I presume the Musketeers all have a large friend set to support them when they give up the FFRF; I don’t, and it’s going to be frightfully lonely.
Hey, maybe I’ll take up playwriting. ‘-)
Don’t do it then. Really don’t.
I’m serious. Don’t.
Iknklast, I think it makes more sense for members of the Honorary Board to resign than FFRF representatives or members. Coyne, Pinker, and Dawkins will automatically generate more publicity and have more social impact. And while mass resignations will also have an impact on the organization, there’s much to be said about remaining and being one of the dissenting. It helps prevent a total echo chamber from forming; it encourages others who agree with you; and it helps provide the basis for a pivotal groundswell of resistance from within when the time comes.
Yes, all that, but also you have way more at stake, so no. Verboten.
I’m not at all confident that resistance from within the FFRF will eventually prevail on this issue given that the leadership of FFRF has made it clear where they stand now. No further questioning of trans dogma will be tolerated as this statement makes clear:
https://ffrf.org/news/releases/freedom-from-religion-foundation-supports-lgbtqia-plus-rights/
Yes that’s the statement they issued at the time; I posted about it then. It’s wretched stuff.