Atheism+ is the brainchild of PZ Myers, the "de facto" leader of FTB. Last month he decided to use the private -secret- FTB email list to throw his idea into the world, giving instructions to the list subscribers (FTBloggers) to start brainstorming and working for the cause. This is the reason why, "suddenly" most FTB seem to have had the same idea at the same time... Also note PZ's recent Free Inquiry article, his google hangouts and, mostly, his revealing and surprising humble attitude towards the origin of the A+ idea... Atheism+ is just the particular set of principles that PZ uses to travel through the world and a clever way to try to portrait them as the only ones a decent human person can hold... Where are the words -to put an example that shows the narrowness of that point of view- against poverty, unemployment, hunger or child labour? The answer may lie in PZ's infatuation with his iPad, iPhones, etc. all of them made in China by teenage girls, working 6/7 for almost no money and living (sleeping, eating, etc) in the same factories where they work...
Thank you for that Anon FTB but I'll have to insist we keep this thread as a "safe space" for 'atheism less' advocates to come out in support of their cause.
August 30, 2012 at 5:46 AM
The atheism
community is currently buzzing with the idea of “Atheism Plus”, which is kind
of like secular humanism but differs in one crucial way – secular humanism doesn’t
have a plus on the end.
The idea
was originally conceived by Richard Carrier who, unfortunately, forgot to tell
anyone.
Luckily
enough Jen McCreight recently had the same idea and did tell everyone.
Jen defined
the principles of Atheism Plus as follows:
We are…
Atheists plus we care about social
justice,
Atheists plus we support women’s
rights,
Atheists plus we protest racism,
Atheists plus we fight homophobia and
transphobia,
Atheists plus we use critical thinking and
skepticism.
Since “social
justice” covers points 2,3 and 4, and should therefore “endorse
the values of reasonableness, compassion, and integrity”, the entire values statement
can be summarized:
“Atheists who care about social justice and
who use critical thinking and skepticism.”
Now one
might think that this is simply a description of any average member of the
atheism community, a group generally regarded as politically towards the left
and thus more likely than the general public to be supportive of policies
advocating social justice.
Unfortunately
not.
According
to Richard Carrier, there exists a significant group of atheists that completely
reject the aforementioned values.
And something needs to be done.
However Richard’s solution
is as brilliant as it is simple.
“I call upon you to pick sides within our movement (not in comments
here, but publicly, via Facebook or other social media): are you with us, or
with them; are you with the Atheism+ movement, or do you at least cheer and
approve it’s values and aims (since you don’t have to label yourself), or are
you going to stick with Atheism Less and its sexism and cruelty and
irrationality?Then at least we’ll know who to work with. And who to avoid.”
Which, when
you think of it, is all very commendable.
If someone
really does approve of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or other forms
of discriminatory behavior, then it may be worth knowing who they are, if only
to avoid them.
Unfortunately
Richard wasn’t clear as to how to make it apparent you fall into this
“Atheism Less” camp. If it’s time to pick sides and register an
allegiance then the "Atheism Less" adherents require a central
registration point.
And that is
where we, at the ‘Sneer Review’, can help.
Although
none of our staff are “Atheism Less” according to Richards definition (in fact
there is pretty much 100% agreement with the ideas of social justice and
skepticism as defined above), we feel it is our moral duty to provide an
opportunity for “Atheism less” advocates to answer Richards call and openly
pick that side.
Therefore,
if you are an atheist who is in favor of racism, sexism,
homophobia, transphobia and other forms of discrimination and who rejects the
notions of reasonableness, compassion, and integrity, please register as an
official member of ‘Atheism Less’ by leaving your name in the comments below.
If an
individual atheist does not register as an official member of “Atheism Less” it
may be best to assume they don’t advocate or support discrimination and
douchebaggery and are not, in fact an unteratheist. Luckily enough there already exists a
specific term for this type of individual.
“Atheist”
"Atheism Less – Registration page"
2 Comments -
Atheism+ is the brainchild of PZ Myers, the "de facto" leader of FTB. Last month he decided to use the private -secret- FTB email list to throw his idea into the world, giving instructions to the list subscribers (FTBloggers) to start brainstorming and working for the cause. This is the reason why, "suddenly" most FTB seem to have had the same idea at the same time... Also note PZ's recent Free Inquiry article, his google hangouts and, mostly, his revealing and surprising humble attitude towards the origin of the A+ idea...
Atheism+ is just the particular set of principles that PZ uses to travel through the world and a clever way to try to portrait them as the only ones a decent human person can hold... Where are the words -to put an example that shows the narrowness of that point of view- against poverty, unemployment, hunger or child labour? The answer may lie in PZ's infatuation with his iPad, iPhones, etc. all of them made in China by teenage girls, working 6/7 for almost no money and living (sleeping, eating, etc) in the same factories where they work...
August 30, 2012 at 4:42 AM
Thank you for that Anon FTB but I'll have to insist we keep this thread as a "safe space" for 'atheism less' advocates to come out in support of their cause.
August 30, 2012 at 5:46 AM