Out of the normal relaxed atheism, as it used to be, we seams to have a growing branch of a special "atheists" that act as much as the next religious fanatic!
This "special atheists", pretty much common at US, so we can call them "American Atheists" (or AA) act like if they can't live without strict good and evil, they uphold their beliefs as it were the supreme truth, like to call it facts and often scientific facts to things science doesn't even come close to, such as human philosophic affairs.
Let's then start to examine this "new religion":
- It's mostly based on "studies" from "experts".
As result there are now thousands of concurrent "studies", most without any scientific value at all (sample too small, bias interpretation of data, non-repeatability, and so on) and paradoxical to its peers, and here, as religious do, they cherry pick the "studies" they found convenient to their belief.
- Anyone denying "MY" facts is an idiot.
The "supreme morality" of the group makes them so wise... It looks like they don't believe there's no God, but instead there's a job vacancy for being God and they want to apply for it.
- If you're not with us, then you're against us!
This is common ground to religious fanatics, they deal quite harshly to any criticism on their views. Moderation is out of the scope.
- The Dogma
The so called harmful part of religions isn't their crosses, crescents, yin-yangs or whatever symbols they use, isn't also praying - praying is somewhat the psychologist of the poor -, but the dogma: The incontestable truths they are meant to react violently if challenged! And in here, the AA's have a LOT of them!
Some are taking just as "to look opposite of what they recognize as their opponents", for AA's this means Christians, such as being "pro-choice", others are plain bull as feminism, lgbt rights, free-for-all economics and so on...
It won't surprise me that in a short these groups start to resource terrorism.
So... The "special" atheist is a religion of sorts? Well then again, if you actually believe and buy into their "dogma" then go in ahead. So long as you don't give prejudice to other religions and you don't judge them and most of all you don't shove it down their throats then I'm all for it. I just hope that people don't just go on board because it's a fad.
