Didn’t say it did. I was making a little joke that all people suck. Atheists don’t have a claim on the moral high ground any more than the religious do.
I’m non-religious by the way.
But is the phrase alone enough to call someone “militant”?
Nobody is making that claim-it was just pointed out that just being an atheist is enough for a significant number of people to distrust you.
Merriam-Webster’s definition of militant: having or showing a desire or willingness to use strong, extreme, and sometimes forceful methods to achieve something
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to Christian talk radio, so I can’t address whether those programs are militant or not. I’ve heard and read of various religious types, Christian or otherwise, who easily fit the definition. And the reason I brought up Penn Jillette is that he was the first very vocal atheist I ever heard, and he reminded me very much of fundamentalists who were equally vocal about their beliefs. When I saw the topic of this thread, he immediately came to mind as a “Yes.”
Had I known this would have been viewed as such an extreme comment, I’d have kept it to myself.
Noah? Adam? Jesus? Mo?
Pray tell!
Sorry this is IMHO so I won’t play your little GD word games. Don’t try to maneuver me into a position.
It depends on how it is used and you know it. That one phrase would not give anyone enough to go on to form an opinion, especially a trite and worn out expression like that. (I know, this is where you say “So how does that one quote from Penn prove…” It doesn’t. But you asked for a quote and I gave one.) The guy has written two books and has a weekly podcast talking about atheism.
I don’t know any militant atheists in real life. Penn Jillette is a militant atheist. And I bet he would wear that phrase as a badge of honor. He is the atheist version of a fire and brimstone preacher. Outside of the Dope I never think of religion. Penn is the opposite. He is an atheist attack dog. And I’m a big fan.
Do you remember a few years back there was a t-shirt popular with the born agains that said “No God?” on the front and “Know God” on the back? Penn had a shirt that said “No God” with nothing on the back. He is in your face and confrontational about his atheism. Luckily he is also articulate and funny at the same time.
I don’t know why you think that the word militant means it has to be someone calling for violence. It can but it doesn’t have to.
Penn is totally non-violent but everything else is spot on. Have you listened to him? He is combative and aggressive, extreme and confrontational in his discussions on religion.
Above someone asked if he is still on radio. No, but he does have a good podcast called Penn’s Sunday School.
It’s just that being vocal is setting the bar very low when it comes to labeling someone as “militant”, and that perhaps “strident” might be a more accurate term.
If you wish to argue with the dictionary I guess you can but I don’t think you’ll get very far.
I just want the term applied accurately and equally on both sides of the equation.
Agreed. I only see “militant” used for Christians if they’re bombing abortion clinics. Words alone make an atheist “militant.”
To answer the OP, of course there are militant atheists. They even had a league.
Ugh, edit window timed out.
Agreed. I only see “militant” used for Christians if they’re bombing abortion clinics. Words alone make an atheist “militant.” Trying to keep religion out of government or even just talking about why one doesn’t believe in gods or why one believes that if the biblical God did exist he should be considered evil: “militant.” And, if you’ll forgive the term, “proselytizing” by a religious person is tolerated or even expected in certain circumstances even outside church, but if an atheist tries to convince people to not believe in a deity - “militant”. Genuinely sharing why you believe and how you feel God’s love (in a sentence or two) in a conversation is all well and fine. Do the opposite, and you’re “militant.” A billboard or bus ad that God is Great or Jesus Saves or even Repent or Burn is fine. One that God doesn’t exist or advocates killing women and children and keeping the virgins for yourself (Numbers) is “militant.”
I’ve only seen “militant” used as a politically-correct means to soften an argument. Someone who would normally say “Atheists are leading to the downfall of humanity!” softens the argument by instead saying “Militant atheists are leading to the downfall of humanity!”. That way you aren’t blaming the totality of a group of people for the downfall of humanity, just the “bad” ones.
The ambiguity of what “militant” means is intentional. That way it can mean “only the atheists who bomb churches”, which most people would agree are bad, but can still dog-whistle “pretty much every atheist” to the in-crowd.
Ever hear of the “Church militant”?
I have, but I would guess that most people, including Christians, haven’t heard the term “militant” used in that particular way.
You’re probably right, but it makes me wonder whether any of the modern implications of the word “militant” can be traced back to that term.
The word “Atheist” on a bus ad is enough to “offend”.
They exist.
However, the sorts of things that get an atheist labeled “militant” are less likely to get a Christian (or other religious person) labeled “militant”. Some people see an expression of atheism as a deliberate attempt to be controversial or in-your-face.
Some people make things up, like “the secular war on Christmas” because someone said “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”. Has any major television network - viewed my millions - ever endorsed the idea that saying “Merry Christmas” is militant Christianity?
Militant atheists are a lot like militant feminists. They do exist, especially on the Internet. But their numbers are wildly exaggerated by people with an agenda.
Madalyn Murray O’Hair was about the most militant atheist in American history. WARNING: It is not a pretty story.
I’m an atheist, but I’ll respect your right to believe what you want. No, you do not KNOW there is a god. You BELIEVE in that all stuff, but there is no way of knowing it.
And yes, I am a moral person. The only time I get on my high horse is when people say without religion, there are no morals.