# "Atheism Plus," the new New Atheism? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 8, 2012, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085 "2012-09-08T09:47:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/61 "2012-09-09T06:08:57Z")
Pretty soon you’ll have other groups claiming to be Atheists Plus: We’re Atheists Plus we believe in white supremacy! We’re Atheists Plus we are anarchists! Etc. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/62 "2012-09-09T06:14:02Z")
Honestly, “Atheists plus” to me sounds like either a soft drink or what you get if you [play a computer game all the way though](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NewGamePlus) as an atheist. On your second playthrough you get unique anti-religion powers! Smite clerics with your Bolts of Skepticism! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/63 "2012-09-09T06:21:41Z")
Is Atheist Max a diet soda pop, or a feminine pad, or both? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/64 "2012-09-09T06:24:31Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Is Atheist Max a diet soda pop, or a feminine pad, or both? I’ve heard women comment that menstruation is proof that God is a man, so I’d go with soda pop. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/65 "2012-09-09T06:26:51Z")
I have to admit I’m really glad it’s not both. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/66 "2012-09-09T06:29:22Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I have to admit I’m really glad it’s not both. And the secret ingredient to our “Atheist Max” soda pop line is… ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/67 "2012-09-09T09:18:47Z")
I guess these folks feel they need to throw those qualifiers out there because of the stigma that goes along with being Atheist. Let’s face it, a lot of folks out there think Atheist means Satanist. But really, wouldn’t a similar analogy be: Blacks, plus we like to do math. Blacks, plus we don’t smoke crack Etc… It’s offensive and stupid. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/68 "2012-09-09T16:03:33Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > . And yes, it’s true that every time someone tries to come up with a better name for atheism, they choose something stunningly obnoxious. “A+” is even worse than “Bright,” and they both reek of people congratulating themselves for being very smart. I suppose part of the problem is that nobody has come up with a pithy euphemism to refer to atheists that they can then “take back”, “own” and “turn around” with pride as was done with “Gay” replacing the clinical-sounding “homosexual”. Thing is, that sort of phenomenon has to evolve, as it were, naturally. If you just make something up it may backfire. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/69 "2012-09-09T16:12:07Z")
With the exception of the word “atheist” which was and is a pejorative term invented by theists. We took that one back. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/70 "2012-09-09T20:47:21Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And the secret ingredient to our “Atheist Max” soda pop line is… You’ve seen Kung Fu Panda? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/71 "2012-09-09T20:49:48Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I suppose part of the problem is that nobody has come up with a pithy euphemism to refer to atheists that they can then “take back”, “own” and “turn around” with pride as was done with “Gay” replacing the clinical-sounding “homosexual”. “Godless”. > [@Trinopus](#): > > You’ve seen Kung Fu Panda? Actually I haven’t. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/72 "2012-09-09T23:01:19Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I suppose part of the problem is that nobody has come up with a pithy euphemism to refer to atheists that they can then “take back”, “own” and “turn around” with pride as was done with “Gay” replacing the clinical-sounding “homosexual”. > [@rat\_avatar](#): > > With the exception of the word “atheist” which was and is a pejorative term invented by theists. > > We took that one back. There’s also infidel and heathen. I’ve seen lots of examples of both being used with pride or at least a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/73 "2012-09-09T23:24:04Z")
A+ does not allow totally free will because it confines it with rules I give it a D- ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/74 "2012-09-09T23:40:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > There’s also infidel and heathen. I’m proud to be a heathen. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/75 "2012-09-10T01:01:55Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And the secret ingredient to our “Atheist Max” soda pop line is… Before he died, Hitchens filmed a commercial with Dawkins around this. Hitch: Full of kittens! Dawkins: Full of puppies! (Think Miller Light with more filling, tastes great.) Finally, the ghost of O’Hair appears and says: Actually, it has both. And they shake hands, swig down a bottle of A+, and go off to mug a preacher. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/76 "2012-09-10T02:02:40Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > It’s already called Humanism. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/77 "2012-09-10T02:12:08Z")
I start to get nervous when atheists organize under the banner of atheism. I believe the usual analogy is starting a club about the non-existence of unicorns. Though I guess pragmatism mandates something needs to be done to convince people we’re not evil, and any “something” that can be done that will reasonably make a dent will probably have to be organized at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/78 "2012-09-10T12:39:25Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I start to get nervous when atheists organize under the banner of atheism. I believe the usual analogy is starting a club about the non-existence of unicorns. > Though I guess pragmatism mandates something needs to be done to convince people we’re not evil, and any “something” that can be done that will reasonably make a dent will probably have to be organized at some point. I gotta find a new term for atheist, I’ve never considered atheism a team thing. It’s not that I believe that there’s no god, it’s that I don’t have any belief in one, and I don’t really care whether there’s a big white dude with a long beard hanging around in the sky looking disappointed in me. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/79 "2012-09-10T14:12:33Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I guess these folks feel they need to throw those qualifiers out there because of the stigma that goes along with being Atheist. Let’s face it, a lot of folks out there think Atheist means Satanist. > > But really, wouldn’t a similar analogy be: > > Blacks, plus we like to do math. > Blacks, plus we don’t smoke crack > Etc… > > It’s offensive and stupid. This. Has anyone mentioned “freethinkers” as a term that some atheists have used to describe themselves when trying to avoid some of the Bible Belt opprobium that comes with the word “atheist”? ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/80 "2012-09-10T14:40:24Z")
I follow a fair number of atheist bloggers, and it appears to me that the impetus behind this effort is an ongoing conflict/flame war between different groups of people who tend to attend atheist gatherings and seminars. There are allegations that female conference speakers and attendees have to face hostile and/or condescending environments. As an atheist myself, albeit not the sort who attends that sort of event, it’s not a movement that I’d sign up for, although I probably agree with most of their stated positions. I would have also agreed that it was a stupid idea, but after seeing some of the invective directed towards Jen McCreight for even suggesting it, I at least understand where she’s coming from now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085.md?page=5)