# "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:** 6\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/121 "2012-09-12T14:52:02Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > :Atheism is surely the default state of a human being. I agree with all your points, but pick a nit with this one. IMHO, Atheism _should_ be the default state, but I don’t believe it actually is. On the contrary, I believe the majority have a propensity to believe in the supernatural. This might be a propensity for most evolved intelligent, curious creatures, trying to find reasons for things that have no apparent causes. Daniel Dennet discusses this in “The God Gene” (a title I’m not particularly thrilled with, but understandable to generate sales and controversy, and an interesting book in any case.) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/122 "2012-09-12T17:26:55Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Maybe we could get more converts with Diet Atheism. > > Makes Sense! > Less Filling! Now 33% athier than the leading brand! ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/123 "2012-09-12T18:37:38Z")
Meh. This will go about as well as the “Brights” of a few years ago. I mean, it’s not that we’re lacking for definitions/labels _now_. I say that as a secular-humanist-skeptical-free-thinker-soft-atheist with a dash of agnosticism thrown in for good measure. Try saying that five times in a row… ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/124 "2012-09-14T05:09:18Z")
Nothing is greater than god. Far greater. I mean, god appears to be this bumbling, obnoxious, sadistic maniac; nothing is implacable, voracious and absolute. It just is. Or maybe it is not, maybe nothing is just as real as god, since we cannot really find any of it or prove that it does (not) exist. Really, the problem with unbelievers is that they allow themselves to be portrayed as harsh and humourless. What we need is more of the Absurdists, people who can take the ridiculousness of trying to find meaning in a meaningless universe and make it look funny instead of deriding it as folly. Atheism should not be perceived as dark and forbidding, it has to be light-hearted and welcoming. In this way, the antagonists fail to serve the causelessness of unbelief by fomenting unnecessary reactionary antipathy. Smile. It is what it is. God just does not matter. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/125 "2012-09-14T05:14:05Z")
> [@For You](#): > > Really, the problem with unbelievers is that they allow themselves to be portrayed as harsh and humourless. Not for lack of trying; not a few of them are comedians. Some people can take a joke about their beliefs or based on their beliefs and some can’t. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085/126 "2012-09-14T07:35:18Z")
> [@ragerdude](#): > > I think that’s exactly the point! Some want to choose the term that’s more provocative and vocal, to support the visibility of atheists, much along the lines of how “coming out” has helped the LGBT movement. Sooo… it’s Atheists Act Up! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-plus-the-new-new-atheism/634085.md?page=6)