John Gray: The atheist delusion

Ah bullshit! 'secular fundamentalists':

Zealous atheism renews some of the worst features of Christianity and Islam. Just as much as these religions, it is a project of universal conversion.

This is nearly the stupidest thing ever. "Zealous atheism", such as Dennett and Dawkins, "renew[] some of the worst features of Christianity and Islam". You know, like the killing and stuff.

Just as much as these religions, it is a project of universal conversion. Evangelical atheists never doubt that human life can be transformed if everyone accepts their view of things, and they are certain that one way of living - their own, suitably embellished - is right for everybody.

Again, bullshit. Dawkins or Harris do not assert that they have a philosophy for life. Neither of them, nor Dennett or Hitchens, seek to replace religion with something of their own design. In fact, one of the criticisms charged is that they are just tearing down something "vital" to people without having anything to replace it.

Zealous atheism renews some of the worst features of Christianity and Islam. Just as much as these religions, it is a project of universal conversion. Evangelical atheists never doubt that human life can be transformed if everyone accepts their view of things, and they are certain that one way of living - their own, suitably embellished - is right for everybody. To be sure, atheism need not be a missionary creed of this kind. It is entirely reasonable to have no religious beliefs, and yet be friendly to religion. It is a funny sort of humanism that condemns an impulse that is peculiarly human. Yet that is what evangelical atheists do when they demonise religion.

This is nearly the stupidest thing ever. "Zealous atheism", such as Dennett and Dawkins, "renew[] some of the worst features of Christianity and Islam". You know, like the killing and stuff.

Zealous atheism renews some of the worst features of Christianity and Islam. Just as much as these religions, it is a project of universal conversion. Evangelical atheists never doubt that human life can be transformed if everyone accepts their view of things, and they are certain that one way of living - their own, suitably embellished - is right for everybody. To be sure, atheism need not be a missionary creed of this kind. It is entirely reasonable to have no religious beliefs, and yet be friendly to religion. It is a funny sort of humanism that condemns an impulse that is peculiarly human. Yet that is what evangelical atheists do when they demonise religion.

This is nearly the stupidest thing ever. "Zealous atheism", such as Dennett and Dawkins, "renew[] some of the worst features of Christianity and Islam". You know, like the killing and stuff.

Zealous atheism renews some of the worst features of Christianity and Islam. Just as much as these religions, it is a project of universal conversion. Evangelical atheists never doubt that human life can be transformed if everyone accepts their view of things, and they are certain that one way of living - their own, suitably embellished - is right for everybody. To be sure, atheism need not be a missionary creed of this kind. It is entirely reasonable to have no religious beliefs, and yet be friendly to religion. It is a funny sort of humanism that condemns an impulse that is peculiarly human. Yet that is what evangelical atheists do when they demonise religion.

This is nearly the stupidest thing ever. "Zealous atheism", such as Dennett and Dawkins, "renew[] some of the worst features of Christianity and Islam". You know, like the killing and stuff.