New Atheism

jacobinmag.com/2014/12/new-atheism-old-empire/

Thoughts?

Christopher Hitchens is a beautiful man and I won't hear anything otherwise. >:^|

This essay made the Sam Harris fanboys so buttmad when it was first written and that almost makes up for all of Jacobin's shortcomings.

Payed to be a contrarian, smug bastard and supported the invasion of iraq. He's a cunt

Faggotry.

In all honesty though, he's spot on with what he says. Religion is the opiate of the masses, anyone? I don't necessarily agree with the war of Iraq, but I agree with what he said about Vietnam for sure. This entire article, as far as I can see, is just "Please stop being mean to Muhammad, Muslims like that guy, and if I defend them, Capitalism would be ethical".

Im not going to dislike someone for being a popular figure, and taking a stance that has arguable positive effects.

What I don't get about these new atheism people is they don't like Islam and all, but why do the support US imperialism which pours gasoline on the fire. Even if Islam is inherent violent your only making it worse.

he only ever supported Iraq war because opposing it was popular with liberals

I'll take unsubstantiated claim for 500 dollars.

I'll take unsubstantiated claim for 500 dollars.

because they think they can bomb them into atheism or something
either that or they're just shills who dgaf who gets hurt as long as they get their check in the mail and see their face in a magazine

Because they think it is some kind of crusade against Islam.

Atheism is always reactionary. Anyone who calls themselves an atheist should be gulaged.

FTFY.

What are you trying to say here?

That the Iraq war isn't just a masturbatory murder by assholes. Feel free to correct me, I don't necessarily have a strong understanding of the Iraq war, although I see it as negative.

typical Islam-apologetic garbage that you'd expect from Jacobin. Muslims are the most oppressed people in the world, so we must rush to their defense against atheist criticism, despite nominally viewing religion as the opiate of the masses.

This is not to endorse some of the New Atheists' hawkish worldviews: if you have a bunch of people who can easily be convinced that their highest calling is to martyr themselves for Allah, don't fucking attack them! Let them stay quarantined in the desert.


They think they can forcibly de-Islamize the Arab world. Obviously, this isn't going to work. it will just reinforce their worldview about the crusader nations' persecution of the Muslims.

May I ask what it was in your opinion ?

Remember freedom fries.

A war that was in the economic interest of a few people that placated the American people. At least there is the justice anti middle east bullshit tones/overt mission. Please give your own hot take, I'm getting bored of saying basically nothing.

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The entire point of the article is that New Atheists believe that criticism of Islam itself has implications for anyone who calls himself a Muslim. They literally believe in thoughtcrime. That is why they are "New Atheists" and not just "atheists".

Many times…

none

These types are far from alone. Pretty much the entire field of evolutionary psychology is full of racist, reactionary, chauvinist explanations for the world and justification of current conditions on the grounds of "science". Even biology thanks to people like E.O. Wilson. Plus the whole history of eugenics.

Atheism as a bastion of the "civilised West" is quite often used to justify the exploitation of those deemed savages in Asia and Africa. The history of science is tied up with it being used for exploitation so this is unsurprising really. Dawkins had non-white servants growing up in Africa; is it really so surprising that he sneers at them and their beliefs now?

Atheism is only good when coupled with socialism and anti-imperialism. Anything else is naive at best and borderline genocidal at worst.

we're still talking about a statistically tiny minority of those people though, this is a fucking stupid statement

I think I read the Jacobin article a while ago, I'm sick of fuckwit nu-atheists who actually support killing people yet act so smug about it so good on Jacobin for running it

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What a huge pile of shit.

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read the article again

Do you know what Harris and Hitchens have advocated for?

bump