One of our regular chatters has a predilection to often use the phrase “militant atheist”. I have seen other chatter use it also.
So it got me to thInking: What exactly is a militant atheist? Is it an atheist who openly avows his atheism. What’s wrong with that? Or maybe a person who is willing to publicly debate his or her atheism. Again, how exactly is that a problem?
At least in the United States, we have the First Amendment that allows atheists to openly acknowledge same. The first part of the First Amendment allows for free speech, and the second part for living WITHOUT religion.
We know that some ministers openly sell their religion on TV, and often take in a good amount of filthy lucre doing so. What is an atheist developed a TV program. Would there be a huge outcry from the religionists that it would ruin our youth and destroy our nation? Very likely, at least from some.
So what exactly is a militant atheist? Maybe some of out theistic friends can help us with this.
As for “nasty racist”, I’ve only seen it used once, and that was as a confession by someone that he was a “nasty racist” until his mid-20s. I’ll see if he will explain what that meant. He got in people’s faces uninvited regarding their religious beliefs? He enjoys picking fights with believers? I don’t know.
I hope that I am neither a militant nor a nasty racist. I only discuss it with those who have a secure faith and who basically offer an invitation to do so. I have lived next door to a minister/retired minister for 15 years and we have never discussed it. We discuss mowing our yards and tending our gardens. He knows I don’t go to church, and he may know that I am a Humanist because he sometimes picks up my mail when I am on vacation, and I receive letters from the American Humanist Association, but he may not even know what a Humanist is. Most people don’t. And I really consider myself more of a Humanist than an atheist. It’s how I describe myself.
I certainly discuss it in here because the is a voluntary forum. It’s a tough place for believers, but they don’t have to be here. They can always go to a Christian chat room if it gets too tough for them on here.
Anyway, my advice is to not be a nasty racist. More bees with honey than with vinegar,and that sort of thing.
As for a “militant atheist”, I still don’t know what that is!
