Is there an atheist schism?

No. Atheists never had a united front to break from. It's just every person doing their own thing, and those that agree working together.

Idiotic.

So i guess i belong to the old school, polite atheists. but that is just my personality. I'm not loud or belligerent. So other than the facial hair and baggy pants that picture pretty well characterizes me. The chain wallet and everything.

I know the white supremist have highjacked my religion just like the radicals have hijacked islam but come and give praise to Thor god of thunder in the writings of Thor there isnt anything about beheading the infedels so there wont be any misunderstandings.Thor theres a godhead you can believe in.

Dear uncle C , I have volunteered in homeless women's and children shelters , inde radio , and donated time and money to worthy causes of varied religions , including christianity . I am not now or then a christian . I believe in worthy causes . I back my beliefs up with actions . Quit trying to portray atheists as you wish they were . We are both human . There are evil people and good . Most are somewhere in the middle . A person should be judged by their actions . It is far too easy to lie with words , they are too easily used to deceive these days .

Wow. Guess that is cool. Everyone should do what comes from the heart.

(sigh) I've seen countless instances where atheists mock and ridicule those of faith. (Bill Maher, Janeane Garofolo, etc.) When was the last time you saw a Catholic make a point of ridiculing and mocking atheists. Hellloooooo? Anyone? Didn't think so.

Atheism is about unification and enlightenment; it's definitely not schismatic in the least.

There probably are "two camps". People always seem to get divided.

there could be.
there are so many things i want to say right now. but ill just bite my tongue.

hmmm. religion aside cause that just always causes confrontation amongst everyone [i guess its just asking too much to just accept one anothers religious views/or lack off whether w/o having to condone them]...
...the article picture is funny :]

It took the religious leaders of the Byzantium Empire weeks or months to come to a concluision of how to describe Jeasus Christ as the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. This ecumenical council was not a God inspired meeting and Constantine was not a holy person. He ordered the execution of his own son and his wife died as a result. And if Constantine the father of christianity is to be honored, he must be honored for being such a bloodthirsty murderer. Another modern day leader. Who says that there is no re-incarnation. Every president must be the reincarnation of some vicious Roman emperor. We have had too many bloody wars to be the responsibility of a civilized human leader.

There's no schism forming, this is simply a difference in personality manifesting itself in the public realm.

All atheists think religion is bullshit and that the world, if not better, would certainly be a less annoying place if we didn't have to deal with it.

It's simply a matter of A: how strongly you believe that religion interferes with peoples' lives and B: what lengths you're willing to go to poke gills and pull fingernails back to try and show people that.

Also, people who have had especially bad experiences with their religion tend to be much more fierce in their opposition, especially if they live in an area where they are regularly discriminated for their beliefs.

Personally, I don't think the evils of religion would go away if the superstitions of religion were abolished in the public mind. Communists, for instance, are/were atheists and they can be just as terrible (if not worse) than a bigoted religious system.

People only need faith, structural hierarchy, a lack of skepticism, groupthink, arbitrary personal alliances and a tendency towards violence to act horrible to each other. And while those traits are readily prevalent in most or all religions, they certainly aren't -exclusive- to them.

There is a major difference between an individuals personal faith based ideology, and a man made power structure built around a communities social identity. Whether it’s monotheistic, polytheistic or atheistic, A GROUP utilizing a cultures faith identity has nothing to do with faith, or the lack there of. What makes (or made) atheism different is that it is (or was) not simply a denial of traditional faith philosophies, but also a denial of ANY organized structure that dictated ANY particular belief. We have a religion problem. Atheism can easily be part of it. Inquisition is not a spiritual tool. You can kill and manipulate in the name of science too. Atheists are supposed to be rational freethinking adults. But just because you call yourself something, doesn’t mean that’s what you are.

It seems like someone is trying to define and categorize atheism , the way religion is , in a safe little "us vs them" box . I don't think atheist need that kind of structure , perhaps the religious do . Some are capable of self structure . They enjoy it . It is easily done . Some need a dogmatic form superimposed on their life . To feel safe ? I don't know . Just keep it away from me . Unless I ask about it .

Why must people always make groups out of things?
The whole point of atheism is to not belong to any groups!
Im an atheist because i think for myself, i dont really care how atheistic the rest of you are
this just makes it more complicated than neccessary, believe, or dont!

professing a belief in the absence of something that can't be scientifically analyzed seems kind of silly to me.

i don't care what anyone believes so long as it doesn't involve the world being 10,000 years old. that's not spiritual or religious, it's just ignorant.

Showsomelove: its too bad that our former leaders didn't show some love when they slaughtered and massacred the former natives of this country. Remember the "Trail of Tears"?? I suppose that you do not feel the pain because it happened so long ago. How do you feel about the revelations of the hundreds of thousands of young boys who have died in Korea, Viet Nam and Iraq and Afghanistan?? These sovereign nations did not pose a threat to the USA.

“Baggy pants for too much freedom of movement and thought”

I love it! Thinking is bad for Christians.

I fall somewhere in the middle of this "schism"; I consider myself an atheist because I don't believe in god - that's not to say I don't leave the possibility open (just give me some evidence!). I think MOST ATHEISTS DO- but they are still bombarded with "You're agnostic!" all the time. It's untrue, folks- I know very few people who honestly don't know if they believe in god or not. If you don't believe, you are an atheist- a militant, anti-religious attitude is NOT implied by the label.

I think there is a time and a place to refute religious beliefs - when it affects politics, the legal system, or during an open and honest conversation with colleagues. People like Richard Dawkins are slammed for being arrogant, angry atheists but if you really listen to them you realize a lot of that "anger" is just sensational media taking advantage of an unpopular opinion. There is nothing wrong with questioning reality, society, philosophy and ideologies that permeate our world.

I think there is an "atheist movement", but it's more correctly defined as a secular movement. Most political atheists are looking be represented in our country and to rid the government of unnecessary religious influence. This does not make us hateful or intolerant, militant or arrogant; just one of many groups struggling to have our voices heard and our point of view taken seriously.

Christianity was a movement. Then science was a movement. Atheism is just the logical next step.

Izm schism.... I could care less. An Atheist movement is somewhat of an oxymoron. I don't agree that you should go out of your way to blast others for their beliefs either. Live and let die if you ask me. People getting together to discuss their views and experiences as an Atheist should not be considered a movement in my opinion. It should be seen as no more than a book club or support group. A movement is not much different than organizing like a religion.

Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease
_ioglyphics

lets drop the word atheism. I think the "atheist" movement is more about moving away from ideologies and other limiting structures such as religion and less about moving toward yet another limiting ideology that you like to call atheism.
lets live in a world with no ideologies. A world where your actions come from what YOU believe is the right action to take and not what an ideology tells you is the right action to take.

Light and Love,
Justin S.

Awesome...equality i too have a schism...yes hoorah... B4 by only reason against atheisms = no schism...
yall notice the shirt?

Question everything! Belief is something that can change. I recently, (5 years ago), started looking at my beliefs and where I acquired them. I am now an atheist. I still have no need to make others believe the way I do. I don't see a schism at least not just one.

I'll just stick to Socrates idea: question everything, everyone and yourself....

It's only a matter of time before everything South Park predicts will come true.

Brokeback Mountain
this...

I'm sure there's more.

funny stuff

The good thing about atheism is no one has to agree with anyone.

Thats kinda the whole point.

Is it me or does that picture depict your average pot head?

I am an atheist who can be loud, obnoxious and passionate about it. Why? Because the money I earn says "In God We Trust". We? I am part of the "We"? It sucks how religion effects everyone in America on a daily basis. Get rid of it!

There are different types of Atheist as their are different types of Christians, Muslims, Gays, Poets, Engineers, etc.

My question is - What are you before being any of these? A human being. A part of humanity.

Atheism is becoming more and more like a religion.

Atheist fundamentalists? The social division created by organized religion is now spreading to Atheists? Score one for innate human nature.

I think Atheist to tend toward "camp",.....but its not intentional.

Secular Humanism is by far the best route if you want to deny an ultimate being, hell its what I am!

If you don't believe in anything, thats a pretty sad state of affairs and I feel badly about that. Humanism allows you to believe in the ability of man to overcome problems without the help of the supernatural.

That guy in the picture... It's like looking into a mirror, only I'm agnostic lol

Atheism is a reaction (maybe even a rebellion against) organized religion. Although their are some atheist organizations, these are advocacy groups for secularism and religious freedom, they are not in any way comparable to other kinds of religious organizations. There is no "atheist" movement, because it is not a formal set of religious beliefs. Atheists should not be confused with religious people, because atheism is a set of beliefs based around the complete absence of religion.

lol that is me... except for the poptarts, the chain, and long hair

I'm an atheist, and i personally don't give a shit...we should treat religious folk as we would like to be treated as non-believers...as far as the 'split' goes, who cares...some people feel as if they need to press their views on atheism and/or religion and i could care less either way...leave me alone, don't come knocking at my door saturday morning telling me i'm a sinner and i in turn won't act like some of the typical 'know it all' deuchbag atheist type that think they've got it all figured out. Who cares?...Live your life they way you want to live it and leave other people the fuck alone.

mythology |məˈθäləjē|
noun ( pl. -gies)
1 a collection of myths, esp. one belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition : Ganesa was the god of wisdom and success in Hindu mythology | a book discussing Jewish and Christian mythologies.
• a set of stories or beliefs about a particular person, institution, or situation, esp. when exaggerated or fictitious : in popular mythology, truckers are kings of the road.
2 the study of myths.

No wonder Amerca is losing its supremacy in the world, this idea of religion and atheism, two words that represent two entirely prehistoric excuses for name calling and ridiculous reasons for existing. Its necessary for all humans to find a reason to live and truth is one ideal way and there are many social organizations that give pleasure and hope for a good life. Unfortunately Brainwashing youth into many aspects of life is inexcusable. Religion is pure and simple Fantasies and for Adults to believe in a nothing is akin to insanity. but so be it. Its a screwed up and violent world and there is no sign of a sane and honest or decent exit from this mad house of freaks. Civilization is another word that means little more than a word in the dictionary. What and where is there even a microscopic sign of a civilization on earth? Perhaps among a colony of ants and or a family of rabbits but certainly not a colony or nation of vicious and insane humans, whose sole purpose in life is stealing and killing and whose great purpose in life is to build bigger and better killing machines. the only lifeforms on earth hellbent on exterminating each other.

There's no need for this schism! All you non-believers come on over to Thor! For the next 15 minutes its a 2-for-1 special! For every new believer you will get 2 Valkyries to carry you from the field of battle to Asgard, instead of the regular 1! And as a big plus we don't have any scriptures to memorize. Seriously, we'd much rather like to hit people with a big hammer then do any damn reading.

I think atheists are as foolish as the people who they're against. I'm all for opposing organized religion, but how can you be sure of the unknowable? No one knows for sure how life really began and no one knows for sure what happens after death. Which are the 2 main things religion tries to answer. Atheism just makes religion out of blind science, which isn't much better than blind faith.

I'm a proud agnostic. I'm aware that anything can be true, just as much as nothing can.

Fuck Religion. The systems need to be destroyed before it destroys us all.

XVX for life, R.A.S.H. 'til death.

I think you have to ask yourself if atheism is a religion before you label the movement divided. My understanding, that of atheism, is that it is a theory or belief that god does not exist. My question is, do atheists worship their concept in the same manner as existing religions?

That being said, why can't people believe in whatever they desire without forcing their beliefs on others?

Keep your religion/non-religon off my body!

i am a wholist, i am more than the sum of my parts. i support atheists against religions. any sectarian belief is the cause of war. i am an american indian who has embraced the gods of india, go figure.

There is no atheist movement. There ARE anti-religion movements which may or may not be atheist.

I think the article was right to acknowledge the schism among atheists as an incorrect or misplaced opinion of the movement. The fact of the matter is that free thinkers will inherently disagree with one another so there is no real need to frame that phenomenon as a schism. Then again I’m pretty sure the article was acknowledging the perceived schism between the more popular proselytizing atheists.

That being the case I think it’s a great thing. Every opinion or mindset could use a spokesperson.

I noticed there's a divide among atheists. There are crypto-fascists like Christopher Hitchens, and then there are normal atheists, who don't hate and prejudice despite being "rational."

I don't care what you believe--do not make a habit of projecting your beliefs on others out of context. Meaning that the conversation has to be mutual or forced upon you by someone/something else. In which case it is okay to share your opinions and persuade others. I would hate to have atheists around preaching just as much as I hate those christians that preach. I would be okay with preaching atheist views if others are preaching their religious beliefs, to sort of balance things out.

I think what is lacking, here, is an understanding of definition.

Many people who are agnostics are being roped in with atheists. They are two separate, though not mutually exclusive, belief systems.

The "Atheist 3.0" mentioned above by Unimatrix is probably an agnostic.

If you say: there is a god, you may or may not be correct.
If you say: there is no god, you may or may not be correct.
If you say: there is no way to know whether or not there is a god, then you are factually accurate.

To be a cold atheist is just as delusional as being a sheepish follower of a deity based religion.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: if you aren't agnostic, you are, indeed, delusional.

I LOVE that picture. Its me with a soul patch haha

That is such a great picture my mom thinks I am going to hell and she even told me the saying I slouch because of the weight of my sins. WTF I have no weight on my shoulder I slouch because I have bad posture. GEEZ!

Good thing we solved that debate between the people who thought alchemy wasn't a science and the people who just didn't care about alchemy. It also could have led to a schism between people who disregard something.
Remember the civil war between the non-astrologists and the a-astrologists?

Really religious people are the scariest people on earth. The Muslims. The Mormons. The Catholics. How about when a leader of a country says that his God talks to him, or through him. And not just GW.

Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion.