History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.
David C. McCullough
I was reading Bruce’s post, Two books I just have to get at Thinker’s Podium, where he discusses two books that form part of his research material on anti-atheist bigotry. The main thrust of the post is about these two books, and their treatment of the subject matter i.e. the so called “New Atheists”.
Bruce’s post got me thinking on this use of the “New Atheist” label. For a start the label is thrown about with gay abandon by the religious, by atheists, and journalists seemingly without any concrete definition of what a New Atheist is.
Indeed the term can refer to
- The four horsemen- Dennet, Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens
- Any atheist who has written reasonably marketable book in the last 2 years
- Any atheist that has come out as one in the last 2 years
- Anyone whom the religious want to villify as an atheist upstart.
Now to me “New Atheist” has faddish connotations- “this here new atheism is brash, its a phase, its a rebellion against the extreme christian right, these new atheists just need to calm down and be polite and respectful”
If you read the post you will note that the second book that Bruce mentions The New Atheism and The Erosion of Freedom, by Robert A. Morey was published way back in 1986. Bruce then says:
Like Beattie, Morey battled against a new breed of atheism that unlike old atheism, didn’t know it’s place, spoke out of turn, was intolerant and planned to rob everyone of their religious rights in order, ultimately with the aim to install a godless utopia.
Sound familiar – second verse same as the first. I imagine the New Atheism goes quite a way back – but that’s not the way its framed is it? No instead we are caught in loop, like Bill Murray, destined to repeat the same responses to the same old god question.
I wonder whether there actually was ever an older quieter atheism, where we just shut up and did as we were told and moved to the back of the bus? How far do we have to go back? Ingersoll certainly didn’t hold back
Which brings me to the point i want to make. It’s our ignorance of freethought/atheist/agnostic history that leaves us open to these claims of being a new movement.
Speaking specifically of Australia here – how many prominent atheists/agnostics that have lived and died as good, moral and helpful human beings and are not recognised by Australian Atheists/freethinkers, for a start.
If we fail to acknowledge our history, if we fail to promote it to those who new to freethought activism, we do ourselves and them a great disservice. One thing the religions are very good at is telling stories, especially stories/ narratives/ histories of themselves. It contributes to personal and cultural identity, it gives them credibility when their central tenants are bunkum.
We need to know that this Atheism isn’t a new idea, we need to pass this on, we need to frame our own history correctly.
What I hope to do is showcase atheist/agnostic/freethought personalities and history in forthcoming posts.
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I think that P. Adams comments about fanning the flames of intolerance on The Atheists was a bit rich, given some of his writing in More Unspeakable Adams from back in the day. Maybe I should dig up my copy and post a few "intolerant" quotes?
Please do
A cursory look at two of Australia's Atheist Organisations, the Atheist Foundation of Australia and the Rationalists doesn't immediately reveal even a solid history of the organisations(although the Rationalists are compiling one it seems) – not that this is really a criticism of them. I know the people at the AFA do a lot of work for nothing and are focussed forward and I assume the same for the rationalists.
Great idea, Sean. You're right … we need to have a wider understanding of our history. I look forward to reading your posts on the topic!
Hey Matt,
Haven't read anything from you in a while. Been busy? Might actually have to do some real research on this one, because the resources are not readily available.
Yeah, I've been busy. Or lazy. Probably a bit of both.
Some holiday blogging will be happening soon though, I suspect. :^)
Mate I am currently unemployed and somehow still finding it hard to find time to blog about everything I wan to. This censorship move by Conroy is sapping much of my energy
Fantastic Post: And one that would have difficulty being penned by a US American Atheist. Our history is indeed a rich one that goes back at least 2,500 years. Among other things, it provides us with the celebrations that were a fixture in our lives because we enjoyed their purity. Too many atheists tend to avoid them because, over time, they have been contaminated by the religious hordes that have claimed for their own and renamed them. For example, March Equinox was originally an Atheist celebration but now there are 29 different religious groups who claim it as one of theirs. Over the centuries, calendar inefficiencies and "leap years" have dispersed the "dates" but it still remains that their origin was the Equinox. Of course, Christmas is one of the high profile examples of a high-jacking of December Solstice by Constantine. It has been celebrated for at least 6,000 years.
Unfortunately, a strong group in US America reject celebrations and rituals. What is wrong with a ritual associated with celebrating the longest or shortest day of the year and recognizing that our very existence is owed to our sun . . . not to some God figure?
For several years I have attempted to get us to establish an atheist organization based on the proven history that exists, and apply it to our 21st century. The interest of Atheists has been underwhelming. It seems they would rather fight, philosophize and advance their own unique agendas than get together and participate in an organization that would address all of our social needs. I created a site to communicate the concept and yet I have had trouble getting Atheists to visit it, let alone help with constructive comments, or join in making it happen.
Here is the link in case anybody wants to "visit the past" and apply it to our futures.
http://www.themilesians.com
Would us southern hemisphere atheists be required to celebrate at the same time
seeing that the seasons are reversed down here 
Don't know what the problem is with the link
Hi Sean,
Winter Solstice is now referred to as December Solstice so while in the Northern Hemisphere, we would be celebrating the shortest day of the year, you guys in the Southern Hemisphere would be celebrating the longest day in the year. Of course, a similar approach takes care of June Solstice. The Equinox's are the same North and South. Many followers of the Solstice celebration changed the reference more than 200 years ago although those who think the world "ends" at the equator, still refer to them as Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice. Some of us, though, really know you are there . . . whether its "down under" or "up over". I have seen the world maps with us being located "down under" !:D
Yes Christmas where the gum trees grow, there is no frost and there is no snow
Mostly in winter as well.