There is this interesting article in the Internet that I recently read and what made this article by Stephen Prothero (titled "Atheists need a different voice") interesting is that...well...at least I can now differentiate the "moderates" with the "militant" atheist...well...sort of.
According to Mr. Prothero, "I heard two very different arguments at this event. The first was the old line of the New Atheists: Religious people are stupid and religion is poison, so the only way forward is to educate the idiots and flush away the poison. The second was less controversial and less utopian: From this perspective, atheism is just another point of view, deserving of constitutional protection and a fair hearing. Its goal is not a world without religion but a world in which believers and nonbelievers coexist peaceably, and atheists are respected, or at least tolerated.
These competing approaches could not be further apart. One is an invitation to a duel. The other is a fair-minded appeal for recognition and respect. Or, to put it in terms of the gay rights movement, one is like trying to turn everyone gay and the other is like trying to secure equal rights for gay men and lesbians."
Do Mr. Prothero’s statements hit the nail right on the head?
Ok...Mr. Prothero seems to be more interested in...eh...a more peaceful approach, which reminds me of that Gandhi caricature in an old Time magazine where he was depicted in his common fashion...trying to stop incoming Japanese tanks with threads.
It's Not a Civil Right Issue
According to Mr. Prothero's article, moderate atheists compare the issue with the gay right movement (or it just Mr. Prothero?) anyway, he continued that there are atheists who only want public respect and protection against discrimination (equal rights… right?).
Discrimination against what?
I don't think atheists are discriminated with their civil rights. There are no issues of non-religious being denied with their health care, housing loans or employees compensation benefits because of their unbelief.
Side by Side?
So, can the atheist live side by side with the pious? There are allot of criticism against the "New Atheism" and majority of the critics says that it is impossible to eradicate religion...but...is it possible for the non-believers to live in a religious world without making any issues?
For majority of believers - especially the Christian variety, skepticism on religious claims is a sin. The Bible is clear on that issue (John 8:24) and Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic angelic doctor said, "Unbelief is the greatest of sins".
But wait...some may say that it's not an issue. Remember; in Quiapo, Manila Christians and Muslim live side by side and in harmony with each other. But remember that both are believers.
Believers (like Christian and Muslim) believe that God will punish you collectively for the sins of some on the members of the community - by using natural calamities for example - so when calamities like earthquake, flood or pestilence happened, guess who will be on the top of the A-list to be blamed.
