Should Atheists Criticize Religion? A Response

"Here's the thing. If you can't give me a general guiding principle for why expressing my beliefs and opinions is okay, but criticizing other people's beliefs and opinions is not? If you can't give me a general guiding principle for even distinguishing between 'expressing my own beliefs and opinions' and 'criticizing other people's beliefs and opinions'? If you can't give me a general guiding principle for why it's okay for you to take atheists to task for criticizing religion -- and indeed to criticize religious beliefs that you don't agree with (as you have done in this discussion, with creationism) -- but it's not okay for atheists to say why they think religion is mistaken? If you can't give me a general guiding principle for why saying 'I think religion is mistaken and here's why' is a slippery slope towards religious bigotry and harassment... but saying 'Atheists are bad and wrong to criticize religion' isn't a slippery slope towards silencing atheists? If you can do an ad hoc rewriting of atheist writing that you would approve of, but can't give me a general guiding principle for how and why you would do that rewrite?

"If you can't give me a general guiding principle for any of this?

"Then I am led to the conclusion that you don't have one.

"Or rather, I am led to the conclusion that your general guiding principle is, 'It's okay to criticize religious beliefs and positions, as long as they're not mine.'"

This is an excerpt from a piece I wrote on Facebook, a response to an ongoing debate with a believer who thinks it's okay for atheists to express their beliefs... as long as that doesn't include the belief that religion is mistaken. According to this argument, expressing your own religious beliefs and ideas is fine... but saying that you think other beliefs and ideas are mistaken, and making a case for why you think that, and supporting your case with arguments and evidence, is bigoted, disrespectful, missionary proselytizing.

Three guesses what I think about that.

Because of the rule/ etiquette that "what happens on Facebook, stays on Facebook," I'm not posting the entire note here. But if you're on Facebook, you can read the rest of this rant (and the conversation that preceded it). You don't even need to be my Facebook friend to read it (although I'm happy to have you as a FB friend!). You just need to be on FB. If you want to see what else I have to say about this, check it out. I haven't done a good atheist rant in a couple of weeks, and I thought y'all might want to see this one. Enjoy!

Comments

[Moxiequz]

Greta, I'm logged into Facebook now but when I follow your links they just redirect to my FB home page.

[Moxiequz]

By the way - I think the rebuttal excerpt you posted here was right on the mark and very well stated.

[Jeff Satterley]

I'm having the same problem as Moxiequx...

[Jen R]

I do love your atheist rants.

I couldn't see the note you were replying to, but I could see yours.

[Greta Christina]

Sorry about the tech problems. Facebook is weird and buggy sometimes, and linkages suck. If you go to my wall, though, you should be able to find the note.

[neosnowqueen]

So you can say that you're an atheist, which means that you believe every religious person is wrong, but you can't actually say that every religious person is wrong? Does not compute.

[LisaG]

aww...can't see it. Facebook is not being helpful.

[Claire B]

Arrgh! Nooo! I am not on Facebook and have no intention of being, ever - pleeease post your rant here, Greta!

[Lou Doench]

What's wrong with Facebook Claire... become one of us.... one of us... one of usssss.....

[spriteless]

I cannot find the rant on your wall. Could you post the link on your wall and perhaps that would work?

[Jo]

Greta, there are three tabs in your Facebook profile: Wall, Info, and Photos. It is possible to add a new tab for your notes. Hope that helped.