Some Very Good Reasons That I’m Backing Atheism Plus
So, Greta Christina made a post where she talked about the misogyny, trolling, and general hatefulness within atheism circles. She proposed that it was time to start a different “wave” of atheism that directly addressed this. It was proposed that this new “wave” be called Atheism+ and that it should directly address racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. I think Jen McCreight said it best in her article How I Unwittingly Infiltrated the Boy’s Club & Why It’s Time for a New Wave of Atheism:
I don’t want good causes like secularism and skepticism to die because they’re infested with people who see issues of equality as mission drift. I want Deep Rifts. I want to be able to truthfully say that I feel safe in this movement. I want the misogynists, racists, homophobes, transphobes, and downright trolls out of the movement for the same reason I wouldn’t invite them over for dinner or to play Mario Kart: because they’re not good people. We throw up billboards claiming we’re Good Without God, but how are we proving that as a movement? Litter clean-ups and blood drives can only say so much when you’re simultaneously threatening your fellow activists with rape and death.
Sounds good, right? Well, as you probably guessed it didn’t go over too well. Tim decided to leave this little gem in the comment section of Greta Christina’s post:
GRETA CHRISTINA YOU FUCKIN HOE… I HOPE YOU GET RAPED YOU FUCKIN FEMINAZI SLUT… GO CHOKE ON A DICK AND DIE
“What are you gonna do, Greta? Are you gonna ban me again? :) ”
Here’s a small sampling of atheists losing their shit on the #atheismplus tag on twitter: