Atheist fundamentalism

It used to be that other religions were the problem. Now at least on the public stage, it is sharing that role with the atheists. What role, what problem? I’m talking about the forces that try to fight me in my attempt at practicing my non-christian religion. Well, i do have a freedom to practice just about any faith i choose protected by law here in the good ol’ US of A. The first ammendment firmly rejects the establishment of a state religion, and in doing so allows for any and just about all other religions to have the freedom of exist. Of course, that freedom was written many years ago but the reality is that it has just recently been possible to openly practice any form of polytheism here without some sort of hostility or reprisal.

The last few years have seen many “new” atheists surface. This new, and some would say improved, atheists have been labled by the media, christians and even themselves as fundamentalists in their beliefs. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, (we even have our own local version here in minnesota, PZ Meyers http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula ) have started to not merely suggest that religion is false or invalid, but openly state that religion is harmful and should be destroyed.

The San Mateo County Times has a nice ariticle on this:

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/ci_5598956

The article is actually about atheists trying to distance themselves from the newer radicals within the atheist community like Harris and Dawkins. I’m not sure i could have predicted this kind of rise and popularity in militant atheism. I think it must be an indicator of the ever changing religious landscape of modern western nations. Certainly fueled by the resurgence of Christian fundamentalism and the nightly news reports of Islamic fundamentalists. I think we are seeing the beginings of a new vocal group. One that will spend most of it’s effort targeting christians, but certainly having no problems attacking my religion as well.