"The 5 Most Awful Atheists

[Barber Shop]

http://www.alternet.org/belief/5-most-awful-atheists

An article by Ian Murphy on alternet gives his list of "The 5 Most Awful Atheists". (I read it via a link on Pharyngula.)

In my opinion, an article like this is rather tawdry. I am not fond of cheap titles like the one used for this article.

The list constists of :

• Sam Harris
• Penn Jillette
• Bill Maher
• Ayaan Hirsi Ali
• S.E. Cupp

What do other JREFers think of this list? Do these folks deserve the title of "Worst Atheists"? I feel that the section on Ayaan Hirsi Ali was particularly unfair. I think she is actually quite admirable. It seems that this author also has a dislike for conservative/libertarian minded people, and this dislike is seen in this compilation.


On Sam Harris:

Harris' atheist fame is both wholly undeserved and utterly embarrassing. Harris represents a disturbing anti-Muslim confluence between atheists and neoconservatives in this here post-9/11 'Murka...For a guy who purportedly came to be an atheist through his intellect, Harris routinely fails to demonstrate the faintest capacity to reason.

On Penn Jillette

Like many skeptics, the bloviating, ponytailed half of Penn & Teller arrived at his disbelief via the world of magic. However, like giant mystified toddlers, the smoke and mirrors of economic libertarianism has the two performers completely duped

On Bill Maher

Compounding the unpleasant nature of Maher's wheat-grass pomposity is that, from vaccines to the news items he discusses, he's just not very well informed...In '09, he told America that getting “[a] flu shot is the worst thing you can do.”

On Ayaan Hirsi Ali

While she's to be commended for her staunch defense of women suffering under Sharia law, (her) few good deeds shouldn't absolve her for being to Islam what Ayn Rand was to Communism... The consummate over-reactionary, what could have been an inspiring career based on reason and social justice quickly devolved into one of neoconservative lunacy.

On S.E. Cupp

Like Jillette, she's chummy with Glenn Beck because idiotic atheists and idiotic Mormons have a natural alliance. Cupp's self-loathing-token-atheist-in-the-conservative-media routine seems so geared toward delegitimizing atheism, and selling books to fundie Fox types, that is strains credulity.

 

[WilsonG]

Five seems a small sample. I would need to see the *entire* list of atheists ranked by the same criteria before I could possibly comment.

 

[Jungle Jim]

I don't understand the purpose of the list. Being an atheist has nothing to do with one's views regarding economics, medicine, or any other human endeavour. It's a bit like saying who's the most awful left-handed person.

 

[Darat]

Ronald Reagan or Barack Obama - you decide.

 

[Barber Shop]

I don't understand the purpose of the list. Being an atheist has nothing to do with one's views regarding economics, medicine, or any other human endeavour. It's a bit like saying who's the most awful left-handed person.

I *think* the author is saying that 'yes, these people are right about atheism but they are way wrong on other issues'.

But, yea, I agree with your point and that is one of the reasons why I think a list like this is silly.

 

[Barber Shop]

It's a bit like saying who's the most awful left-handed person.

Paul McCartney.

 

[alcorfr]

Sam harris' response, sorry for the link not working, don't have 15 messages yet.
samharris.org/blog/item/wrestling-the-troll

And i'm biased, i'm a fan of harris.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

On Penn Jillette I can agree with this:

smoke and mirrors of economic libertarianism has the two performers completely duped

As for the rest of it, meh.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Sam harris' response, sorry for the link not working, don't have 15 messages yet.
samharris.org/blog/item/wrestling-the-troll

And i'm biased, i'm a fan of harris.

http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/wrestling-the-troll

 

[Humes fork]

Meh...

 

[dafydd]

Are they all American? I've never heard of any of them.

 

[Resume]

Should I know who Ian Murphy is?

 

[dafydd]

Probably not. I don't really feel the need to know who he is.

 

[Halfcentaur]

I have a great respect for Sam Harris and his use of language and his ability to describe. I think it's just blanket statement to say he is unfairly treating Islam. He points out that to the very core Islam is a religion concerned with converting all other people, on pain of death, and that any version of Islam you see who has gotten around that is just making up their own interpretation of things. He is right, just as Jews and Christians have today their own evolved memes of religion, Islam is at it's heart a religion of war that can be presented in the light of peace.

SE Cupp I loathe and think she is nothing but a professional troll capitalizing on controversy and arguments she instigates.

Penn Jillette I like, though his politics I think are naive. I think he is right that we should give people more credit than we do for being naturally altruistic, but I think he underestimates what ignorance and selfishness can do when left unchecked.

Bill Maher I can't stand, but I love his show. He's like a very annoying teenager who just discovered the latest finding he can champion as bolstering his identity, and his criticism of modern medicine is just sheer stupid.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, I don't know enough about.

 

[baron]

I'm familiar with all five but I've never heard of Ian Murphy. The reason for this became clear when I read the article.

 

[Jungle Jim]

The author's premise is: "Many notable atheists believe in some powerfully stupid stuff, thereby eroding the credibility of all atheists." I think the we can add the author to those who believe in some powerfully stupid stuff.

 

[Lowpro]

I like Sam Harris, and I think he doesn't belong on that list. Actually if those are all the five "awful atheists" then I'm not too worried; they do little to ruin a good thing.

 

[Resume]

More importantly, how can I make Murphy's list?

Aside from accomplishing something.

 

[Daald]

I can't believe that PZ was endorsing this. My respect for him diminishes the more he opens his mouth He should really stick to biology.

 

[Barber Shop]

I can't believe that PZ was endorsing this. My respect for him diminishes the more he opens his mouth He should really stick to biology.

I usually like Dr. Myers, but he occasionally takes some positions that I find very odd...